Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 221 of 400 #1221 of 1964

Problem 1221

National olympiad, first round
Geometry Difficulty 6.3 Prove it

5.22. In trapezoid ABCDA B C D given: vertex A(3;0)A(3 ; 0), midpoint of base ABA B - point E(6;1)E(6 ;-1), midpoint of base CDC D - point F(7;2)F(7 ; 2). Side BCB C is parallel to the OyO y axis. Prove that the trapezoid is isosceles, and find the angle at its base.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Official solution

5.22. Let B(x1;y1),C(x2;y2),D(x3;y3)B\left(x_{1} ; y_{1}\right), C\left(x_{2} ; y_{2}\right), D\left(x_{3} ; y_{3}\right) be the unknown vertices of the trapezoid (Fig. 5.12). Since point E(6;1)E(6 ;-1) is the midpoint of base ABA B, we have the system 3+x12=6,0+y12=1\frac{3+x_{1}}{2}=6, \frac{0+y_{1}}{2}=-1, from which x1=9x_{1}=9,

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Fig. 5.12

y1=2y_{1}=-2, i.e., B(9;2)B(9 ;-2). But BCOyB C \| O y and, therefore, x2=9x_{2}=9, and the equation of BCB C is x=9x=9. Next, point F(7;2)F(7 ; 2) is the midpoint of base DCD C, from which x3+92=7\frac{x_{3}+9}{2}=7, i.e., x3=5x_{3}=5. The equation of line ABA B is y+1=k(x6)y+1=k(x-6); since A(AB)A \in(A B), we have 0+1=k(36)k=130+1=k(3-6) \Rightarrow k=-\frac{1}{3}. Therefore, kDC=13k_{D C}=-\frac{1}{3}, and we obtain the equation of DCD C:

y2=13(x7), or y=13x+133 y-2=-\frac{1}{3}(x-7), \text { or } y=-\frac{1}{3} x+\frac{13}{3}

Solving the system of equations of lines BCB C and DCD C, i.e., x=9x=9 and y=13x+133y=-\frac{1}{3} x+\frac{13}{3}, we find y=43y=\frac{4}{3}, i.e., C(9;43)C\left(9 ; \frac{4}{3}\right). Finally, the ordinate of point DD is found from the equality y3+432=2\frac{y_{3}+\frac{4}{3}}{2}=2, from which y3=83y_{3}=\frac{8}{3}, i.e., D(5;83)D\left(5 ; \frac{8}{3}\right). Thus, BC=y2y1=43+2=103B C=y_{2}-y_{1}=\frac{4}{3}+2=\frac{10}{3}, AD=22+(83)2=103A D=\sqrt{2^{2}+\left(\frac{8}{3}\right)^{2}}=\frac{10}{3}, i.e., BC=ADB C=A D and, therefore, trapezoid ABCDA B C D is isosceles.

Let DAB=α\angle D A B=\alpha and use the formula cosα=ADABADAB\cos \alpha=\frac{\overline{A D} \cdot \overline{A B}}{|\overline{A D}||\overline{A B}|}. We have AD(2;83),AB(6;2),AB=210\overline{A D}\left(2 ; \frac{8}{3}\right), \overline{A B}(6 ;-2),|\overline{A B}|=2 \sqrt{10}, and, therefore,

cosα=26+83(2)103210=110 \cos \alpha=\frac{2 \cdot 6+\frac{8}{3}(-2)}{\frac{10}{3} \cdot 2 \sqrt{10}}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{10}}

Answer: arccos110\arccos \frac{1}{\sqrt{10}}.

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