Proving Equality of Angles in an Acute Triangle

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the equality of angles in an acute triangle, specifically focusing on triangle $ABC$ with certain conditions regarding points $D$ and $E$ on side $BC$. The participants explore the implications of a point $P$ inside the triangle and its relationship to angles and parallel lines.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a geometric configuration involving triangle $ABC$, points $D$ and $E$, and a point $P$ such that $PD \parallel AE$ and $\angle BAP = \angle CAE$, leading to the claim that $\angle ABP = \angle ACP$.
  • Another participant expresses doubt about the validity of the argument and seeks confirmation or critique from others, indicating uncertainty about the soundness of the method used.
  • A participant shares their struggle with creating a diagram to support the argument, detailing their attempts to assign coordinates and apply various mathematical formulas, ultimately leading to frustration and a request for assistance from the community.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no clear consensus among participants regarding the validity of the argument or the feasibility of creating a suitable diagram. Multiple viewpoints and uncertainties are present, with some participants questioning the method while others provide assistance.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the participants' approaches, including difficulties in diagram construction and the complexity of the resulting equations. There are unresolved mathematical steps and assumptions regarding the geometric configuration.

anemone
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Given that $ABC$ is an acute triangle with $AC>AB$ and $D$ and $E$ be points on side $BC$ such that $BD=CE$ and $D$ lies between $B$ and $E$. Suppose there exists a point $P$ inside the triangle $ABC$ such that $PD$ is parallel to $AE$ and $\angle BAP=\angle CAE$.

Prove that $\angle ABP=\angle ACP$.
 
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[TIKZ]\draw[thin] (0,0) circle (5cm);
\coordinate[label=left:B] (B) at (-4,3);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (6,3);
\coordinate[label=above:A] (A) at (-0.33,7);
\coordinate[label=above: P] (P) at (-1,4.9);
\coordinate[label=left: G] (G) at (-5,-0);
\coordinate[label=right: F] (F) at (3.8,-3.25);
\coordinate[label=above: D] (D) at (-0.27,3);
\coordinate[label=below: E] (E) at (2.2,3);
\draw (B) -- (C)-- (A)-- (B);
\draw (B) -- (P)-- (C)-- (B);
\draw (B) -- (G)-- (F)-- (B);
\draw (P) -- (F);
\draw (A) -- (E);
\draw (A) -- (P);
\draw (G) -- (P);
\draw (C) -- (F);
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (A) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (A) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (G) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (G) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (E) -- (A) -- (C) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (A) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (F) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (F) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (A) -- (B) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (B) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (P) -- (G) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (P) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (A) -- (C) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (C) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (F) -- (G) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (F) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
[/TIKZ]

Let $ABFC$ and $ABGP$ be parallelograms. Since $\triangle AEC \cong \triangle FDB$, we have $\angle BFP=\angle BFD=\angle CAE=\angle BAP=\angle BGP$. This implies $BGFP$ are concyclic.

Since $\triangle APC \cong \triangle BGF$, we have $\angle ABP=\angle BPG=\angle BFG=\angle ACP$ (Q.E.D.).

Remark: I know the parallelogram $ABFC$ looks distorted, but please cut me some slack (LOL), I have been trying my best to draw the diagram in TiKZ and some of my initial attempts work some never (which puzzled me much). I will continue to investigate the whys and eventually I will replace this diagram with a perfect one. Thanks to Klaas van Aarsen for his patience and constant help to guide me through some of the issues I encountered.
 
Last edited:
I spent much time to solve for each coordinates in order to get a more concise diagram to showcase how the above argument works. But in the process of doing so, I can't help but started to have doubt about the validity of the argument and less sure if it is a sound method.

Can someone please weigh in?
 
anemone said:
I spent much time to solve for each coordinates in order to get a more concise diagram to showcase how the above argument works. But in the process of doing so, I can't help but started to have doubt about the validity of the argument and less sure if it is a sound method.

Can someone please weigh in?
[TIKZ]\draw[thin] (0,0) circle (5cm);
\coordinate[label=left:B] (B) at (-4,3);
\coordinate[label=right:C] (C) at (8.5,3);
\coordinate[label=above:A] (A) at (0,7.9);
\coordinate[label=above: P] (P) at (-1,4.9);
\coordinate[label=left: G] (G) at (-5,0);
\coordinate[label=right: F] (F) at (4.625,-1.9);
\coordinate[label=above: D] (D) at (0,3);
\coordinate[label=below: E] (E) at (3.7,3);
\draw (B) -- (C)-- (A)-- (B);
\draw (B) -- (P)-- (C)-- (B);
\draw (B) -- (G)-- (F)-- (B);
\draw (P) -- (F);
\draw (A) -- (E);
\draw (A) -- (P);
\draw (G) -- (P);
\draw (C) -- (F);
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (A) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (A) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (G) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (G) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (E) -- (A) -- (C) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (A) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (F) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,red,double] (F) circle (1.3295);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (A) -- (B) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (B) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (P) -- (G) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (P) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (A) -- (C) -- (P) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (C) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope}
\begin{scope}
\path[clip] (B) -- (F) -- (G) -- cycle;
\draw[thick,blue] (F) circle (0.4177);
\end{scope} [/TIKZ]
Does this help at all? I have kept all your TikZ coding apart from changing some of the coordinates. I had to cheat on the position of $E$ because if I had made $BD=EC$ then $E$ would have been almost exactly on the circle, which would be misleading. I concentrated on making the parallelograms the right shape. That has the effect of showing that $PCFG$ is also a parallelogram (because the sides $GP$ and $FC$ are equal and parallel). That in turn explains why the triangles $APC$ and $BGF$ are congruent, which I previously found hard to see.

I am definitely happy about the validity of the argument.
 
Thanks Opalg for your help to salvage my diagram...(Handshake) I deeply appreciate it. I have tried so many different pairs of coordinates but still I couldn't get it to work. I even tried to solve for all the coordinates by at first letting coordinates $B, P, A$ to take on some values, and worked out the rest, using a bunch of formulas (distance and gradient, along with Sine and Cosine Rules) and in the end, I got a really ugly equation in two variables to solve. I guessed and checked the answer and still, I couldn't get to draw a perfect diagram to illustrate the whole thing. I tried again and again, exhausting all my energy and patience, and that was when I started to think if it is even possible to draw such a diagram. And I had to ask the members of MHB to help me out...

You just saved my day, Opalg! Without your help, I would still continue trying for more today and more hair tearing would ensue. Now, I can put this to rest. (Happy)
 

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