Angle of a triangle inscribed in a square
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Say we have a square $ABCD$. Put points $E$ and $F$ on sides $AB$ and $BC$ respectively, so that $BE = BF$. Let $BN$ be the altitude in triangle $BCE$. What is $angle DNF$?
I'm inclined to say that it's a right angle because that's what it looks like from what I've drawn, but I have no idea how to proceed.
geometry
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add a comment |
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Say we have a square $ABCD$. Put points $E$ and $F$ on sides $AB$ and $BC$ respectively, so that $BE = BF$. Let $BN$ be the altitude in triangle $BCE$. What is $angle DNF$?
I'm inclined to say that it's a right angle because that's what it looks like from what I've drawn, but I have no idea how to proceed.
geometry
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I have given an argument why your conjecture is true. I am more interested in why you looked at this problem and how you came up with this neat little conjecture.
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– user17762
Jun 5 '12 at 5:29
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If you want a purely Euclidean-geometry proof, you might start by noting the similarity of triangles $EBC$, $ENB$, and $BNC$, and then trying to prove that triangles $BNF$ and $CND$ are similar. I'm not sure exactly how the proof will go, but it feels doable.
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– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 5:32
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@Marvis I'm in a 2nd year geometry course, and this is part of my homework due on Friday. I'm being a keener and getting it done early :) I just guessed on the right angle part.
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– Charlie
Jun 5 '12 at 5:46
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Say we have a square $ABCD$. Put points $E$ and $F$ on sides $AB$ and $BC$ respectively, so that $BE = BF$. Let $BN$ be the altitude in triangle $BCE$. What is $angle DNF$?
I'm inclined to say that it's a right angle because that's what it looks like from what I've drawn, but I have no idea how to proceed.
geometry
$endgroup$
Say we have a square $ABCD$. Put points $E$ and $F$ on sides $AB$ and $BC$ respectively, so that $BE = BF$. Let $BN$ be the altitude in triangle $BCE$. What is $angle DNF$?
I'm inclined to say that it's a right angle because that's what it looks like from what I've drawn, but I have no idea how to proceed.
geometry
geometry
edited Dec 23 '18 at 10:15
Glorfindel
3,41381930
3,41381930
asked Jun 5 '12 at 5:07
CharlieCharlie
9237
9237
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I have given an argument why your conjecture is true. I am more interested in why you looked at this problem and how you came up with this neat little conjecture.
$endgroup$
– user17762
Jun 5 '12 at 5:29
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If you want a purely Euclidean-geometry proof, you might start by noting the similarity of triangles $EBC$, $ENB$, and $BNC$, and then trying to prove that triangles $BNF$ and $CND$ are similar. I'm not sure exactly how the proof will go, but it feels doable.
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– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 5:32
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@Marvis I'm in a 2nd year geometry course, and this is part of my homework due on Friday. I'm being a keener and getting it done early :) I just guessed on the right angle part.
$endgroup$
– Charlie
Jun 5 '12 at 5:46
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I have given an argument why your conjecture is true. I am more interested in why you looked at this problem and how you came up with this neat little conjecture.
$endgroup$
– user17762
Jun 5 '12 at 5:29
$begingroup$
If you want a purely Euclidean-geometry proof, you might start by noting the similarity of triangles $EBC$, $ENB$, and $BNC$, and then trying to prove that triangles $BNF$ and $CND$ are similar. I'm not sure exactly how the proof will go, but it feels doable.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 5:32
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@Marvis I'm in a 2nd year geometry course, and this is part of my homework due on Friday. I'm being a keener and getting it done early :) I just guessed on the right angle part.
$endgroup$
– Charlie
Jun 5 '12 at 5:46
$begingroup$
I have given an argument why your conjecture is true. I am more interested in why you looked at this problem and how you came up with this neat little conjecture.
$endgroup$
– user17762
Jun 5 '12 at 5:29
$begingroup$
I have given an argument why your conjecture is true. I am more interested in why you looked at this problem and how you came up with this neat little conjecture.
$endgroup$
– user17762
Jun 5 '12 at 5:29
$begingroup$
If you want a purely Euclidean-geometry proof, you might start by noting the similarity of triangles $EBC$, $ENB$, and $BNC$, and then trying to prove that triangles $BNF$ and $CND$ are similar. I'm not sure exactly how the proof will go, but it feels doable.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 5:32
$begingroup$
If you want a purely Euclidean-geometry proof, you might start by noting the similarity of triangles $EBC$, $ENB$, and $BNC$, and then trying to prove that triangles $BNF$ and $CND$ are similar. I'm not sure exactly how the proof will go, but it feels doable.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 5:32
$begingroup$
@Marvis I'm in a 2nd year geometry course, and this is part of my homework due on Friday. I'm being a keener and getting it done early :) I just guessed on the right angle part.
$endgroup$
– Charlie
Jun 5 '12 at 5:46
$begingroup$
@Marvis I'm in a 2nd year geometry course, and this is part of my homework due on Friday. I'm being a keener and getting it done early :) I just guessed on the right angle part.
$endgroup$
– Charlie
Jun 5 '12 at 5:46
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
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$angle DNF = 90^circ Longleftrightarrow angle BNF = angle CND$. It suffics to prove that $triangle BNF sim triangle CND$.
Well, it's trivial:
$angle NBF = angle BEC = angle NCD$ and $displaystyle frac{NB}{BF} = frac{NB}{BE} = sinangle NEB = cosangle NCB = frac{NC}{CB} = frac{NC}{CD}$. Q.E.D
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That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
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– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
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@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
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– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
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Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
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– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
add a comment |
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Firstly We can write
(1) Oklid relation from $triangle CNB$
$h^2=m(k+x)$
(2) Pisagor relation from $triangle DPN$
$a^2=(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2$
(3) Pisagor relation from $triangle FRN$
$b^2=h^2+k^2$
(4) Pisagor relation from $triangle DCF$
$c^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
if DNF triange is a right triangle,It must satisfy $a^2+b^2=c^2$.
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m)^2-2h(x+k+m)+h^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2-2h(x+k+m)+2h^2+k^2=x^2$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+h^2=0$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+m(k+x)=0$
$-h(x+k+m)+(k+m)(k+x)=0$
$frac{x+k}{x+k+m}=frac{h}{k+m}$
This result is equal to the rates of thales formula for similar triangles $triangle CRN sim triangle CBE$
Thus $a^2+b^2=c^2$ is correct for $triangle DNF$ .
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add a comment |
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Let us do it through coordinate geometry. Let $B$ be the origin. Lets fix the coordinates first. $$A = (0,a)\ B = (0,0) \ C = (a,0)\ D = (a,a)$$ Since $E$ and $F$ are equidistant from $B$, lets say $$F = (b,0)\ E = (0,b)$$ where $0 leq b leq a$. The equation of the line $CE$ is $dfrac{x}{a} + dfrac{y}{b} = 1$. The equation of $BN$ is $y = dfrac{a}{b}x$. This gives us the coordinate of $N$ as $left( dfrac{ab^2}{a^2 + b^2},dfrac{a^2b}{a^2 + b^2} right)$.
The slope of $FN$ is $m_1 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - 0}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-b} = dfrac{a^2}{ab - a^2 - b^2}$.
The slope of $DN$ is $m_2 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - a}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-a} = dfrac{ab - a^2 - b^2}{b^2 - a^2 - b^2} = - left(dfrac{ab-a^2-b^2}{a^2} right)$.
Hence, the product of the slopes is $m_1m_2 = -1$. Hence your conjecture is indeed correct. I am waiting for someone to post a nicer geometric argument.
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HINT: Try to resort to Homothetic transformation and you're done immediately. Another way is to connect $N$ to the middle of the $DF$ (let's call that point $M$) and prove that you have there $NM$=$DM$=$MF$ (here you may resort to Apollonius' theorem). You also could resort to the cyclic quadrilaterals as another approaching way.
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4 Answers
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4 Answers
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$begingroup$
$angle DNF = 90^circ Longleftrightarrow angle BNF = angle CND$. It suffics to prove that $triangle BNF sim triangle CND$.
Well, it's trivial:
$angle NBF = angle BEC = angle NCD$ and $displaystyle frac{NB}{BF} = frac{NB}{BE} = sinangle NEB = cosangle NCB = frac{NC}{CB} = frac{NC}{CD}$. Q.E.D
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$begingroup$
That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
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@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
$endgroup$
– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
$begingroup$
Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
add a comment |
$begingroup$
$angle DNF = 90^circ Longleftrightarrow angle BNF = angle CND$. It suffics to prove that $triangle BNF sim triangle CND$.
Well, it's trivial:
$angle NBF = angle BEC = angle NCD$ and $displaystyle frac{NB}{BF} = frac{NB}{BE} = sinangle NEB = cosangle NCB = frac{NC}{CB} = frac{NC}{CD}$. Q.E.D
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
$begingroup$
@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
$endgroup$
– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
$begingroup$
Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
add a comment |
$begingroup$
$angle DNF = 90^circ Longleftrightarrow angle BNF = angle CND$. It suffics to prove that $triangle BNF sim triangle CND$.
Well, it's trivial:
$angle NBF = angle BEC = angle NCD$ and $displaystyle frac{NB}{BF} = frac{NB}{BE} = sinangle NEB = cosangle NCB = frac{NC}{CB} = frac{NC}{CD}$. Q.E.D
$endgroup$
$angle DNF = 90^circ Longleftrightarrow angle BNF = angle CND$. It suffics to prove that $triangle BNF sim triangle CND$.
Well, it's trivial:
$angle NBF = angle BEC = angle NCD$ and $displaystyle frac{NB}{BF} = frac{NB}{BE} = sinangle NEB = cosangle NCB = frac{NC}{CB} = frac{NC}{CD}$. Q.E.D
answered Jun 5 '12 at 7:06
Yai0PhahYai0Phah
4,78511356
4,78511356
$begingroup$
That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
$begingroup$
@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
$endgroup$
– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
$begingroup$
Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
add a comment |
$begingroup$
That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
$begingroup$
@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
$endgroup$
– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
$begingroup$
Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
$begingroup$
That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
$begingroup$
That $NB/BE = NC/CB$ follows from the similarity of right triangles $ENB$ and $BNC$ without need for trigonometry. Nice proof!
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 7:16
$begingroup$
@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
$endgroup$
– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
$begingroup$
@RahulNarain Trigonometry is an abbreviation of similiar triangles here because we don't use angle transformation formulas such as $sin(alpha+beta)=cdots$.
$endgroup$
– Yai0Phah
Jun 5 '12 at 7:20
$begingroup$
Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
$begingroup$
Indeed; what I meant to say was that the use of trigonometric notation is not needed. It suggests that more powerful machinery is being employed than actually is.
$endgroup$
– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 9:12
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Firstly We can write
(1) Oklid relation from $triangle CNB$
$h^2=m(k+x)$
(2) Pisagor relation from $triangle DPN$
$a^2=(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2$
(3) Pisagor relation from $triangle FRN$
$b^2=h^2+k^2$
(4) Pisagor relation from $triangle DCF$
$c^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
if DNF triange is a right triangle,It must satisfy $a^2+b^2=c^2$.
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m)^2-2h(x+k+m)+h^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2-2h(x+k+m)+2h^2+k^2=x^2$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+h^2=0$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+m(k+x)=0$
$-h(x+k+m)+(k+m)(k+x)=0$
$frac{x+k}{x+k+m}=frac{h}{k+m}$
This result is equal to the rates of thales formula for similar triangles $triangle CRN sim triangle CBE$
Thus $a^2+b^2=c^2$ is correct for $triangle DNF$ .
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Firstly We can write
(1) Oklid relation from $triangle CNB$
$h^2=m(k+x)$
(2) Pisagor relation from $triangle DPN$
$a^2=(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2$
(3) Pisagor relation from $triangle FRN$
$b^2=h^2+k^2$
(4) Pisagor relation from $triangle DCF$
$c^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
if DNF triange is a right triangle,It must satisfy $a^2+b^2=c^2$.
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m)^2-2h(x+k+m)+h^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2-2h(x+k+m)+2h^2+k^2=x^2$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+h^2=0$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+m(k+x)=0$
$-h(x+k+m)+(k+m)(k+x)=0$
$frac{x+k}{x+k+m}=frac{h}{k+m}$
This result is equal to the rates of thales formula for similar triangles $triangle CRN sim triangle CBE$
Thus $a^2+b^2=c^2$ is correct for $triangle DNF$ .
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Firstly We can write
(1) Oklid relation from $triangle CNB$
$h^2=m(k+x)$
(2) Pisagor relation from $triangle DPN$
$a^2=(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2$
(3) Pisagor relation from $triangle FRN$
$b^2=h^2+k^2$
(4) Pisagor relation from $triangle DCF$
$c^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
if DNF triange is a right triangle,It must satisfy $a^2+b^2=c^2$.
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m)^2-2h(x+k+m)+h^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2-2h(x+k+m)+2h^2+k^2=x^2$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+h^2=0$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+m(k+x)=0$
$-h(x+k+m)+(k+m)(k+x)=0$
$frac{x+k}{x+k+m}=frac{h}{k+m}$
This result is equal to the rates of thales formula for similar triangles $triangle CRN sim triangle CBE$
Thus $a^2+b^2=c^2$ is correct for $triangle DNF$ .
$endgroup$
Firstly We can write
(1) Oklid relation from $triangle CNB$
$h^2=m(k+x)$
(2) Pisagor relation from $triangle DPN$
$a^2=(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2$
(3) Pisagor relation from $triangle FRN$
$b^2=h^2+k^2$
(4) Pisagor relation from $triangle DCF$
$c^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
if DNF triange is a right triangle,It must satisfy $a^2+b^2=c^2$.
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m-h)^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2+(x+k+m)^2-2h(x+k+m)+h^2+h^2+k^2=x^2+(x+k+m)^2$
$(x+k)^2-2h(x+k+m)+2h^2+k^2=x^2$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+h^2=0$
$xk+k^2-h(x+k+m)+m(k+x)=0$
$-h(x+k+m)+(k+m)(k+x)=0$
$frac{x+k}{x+k+m}=frac{h}{k+m}$
This result is equal to the rates of thales formula for similar triangles $triangle CRN sim triangle CBE$
Thus $a^2+b^2=c^2$ is correct for $triangle DNF$ .
edited Jun 5 '12 at 14:04
answered Jun 5 '12 at 8:45
MathloverMathlover
6,27222469
6,27222469
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let us do it through coordinate geometry. Let $B$ be the origin. Lets fix the coordinates first. $$A = (0,a)\ B = (0,0) \ C = (a,0)\ D = (a,a)$$ Since $E$ and $F$ are equidistant from $B$, lets say $$F = (b,0)\ E = (0,b)$$ where $0 leq b leq a$. The equation of the line $CE$ is $dfrac{x}{a} + dfrac{y}{b} = 1$. The equation of $BN$ is $y = dfrac{a}{b}x$. This gives us the coordinate of $N$ as $left( dfrac{ab^2}{a^2 + b^2},dfrac{a^2b}{a^2 + b^2} right)$.
The slope of $FN$ is $m_1 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - 0}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-b} = dfrac{a^2}{ab - a^2 - b^2}$.
The slope of $DN$ is $m_2 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - a}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-a} = dfrac{ab - a^2 - b^2}{b^2 - a^2 - b^2} = - left(dfrac{ab-a^2-b^2}{a^2} right)$.
Hence, the product of the slopes is $m_1m_2 = -1$. Hence your conjecture is indeed correct. I am waiting for someone to post a nicer geometric argument.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let us do it through coordinate geometry. Let $B$ be the origin. Lets fix the coordinates first. $$A = (0,a)\ B = (0,0) \ C = (a,0)\ D = (a,a)$$ Since $E$ and $F$ are equidistant from $B$, lets say $$F = (b,0)\ E = (0,b)$$ where $0 leq b leq a$. The equation of the line $CE$ is $dfrac{x}{a} + dfrac{y}{b} = 1$. The equation of $BN$ is $y = dfrac{a}{b}x$. This gives us the coordinate of $N$ as $left( dfrac{ab^2}{a^2 + b^2},dfrac{a^2b}{a^2 + b^2} right)$.
The slope of $FN$ is $m_1 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - 0}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-b} = dfrac{a^2}{ab - a^2 - b^2}$.
The slope of $DN$ is $m_2 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - a}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-a} = dfrac{ab - a^2 - b^2}{b^2 - a^2 - b^2} = - left(dfrac{ab-a^2-b^2}{a^2} right)$.
Hence, the product of the slopes is $m_1m_2 = -1$. Hence your conjecture is indeed correct. I am waiting for someone to post a nicer geometric argument.
$endgroup$
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Let us do it through coordinate geometry. Let $B$ be the origin. Lets fix the coordinates first. $$A = (0,a)\ B = (0,0) \ C = (a,0)\ D = (a,a)$$ Since $E$ and $F$ are equidistant from $B$, lets say $$F = (b,0)\ E = (0,b)$$ where $0 leq b leq a$. The equation of the line $CE$ is $dfrac{x}{a} + dfrac{y}{b} = 1$. The equation of $BN$ is $y = dfrac{a}{b}x$. This gives us the coordinate of $N$ as $left( dfrac{ab^2}{a^2 + b^2},dfrac{a^2b}{a^2 + b^2} right)$.
The slope of $FN$ is $m_1 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - 0}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-b} = dfrac{a^2}{ab - a^2 - b^2}$.
The slope of $DN$ is $m_2 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - a}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-a} = dfrac{ab - a^2 - b^2}{b^2 - a^2 - b^2} = - left(dfrac{ab-a^2-b^2}{a^2} right)$.
Hence, the product of the slopes is $m_1m_2 = -1$. Hence your conjecture is indeed correct. I am waiting for someone to post a nicer geometric argument.
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Let us do it through coordinate geometry. Let $B$ be the origin. Lets fix the coordinates first. $$A = (0,a)\ B = (0,0) \ C = (a,0)\ D = (a,a)$$ Since $E$ and $F$ are equidistant from $B$, lets say $$F = (b,0)\ E = (0,b)$$ where $0 leq b leq a$. The equation of the line $CE$ is $dfrac{x}{a} + dfrac{y}{b} = 1$. The equation of $BN$ is $y = dfrac{a}{b}x$. This gives us the coordinate of $N$ as $left( dfrac{ab^2}{a^2 + b^2},dfrac{a^2b}{a^2 + b^2} right)$.
The slope of $FN$ is $m_1 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - 0}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-b} = dfrac{a^2}{ab - a^2 - b^2}$.
The slope of $DN$ is $m_2 = dfrac{a^2b/(a^2+b^2) - a}{ab^2/(a^2+b^2)-a} = dfrac{ab - a^2 - b^2}{b^2 - a^2 - b^2} = - left(dfrac{ab-a^2-b^2}{a^2} right)$.
Hence, the product of the slopes is $m_1m_2 = -1$. Hence your conjecture is indeed correct. I am waiting for someone to post a nicer geometric argument.
answered Jun 5 '12 at 5:27
user17762
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HINT: Try to resort to Homothetic transformation and you're done immediately. Another way is to connect $N$ to the middle of the $DF$ (let's call that point $M$) and prove that you have there $NM$=$DM$=$MF$ (here you may resort to Apollonius' theorem). You also could resort to the cyclic quadrilaterals as another approaching way.
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add a comment |
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HINT: Try to resort to Homothetic transformation and you're done immediately. Another way is to connect $N$ to the middle of the $DF$ (let's call that point $M$) and prove that you have there $NM$=$DM$=$MF$ (here you may resort to Apollonius' theorem). You also could resort to the cyclic quadrilaterals as another approaching way.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
HINT: Try to resort to Homothetic transformation and you're done immediately. Another way is to connect $N$ to the middle of the $DF$ (let's call that point $M$) and prove that you have there $NM$=$DM$=$MF$ (here you may resort to Apollonius' theorem). You also could resort to the cyclic quadrilaterals as another approaching way.
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HINT: Try to resort to Homothetic transformation and you're done immediately. Another way is to connect $N$ to the middle of the $DF$ (let's call that point $M$) and prove that you have there $NM$=$DM$=$MF$ (here you may resort to Apollonius' theorem). You also could resort to the cyclic quadrilaterals as another approaching way.
edited Jun 5 '12 at 22:13
answered Jun 5 '12 at 21:35
user 1357113user 1357113
22.6k878227
22.6k878227
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I have given an argument why your conjecture is true. I am more interested in why you looked at this problem and how you came up with this neat little conjecture.
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– user17762
Jun 5 '12 at 5:29
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If you want a purely Euclidean-geometry proof, you might start by noting the similarity of triangles $EBC$, $ENB$, and $BNC$, and then trying to prove that triangles $BNF$ and $CND$ are similar. I'm not sure exactly how the proof will go, but it feels doable.
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– Rahul
Jun 5 '12 at 5:32
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@Marvis I'm in a 2nd year geometry course, and this is part of my homework due on Friday. I'm being a keener and getting it done early :) I just guessed on the right angle part.
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– Charlie
Jun 5 '12 at 5:46