Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 53 of 400 #1053 of 2000

Problem 1053

National olympiad, first round
Geometry Difficulty 6.0 Find the answer

The figure consists of triangle ABCABC and three equilateral triangles DEFDEF, DGHDGH, and DIJDIJ. Point DD is the intersection of the angle bisectors of triangle ABCABC, and vertices AA, BB, and CC are the midpoints of sides EFEF, GHGH, and IJIJ, respectively. The measure of angle EDJEDJ is 5151^{\circ}, and the measure of angle HDIHDI is 6666^{\circ}.

Determine the measures of the interior angles of triangle ABCABC.

(K. Pazourek)

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Note: The image is for illustration only.

Official solution

The internal angles of triangle ABCABC are denoted in the usual way, i.e., α,β\alpha, \beta, γ\gamma. The angle bisectors of the internal angles of triangle ABCABC are the axes of symmetry of these angles, so \VarangleBAD=\VarangleDAC=α2\Varangle B A D=\Varangle D A C=\frac{\alpha}{2}, etc. Triangles DEF,DGH,DIJDEF, DGH, DIJ are equilateral, and points AA, B,CB, C are the midpoints of the sides opposite the common vertex DD. Therefore, lines DA,DB,DCDA, DB, DC are the axes of symmetry of these triangles, and \VarangleEDA=\VarangleADF=30\Varangle E D A=\Varangle A D F=30^{\circ}, etc. (see the figure on the next page).

The measure of angle ADCADC is 30+51+30=11130^{\circ}+51^{\circ}+30^{\circ}=111^{\circ}, and for the sum of the internal angles in triangle ADCADC we have

α2+111+γ2=180 \frac{\alpha}{2}+111^{\circ}+\frac{\gamma}{2}=180^{\circ}

which simplifies to α+γ=138\alpha+\gamma=138^{\circ}. Simultaneously, for the internal angles of triangle ABCABC we have

α+β+γ=180 \alpha+\beta+\gamma=180^{\circ}

or α+γ=180β\alpha+\gamma=180^{\circ}-\beta. From the two expressions for α+γ\alpha+\gamma, we get 138=180β138^{\circ}=180^{\circ}-\beta, thus

β=42 \beta=42^{\circ} \text {. }

Similarly, we express the measure of angle BDCBDC as 30+66+30=12630^{\circ}+66^{\circ}+30^{\circ}=126^{\circ}, and from the sum of the internal angles in triangle BDCBDC,

β2+126+γ2=180 \frac{\beta}{2}+126^{\circ}+\frac{\gamma}{2}=180^{\circ}

we determine β+γ=108\beta+\gamma=108^{\circ}. Simultaneously, from (2) we have β+γ=180α\beta+\gamma=180^{\circ}-\alpha. Altogether, we get 108=180α108^{\circ}=180^{\circ}-\alpha, thus

α=72 \alpha=72^{\circ}

By substituting α\alpha or β\beta into one of the previous equations, we can express the remaining angle γ\gamma. For example, substituting into (2) gives 72+42+γ=18072^{\circ}+42^{\circ}+\gamma=180^{\circ}, and thus

γ=66 \gamma=66^{\circ}

The measures of the internal angles of triangle ABCABC are 72,4272^{\circ}, 42^{\circ}, and 6666^{\circ}.

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Notes. In addition to conditions (1) and (3), we can also use a similar condition for triangle ADBADB. For this purpose, it is necessary to express the angle FDGFDG as the supplementary angle to the full angle with vertex DD, whose measure is 3603605166=63360^{\circ}-3 \cdot 60^{\circ}-51^{\circ}-66^{\circ}=63^{\circ}. Then the measure of angle ADBADB is 30+63+30=12330^{\circ}+63^{\circ}+30^{\circ}=123^{\circ}, and for the sum of the internal angles in triangle ADBADB we have

α2+123+β2=180 \frac{\alpha}{2}+123^{\circ}+\frac{\beta}{2}=180^{\circ}

Any three of the four equations (1) to (4) uniquely determine the solution, and the problem can also be solved this way. For example, the system of equations (1), (3), (4) is equivalent to the system

α+γ=138,β+γ=108,α+β=114. \alpha+\gamma=138^{\circ}, \quad \beta+\gamma=108^{\circ}, \quad \alpha+\beta=114^{\circ} .

Subtracting the third equation from the first gives γβ=24\gamma-\beta=24^{\circ}. Subtracting this equation from the second gives 2β=842 \beta=84^{\circ}, thus β=42\beta=42^{\circ}. Substituting this result into the second or third equation determines γ=66\gamma=66^{\circ}, and α=72\alpha=72^{\circ}, respectively.

Evaluation. 2 points for initial observations related to the angle bisectors; 2 points for determining auxiliary angles and setting up equations; 2 points for solving and quality of the commentary.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.