Calculate $\angle ADC$ in a Convex Quadrilateral

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the angle $\angle ADC$ in a convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ given specific angle measures. Participants explore various approaches to find the angle based on the provided information.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the problem and requests to find $\angle ADC$ based on the angles $\angle CBD=10^{\circ},\,\angle CAD=20^{\circ},\,\angle ABD=40^{\circ},\, \angle BAC=50^{\circ}$.
  • Multiple participants claim to have solved the problem, but their solutions are not detailed in the posts.
  • Another participant critiques a proposed solution, arguing that the configuration of the quadrilateral may not be convex if the vertices are taken in the stated order, suggesting an alternative diagram.
  • This participant also proposes a correction to the final calculation of $\angle ADC$, suggesting it should be $100^\circ$ instead of another value derived from the previous solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the value of $\angle ADC$, as participants present differing views on the configuration of the quadrilateral and the resulting calculations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the convexity of the quadrilateral and the arrangement of its vertices, which may affect the validity of the proposed solutions.

anemone
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In a convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ we are given that $\angle CBD=10^{\circ},\,\angle CAD=20^{\circ},\,\angle ABD=40^{\circ},\, \angle BAC=50^{\circ}$.

Find the angle $\angle ADC$.
 
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Re: Find \$\angle ADC\$

My solution (I just solved it):
Let $B$ and $D$ be points on the $x$-axis and extend both the straight lines $BD$ and $AC$ such that they meet at $P$, where $\angle APB=90^{\circ}$ and $BP=k$.

\begin{tikzpicture}[auto]
\draw[thick, ->] (-1,0) -- (10,0) node[anchor = north west] {x};
\draw[thick, ->] (0,-9) -- (0,1) node[anchor = south east] {y};
\coordinate[label=left:B] (B) at (0,0);
\coordinate[label=right:P] (P) at (8,0);
\coordinate[label=left: D] (D) at (5,0);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (8,-3);
\coordinate[label=right:A] (A) at (8,-8);
\draw (B) to (P);
\draw (B) to (A);
\draw (D) to (A);
\draw (B) to (C);
\draw (A) to (P);
\draw (C) to (D);
\draw [dashed] (D) -- (3.6, 1.4);
\node (1) at (1.5,-0.2) {$10^{\circ}$};
\node (2) at (1.5,-0.9) {$30^{\circ}$};
\node (3) at (7,-6.3) {$30^{\circ}$};
\node (4) at (7.7,-6) {$20^{\circ}$};
\draw (P) rectangle +(-0.5, -0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

We then have

$C=\left(k, -k\tan 10^{\circ}\right)\\D=\left(\dfrac{k}{2\sin 110^{\circ}\cos 40^{\circ}}, 0\right)=\left(\dfrac{k}{\sin 150^{\circ}+\sin 70^{\circ}}, 0\right)=\left(\dfrac{k}{\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}}, 0\right)$

$\begin{align*}\text{Gradient of } l_{CD}&=\dfrac{-k\tan 10^{\circ}}{k\left(1-\dfrac{1}{\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}}\right)}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}\left(\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}\right)}{\cos 20^{\circ}-\dfrac{1}{2}}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-1)}{4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-(\sin^2 10^{\circ} +\cos^2 10^{\circ}))}{4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3(\sin^2 10^{\circ} +\cos^2 10^{\circ})}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(3\cos^2 10^{\circ}-\sin^2 10^{\circ})}{\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3\sin^2 10^{\circ}}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(3-\tan^2 10^{\circ})}{1-3\tan^2 10^{\circ}}\\&=-\tan (3\times 10)^{\circ}\\&=\tan 150^{\circ}\end{align*}$

This gives $\angle CDP=180^{\circ}-150^{\circ}=30^{\circ}$.

But $\angle ACP=30^{\circ}+40^{\circ}=70^{\circ}$, we get $\angle ADC=70^{\circ}-30^{\circ}=40^{\circ}$.
 
Re: Find \$\angle ADC\$

anemone said:
My solution (I just solved it):
Let $B$ and $D$ be points on the $x$-axis and extend both the straight lines $BD$ and $AC$ such that they meet at $P$, where $\angle APB=90^{\circ}$ and $BP=k$.

\begin{tikzpicture}[auto]
\draw[thick, ->] (-1,0) -- (10,0) node[anchor = north west] {x};
\draw[thick, ->] (0,-9) -- (0,1) node[anchor = south east] {y};
\coordinate[label=left:B] (B) at (0,0);
\coordinate[label=right:P] (P) at (8,0);
\coordinate[label=left: D] (D) at (5,0);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (8,-3);
\coordinate[label=right:A] (A) at (8,-8);
\draw (B) to (P);
\draw (B) to (A);
\draw (D) to (A);
\draw (B) to (C);
\draw (A) to (P);
\draw (C) to (D);
\draw [dashed] (D) -- (3.6, 1.4);
\node (1) at (1.5,-0.2) {$10^{\circ}$};
\node (2) at (1.5,-0.9) {$30^{\circ}$};
\node (3) at (7,-6.3) {$30^{\circ}$};
\node (4) at (7.7,-6) {$20^{\circ}$};
\draw (P) rectangle +(-0.5, -0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

We then have

$C=\left(k, -k\tan 10^{\circ}\right)\\D=\left(\dfrac{k}{2\sin 110^{\circ}\cos 40^{\circ}}, 0\right)=\left(\dfrac{k}{\sin 150^{\circ}+\sin 70^{\circ}}, 0\right)=\left(\dfrac{k}{\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}}, 0\right)$

$\begin{align*}\text{Gradient of } l_{CD}&=\dfrac{-k\tan 10^{\circ}}{k\left(1-\dfrac{1}{\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}}\right)}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}\left(\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}\right)}{\cos 20^{\circ}-\dfrac{1}{2}}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-1)}{4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-(\sin^2 10^{\circ} +\cos^2 10^{\circ}))}{4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3(\sin^2 10^{\circ} +\cos^2 10^{\circ})}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(3\cos^2 10^{\circ}-\sin^2 10^{\circ})}{\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3\sin^2 10^{\circ}}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(3-\tan^2 10^{\circ})}{1-3\tan^2 10^{\circ}}\\&=-\tan (3\times 10)^{\circ}\\&=\tan 150^{\circ}\end{align*}$

This gives $\angle CDP=180^{\circ}-150^{\circ}=30^{\circ}$.

But $\angle ACP=30^{\circ}+40^{\circ}=70^{\circ}$, we get $\angle ADC=70^{\circ}-30^{\circ}=40^{\circ}$.
How do we know that AC is perpendicular to BD
 
Re: Find \$\angle ADC\$

kaliprasad said:
How do we know that AC is perpendicular to BD

Hi kaliprasad!

Notice that $\angle A=50^{\circ}$ and $\angle B=40^{\circ}$, if we extend the lines $AC$ and $BD$, to form a triangle, we see that we will get a right-angled triangle.
 
Re: Find \$\angle ADC\$

anemone said:
My solution (I just solved it):
Let $B$ and $D$ be points on the $x$-axis and extend both the straight lines $BD$ and $AC$ such that they meet at $P$, where $\angle APB=90^{\circ}$ and $BP=k$.

\begin{tikzpicture}[auto]
\draw[thick, ->] (-1,0) -- (10,0) node[anchor = north west] {x};
\draw[thick, ->] (0,-9) -- (0,1) node[anchor = south east] {y};
\coordinate[label=left:B] (B) at (0,0);
\coordinate[label=right:P] (P) at (8,0);
\coordinate[label=left: D] (D) at (5,0);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (8,-3);
\coordinate[label=right:A] (A) at (8,-8);
\draw (B) to (P);
\draw (B) to (A);
\draw (D) to (A);
\draw (B) to (C);
\draw (A) to (P);
\draw (C) to (D);
\draw [dashed] (D) -- (3.6, 1.4);
\node (1) at (1.5,-0.2) {$10^{\circ}$};
\node (2) at (1.5,-0.9) {$30^{\circ}$};
\node (3) at (7,-6.3) {$30^{\circ}$};
\node (4) at (7.7,-6) {$20^{\circ}$};
\draw (P) rectangle +(-0.5, -0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

We then have

$C=\left(k, -k\tan 10^{\circ}\right)\\D=\left(\dfrac{k}{2\sin 110^{\circ}\cos 40^{\circ}}, 0\right)=\left(\dfrac{k}{\sin 150^{\circ}+\sin 70^{\circ}}, 0\right)=\left(\dfrac{k}{\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}}, 0\right)$

$\begin{align*}\text{Gradient of } l_{CD}&=\dfrac{-k\tan 10^{\circ}}{k\left(1-\dfrac{1}{\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}}\right)}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}\left(\frac{1}{2}+\cos 20^{\circ}\right)}{\cos 20^{\circ}-\dfrac{1}{2}}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-1)}{4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-(\sin^2 10^{\circ} +\cos^2 10^{\circ}))}{4\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3(\sin^2 10^{\circ} +\cos^2 10^{\circ})}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(3\cos^2 10^{\circ}-\sin^2 10^{\circ})}{\cos^2 10^{\circ}-3\sin^2 10^{\circ}}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 10^{\circ}(3-\tan^2 10^{\circ})}{1-3\tan^2 10^{\circ}}\\&=-\tan (3\times 10)^{\circ}\\&=\tan 150^{\circ}\end{align*}$

This gives $\angle CDP=180^{\circ}-150^{\circ}=30^{\circ}$.

But $\angle ACP=30^{\circ}+40^{\circ}=70^{\circ}$, we get $\angle ADC=70^{\circ}-30^{\circ}=40^{\circ}$.
[sp]Very nice solution, anemone! My only criticism is that the quadrilateral $ABCD$ is supposed to be convex. If the vertices $A,B,C,D$ are to be taken in that order then your quadrilateral is not convex. I think that the diagram should look more like this:
[TIKZ] [scale=0.75]
\coordinate[label=left:A] (A) at (-10,0);
\coordinate[label=right:B] (B) at (0,12);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (2,0);
\coordinate[label=below right: D] (D) at (0,-3.5);
\draw (A) -- (B) -- (C) -- (D) -- (A) -- (C);
\draw (B) -- (D);
\node at (0.7,10.5) {$\leftarrow 10^{\circ}$};
\node at (-8,-0.3) {$20^{\circ}$};
\node at (-0.5,10.5) {$40^{\circ}$};
\node at (-8.5,0.5) {$50^{\circ}$};
\draw (0,0) rectangle +(-0.5, 0.5);
[/TIKZ]
Your trigonometric argument then works almost exactly as before, but the final result is that $\angle ADC$ is then $70^{\circ} + 30^{\circ}$ instead of $70^{\circ}-30^{\circ}$. So I think that the answer should be $100^\circ$.[/sp]
 
Re: Find \$\angle ADC\$

I initially struggled as I didn't know for sure if the vertices $A,B,C,D$ are to be taken in that order or not...after I saw there was no reply to this challenge, I decided to go with my hunch that it is okay they are not ordered in alphabetical manner. Now, the more I read it, the more I think you are right, so, thanks so much to Opalg for pointing it out...

Here is the amended solution (with much more neater trigonometric argument(Sun)):
[TIKZ] [scale=0.75]
\coordinate[label=left:A] (A) at (-10,0);
\coordinate[label=right:B] (B) at (0,12);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (2,0);
\coordinate[label=below right: D] (D) at (0,-3.5);
\coordinate[label=below right:P] (P) at (0,0);
\draw (A) -- (B) -- (C) -- (D) -- (A) -- (C);
\draw (B) -- (D);
\node at (0.7,10.5) {$\leftarrow 10^{\circ}$};
\node at (-8,-0.3) {$20^{\circ}$};
\node at (-0.5,10.5) {$40^{\circ}$};
\node at (-8.5,0.5) {$50^{\circ}$};
\draw (0,0) rectangle +(-0.5, 0.5);
[/TIKZ]Let $A$ be the origin point in the Cartesian plan, $AC$ and $BD$ meet at $P$ and $AP=k$.

We then have

$D=\left(k, -k\tan 20^{\circ}\right)\\C=\left(k\left(1+\dfrac{\tan 10^{\circ}(1-\tan^2 20^{\circ})}{2\tan 20^{\circ}}\right), 0\right)=\left(k\left(\dfrac{2\tan 20^{\circ}+\tan 10^{\circ}(1-\tan^2 20^{\circ})}{2\tan 20^{\circ}}\right), 0\right)$

$\begin{align*}\text{Gradient of } l_{CD}&=\dfrac{-k\tan 20^{\circ}}{k\left(1-\dfrac{2\tan 20^{\circ}+\tan 10^{\circ}(1-\tan^2 20^{\circ})}{2\tan 20^{\circ}}\right)}\\&=\dfrac{-\tan 20^{\circ}\left(2\tan 20^{\circ}\right)}{-\tan 10^{\circ}(1-\tan^2 20^{\circ})}\\&=\tan20^{\circ}\tan40^{\circ} \tan80^{\circ}\\&=\tan (3\times 20)^{\circ}\\&=\tan60^{\circ}\end{align*}$

This means $\angle PCD=60^{\circ}$ and therefore $\angle PDC=30^{\circ}$.

This implies $\angle ADC=70^{\circ}+30^{\circ}=100^{\circ}$.
 

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