Acute Triangle ABC: Point P and Line Intersections Formula

  • MHB
  • Thread starter anemone
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In summary, an acute triangle is a triangle with angles less than 90 degrees. Point P is a point within the triangle used to calculate intersections with the sides and lines. The intersections of point P with the sides can be found using a formula, while the intersections with a line can be found by solving for the point of intersection. This formula is important for various geometric and mathematical applications involving acute triangles.
  • #1
anemone
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MHB
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Consider an acute triangle $ABC$ and let $P$ be an interior point of $ABC$. Suppose the lines $BP$ and $CP$, when produced, meet $AC$ and $AB$ in $E$ and $F$ respectively. Let $D$ be the point where $AP$ intersects the line segment $EF$ and $K$ be the foot of perpendicular from $D$ on to $BC$. Show that $DK$ bisects $\angle EKF$.

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  • #2
No one answered last week's POTW. (Sadface) However, you can find the suggested solution below:
[TIKZ]\coordinate[label=left:B] (B) at (0,0);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (12, 0);
\coordinate[label=above:A] (A) at (4,6);
\coordinate[label=below: Q] (Q) at (9,0);
\coordinate[label=below: M] (M) at (2,0);
\coordinate[label=below: L] (L) at (10,0);
\coordinate[label=below: K] (K) at (7.333333,0);
\coordinate[label=above: F] (F) at (2,3);
\coordinate[label=above: E] (E) at (10,1.5);
\coordinate[label=above: P] (P) at (8,1.2);
\coordinate[label=above: D] (D) at (7.333333,2);
\draw (B) -- (C)-- (A)-- (B);
\draw (B) -- (E);
\draw (A) -- (Q);
\draw (E) -- (F);
\draw (F) -- (C);
\draw (F) -- (M);
\draw (D) -- (K);
\draw (E) -- (L);
\draw [dashed] (F) -- (K);
\draw [dashed] (E) -- (K);
\draw (M) rectangle +(-0.5, 0.5);
\draw (K) rectangle +(-0.5, 0.5);
\draw (L) rectangle +(-0.5, 0.5);
\node (1) at (6.3,0.3) {$\alpha$};
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (K) -- (F) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue,double] (K) circle (0.812);
\end{scope}
\node (2) at (8.3,0.3) {$\beta$};
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (E) -- (K) -- (C) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue,double] (K) circle (0.812);
\end{scope}[/TIKZ]Produce $AP$ to meet $BC$ in $Q$. Join $KE$ and $KF$. Draw perpendiculars from $F$ and $E$ to $BC$ to meet it in $M$ and $L$ respectively. Denote $\angle BKF=\alpha$ and $\angle CKE=\beta$. If we can show that $\alpha=\beta$, this implies that $\angle DKF=\angle DKE$.

Since the cevians $AQ,\,BE$ and $CF$ concur, we may write

$\dfrac{BQ}{QC}=\dfrac{z}{y},\,\dfrac{CE}{EA}=\dfrac{x}{z},\,\dfrac{AF}{FB}=\dfrac{y}{x}$

We observe that

$\dfrac{FD}{DE}=\dfrac{[AFD]}{[AED]}=\dfrac{[PFD]}{[PED]}=\dfrac{[AFP]}{[AEP]}$

However, standard computations involving bases give

$[AFP]=\dfrac{y}{y+x}[ABP],\,[AEP]=\dfrac{z}{z+x}[ACP],\,[ABP]=\dfrac{z}{x+y+z}[ABC]$ and $[ACP]=\dfrac{y}{x+y+z}[ABC]$

Thus we obtain $\dfrac{FD}{DE}=\dfrac{x+z}{x+y}$.

On the other hand,

$\tan \alpha=\dfrac{FM}{KM}=\dfrac{FB\sin B}{KM},\,\tan \beta=\dfrac{EL}{KL}=\dfrac{EC\sin C}{KL}$

Using $FB=\left(\dfrac{x}{x+y}\right)AC$ and $AB\sin B=AC\sin C$ we obtain

$\begin{align*}\dfrac{\tan \alpha}{\tan \beta}&=\left(\dfrac{x+z}{x+y}\right)\left(\dfrac{KL}{KM}\right)\\&=\left(\dfrac{x+z}{x+y}\right)\left(\dfrac{DE}{FD}\right)\\&=\left(\dfrac{x+z}{x+y}\right)\left(\dfrac{x+y}{x+z}\right)\\&=1\end{align*}$

$\therefore \alpha=\beta$ and this implies that $\angle DKF=\angle DKE$. In other words, $DK$ bisects $\angle EKF$.
 

1. What is an acute triangle?

An acute triangle is a triangle in which all three angles measure less than 90 degrees. This means that all three corners of the triangle are considered "sharp" or "pointy".

2. What is the formula for finding the intersection point of a line and an acute triangle?

The formula for finding the intersection point of a line and an acute triangle is known as the "Point P and Line Intersections Formula". It is given by:
P = A + s(B - A) + t(C - A)
Where A, B, and C are the three vertices of the triangle, s and t are variables, and P is the intersection point.

3. How do you determine if a point is inside an acute triangle?

To determine if a point is inside an acute triangle, you can use the "Point in Triangle" test. This involves calculating the area of the triangle formed by the point and two of the triangle's vertices. If the sum of these areas is equal to the area of the original triangle, then the point is inside the triangle. Otherwise, it is outside.

4. Can the intersection point of a line and an acute triangle be outside the triangle?

Yes, it is possible for the intersection point of a line and an acute triangle to be outside the triangle. This can happen when the line does not intersect the triangle at all, or when it intersects the triangle at a point outside of its boundaries.

5. How is the Point P and Line Intersections Formula derived?

The Point P and Line Intersections Formula is derived from the general equation of a line, y = mx + b, and the parametric form of a line, P = P0 + tV, where P0 is a point on the line and V is a vector parallel to the line. By setting these two equations equal to each other and solving for t, we can find the point of intersection between the line and the triangle.

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