Find the length x such that the two distances in the triangle are the same
$begingroup$
I have been working on the following problem
Statement
Assume you have a right angle triangle $Delta ABC$ with cateti $a$, $b$ and hypotenuse $c = sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$. Find or construct a point $D$ on the hypothenuse such that the distance $|CD| = |DE|$, where $E$ is positioned on $AB$ in such a way that $DEparallel BC$ ($DE$ is parallel to $BC$).

Background
My background for wanting such a distance is that I want to create a semicircle from C onto the line $AB$. This can be made clearer in the image below

To be able to make sure the angles is right, I needed the red and blue line to be of same length. This lead to this problem
Solution
Using similar triangles one arrives at the three equations
$$
begin{align*}
frac{color{blue}{text{blue}}}{a - x} & = frac{b}{a} \
frac{color{red}{text{red}}}{x} & = frac{c}{a} \
color{red}{text{red}} & = color{blue}{text{blue}}
end{align*}
$$
Where one easily can solve for $color{blue}{text{blue}}$, $color{red}{text{red}}$, $x$.
Question
I feel my solution is quite barbaric and I feel that there is a better way to solve this problem. Is there another shorter, better, more intuitive solution. Or perhaps there exists a a way to construct the point $D$ in a simpler matter?
geometry triangles geometric-construction congruences-geometry
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I have been working on the following problem
Statement
Assume you have a right angle triangle $Delta ABC$ with cateti $a$, $b$ and hypotenuse $c = sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$. Find or construct a point $D$ on the hypothenuse such that the distance $|CD| = |DE|$, where $E$ is positioned on $AB$ in such a way that $DEparallel BC$ ($DE$ is parallel to $BC$).

Background
My background for wanting such a distance is that I want to create a semicircle from C onto the line $AB$. This can be made clearer in the image below

To be able to make sure the angles is right, I needed the red and blue line to be of same length. This lead to this problem
Solution
Using similar triangles one arrives at the three equations
$$
begin{align*}
frac{color{blue}{text{blue}}}{a - x} & = frac{b}{a} \
frac{color{red}{text{red}}}{x} & = frac{c}{a} \
color{red}{text{red}} & = color{blue}{text{blue}}
end{align*}
$$
Where one easily can solve for $color{blue}{text{blue}}$, $color{red}{text{red}}$, $x$.
Question
I feel my solution is quite barbaric and I feel that there is a better way to solve this problem. Is there another shorter, better, more intuitive solution. Or perhaps there exists a a way to construct the point $D$ in a simpler matter?
geometry triangles geometric-construction congruences-geometry
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
You still have not described what $F$ is either from the statement or from the graph.
$endgroup$
– Hw Chu
Apr 17 at 16:42
$begingroup$
Right when I said $F$ i meant $E$. I will fix it in the problem statement =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 16:47
$begingroup$
cateti is Italian for legs
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Apr 17 at 16:56
1
$begingroup$
Your system of equations very quickly and easily simplifies to $x=ab/(b+c).$ That does not seem too ugly. But the half-angle method also works. In fact, your problem is a nice way to derive at least one of the half-angle formulas for the tangent function!
$endgroup$
– David K
Apr 17 at 20:25
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I have been working on the following problem
Statement
Assume you have a right angle triangle $Delta ABC$ with cateti $a$, $b$ and hypotenuse $c = sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$. Find or construct a point $D$ on the hypothenuse such that the distance $|CD| = |DE|$, where $E$ is positioned on $AB$ in such a way that $DEparallel BC$ ($DE$ is parallel to $BC$).

Background
My background for wanting such a distance is that I want to create a semicircle from C onto the line $AB$. This can be made clearer in the image below

To be able to make sure the angles is right, I needed the red and blue line to be of same length. This lead to this problem
Solution
Using similar triangles one arrives at the three equations
$$
begin{align*}
frac{color{blue}{text{blue}}}{a - x} & = frac{b}{a} \
frac{color{red}{text{red}}}{x} & = frac{c}{a} \
color{red}{text{red}} & = color{blue}{text{blue}}
end{align*}
$$
Where one easily can solve for $color{blue}{text{blue}}$, $color{red}{text{red}}$, $x$.
Question
I feel my solution is quite barbaric and I feel that there is a better way to solve this problem. Is there another shorter, better, more intuitive solution. Or perhaps there exists a a way to construct the point $D$ in a simpler matter?
geometry triangles geometric-construction congruences-geometry
$endgroup$
I have been working on the following problem
Statement
Assume you have a right angle triangle $Delta ABC$ with cateti $a$, $b$ and hypotenuse $c = sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$. Find or construct a point $D$ on the hypothenuse such that the distance $|CD| = |DE|$, where $E$ is positioned on $AB$ in such a way that $DEparallel BC$ ($DE$ is parallel to $BC$).

Background
My background for wanting such a distance is that I want to create a semicircle from C onto the line $AB$. This can be made clearer in the image below

To be able to make sure the angles is right, I needed the red and blue line to be of same length. This lead to this problem
Solution
Using similar triangles one arrives at the three equations
$$
begin{align*}
frac{color{blue}{text{blue}}}{a - x} & = frac{b}{a} \
frac{color{red}{text{red}}}{x} & = frac{c}{a} \
color{red}{text{red}} & = color{blue}{text{blue}}
end{align*}
$$
Where one easily can solve for $color{blue}{text{blue}}$, $color{red}{text{red}}$, $x$.
Question
I feel my solution is quite barbaric and I feel that there is a better way to solve this problem. Is there another shorter, better, more intuitive solution. Or perhaps there exists a a way to construct the point $D$ in a simpler matter?
geometry triangles geometric-construction congruences-geometry
geometry triangles geometric-construction congruences-geometry
edited Apr 17 at 16:48
N3buchadnezzar
asked Apr 17 at 16:36
N3buchadnezzarN3buchadnezzar
6,04233475
6,04233475
1
$begingroup$
You still have not described what $F$ is either from the statement or from the graph.
$endgroup$
– Hw Chu
Apr 17 at 16:42
$begingroup$
Right when I said $F$ i meant $E$. I will fix it in the problem statement =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 16:47
$begingroup$
cateti is Italian for legs
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Apr 17 at 16:56
1
$begingroup$
Your system of equations very quickly and easily simplifies to $x=ab/(b+c).$ That does not seem too ugly. But the half-angle method also works. In fact, your problem is a nice way to derive at least one of the half-angle formulas for the tangent function!
$endgroup$
– David K
Apr 17 at 20:25
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
You still have not described what $F$ is either from the statement or from the graph.
$endgroup$
– Hw Chu
Apr 17 at 16:42
$begingroup$
Right when I said $F$ i meant $E$. I will fix it in the problem statement =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 16:47
$begingroup$
cateti is Italian for legs
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Apr 17 at 16:56
1
$begingroup$
Your system of equations very quickly and easily simplifies to $x=ab/(b+c).$ That does not seem too ugly. But the half-angle method also works. In fact, your problem is a nice way to derive at least one of the half-angle formulas for the tangent function!
$endgroup$
– David K
Apr 17 at 20:25
1
1
$begingroup$
You still have not described what $F$ is either from the statement or from the graph.
$endgroup$
– Hw Chu
Apr 17 at 16:42
$begingroup$
You still have not described what $F$ is either from the statement or from the graph.
$endgroup$
– Hw Chu
Apr 17 at 16:42
$begingroup$
Right when I said $F$ i meant $E$. I will fix it in the problem statement =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 16:47
$begingroup$
Right when I said $F$ i meant $E$. I will fix it in the problem statement =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 16:47
$begingroup$
cateti is Italian for legs
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Apr 17 at 16:56
$begingroup$
cateti is Italian for legs
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Apr 17 at 16:56
1
1
$begingroup$
Your system of equations very quickly and easily simplifies to $x=ab/(b+c).$ That does not seem too ugly. But the half-angle method also works. In fact, your problem is a nice way to derive at least one of the half-angle formulas for the tangent function!
$endgroup$
– David K
Apr 17 at 20:25
$begingroup$
Your system of equations very quickly and easily simplifies to $x=ab/(b+c).$ That does not seem too ugly. But the half-angle method also works. In fact, your problem is a nice way to derive at least one of the half-angle formulas for the tangent function!
$endgroup$
– David K
Apr 17 at 20:25
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$

Let the angle bisector of $angle ACB$ intersect side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$.
Let the measure of $angle ACB$ be $alpha$.
Then $m angle ACE = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Let the line perpendicular to side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$ intersect side
$overline{AC}$ at point $D$.
Since $overline{ED}$ is parallel to $overline{BC}$, then
$angle ADE cong angle ACB$.
By the exterior angle theorem, $mangle DEC = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Hence $triangle EDC$ is isoceles.
So $CD = DE$.
(Added later). Assuming that the sides have lengths of $x$ and $y$, and that
$r = sqrt{x^2+y^2}$, the lengths of the segments are displayed below.

$endgroup$
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The curve that traces out the points that are equidistant to $C$ and the line extension of $AB$ is a parabola with focus $C$ and directrix $AB$.
Choosing a convenient coordinate system (parallel to $AB$ with $B$ as the origin), I get the equation $y = frac{x^2}{2b} + frac{b}{2}$, which you want to intersect with the line $y = frac{b}{a}x + b$.
Solving, I get that the point $D$ has $(x,y)$ coordinates of $x = frac{b(b - c)}{a}$ and $y = frac{bc(c - b)}{a^2}$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $$CD=DE=y$$ then we get $$frac{b}{c}=frac{y}{c-y}$$ so $$y=frac{bc}{b+c}$$
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not sure if this is less barbaric but using simple trig: $DE=(a-x)tan A$, $DC=frac{x}{cos A}$ so the equation to solve is $$(a-x)frac{b}{a}=frac{xsqrt{a^2+b^2}}{a}$$ or $$x=frac{ab}{sqrt{a^2+b^2}+b}$$
Just another idea to construct point $E$: since $triangle{DCE}$ is isosceles, it's easy to find $angle{ACE}=(90°-A)/2$
$endgroup$
add a comment |
Your Answer
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$

Let the angle bisector of $angle ACB$ intersect side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$.
Let the measure of $angle ACB$ be $alpha$.
Then $m angle ACE = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Let the line perpendicular to side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$ intersect side
$overline{AC}$ at point $D$.
Since $overline{ED}$ is parallel to $overline{BC}$, then
$angle ADE cong angle ACB$.
By the exterior angle theorem, $mangle DEC = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Hence $triangle EDC$ is isoceles.
So $CD = DE$.
(Added later). Assuming that the sides have lengths of $x$ and $y$, and that
$r = sqrt{x^2+y^2}$, the lengths of the segments are displayed below.

$endgroup$
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$

Let the angle bisector of $angle ACB$ intersect side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$.
Let the measure of $angle ACB$ be $alpha$.
Then $m angle ACE = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Let the line perpendicular to side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$ intersect side
$overline{AC}$ at point $D$.
Since $overline{ED}$ is parallel to $overline{BC}$, then
$angle ADE cong angle ACB$.
By the exterior angle theorem, $mangle DEC = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Hence $triangle EDC$ is isoceles.
So $CD = DE$.
(Added later). Assuming that the sides have lengths of $x$ and $y$, and that
$r = sqrt{x^2+y^2}$, the lengths of the segments are displayed below.

$endgroup$
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$

Let the angle bisector of $angle ACB$ intersect side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$.
Let the measure of $angle ACB$ be $alpha$.
Then $m angle ACE = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Let the line perpendicular to side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$ intersect side
$overline{AC}$ at point $D$.
Since $overline{ED}$ is parallel to $overline{BC}$, then
$angle ADE cong angle ACB$.
By the exterior angle theorem, $mangle DEC = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Hence $triangle EDC$ is isoceles.
So $CD = DE$.
(Added later). Assuming that the sides have lengths of $x$ and $y$, and that
$r = sqrt{x^2+y^2}$, the lengths of the segments are displayed below.

$endgroup$

Let the angle bisector of $angle ACB$ intersect side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$.
Let the measure of $angle ACB$ be $alpha$.
Then $m angle ACE = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Let the line perpendicular to side $overline{AB}$ at point $E$ intersect side
$overline{AC}$ at point $D$.
Since $overline{ED}$ is parallel to $overline{BC}$, then
$angle ADE cong angle ACB$.
By the exterior angle theorem, $mangle DEC = dfrac{alpha}{2}$.
Hence $triangle EDC$ is isoceles.
So $CD = DE$.
(Added later). Assuming that the sides have lengths of $x$ and $y$, and that
$r = sqrt{x^2+y^2}$, the lengths of the segments are displayed below.

edited Apr 18 at 1:28
answered Apr 17 at 17:46
steven gregorysteven gregory
18.5k32459
18.5k32459
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
$begingroup$
This is exactly what I was looking for =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 18:24
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The curve that traces out the points that are equidistant to $C$ and the line extension of $AB$ is a parabola with focus $C$ and directrix $AB$.
Choosing a convenient coordinate system (parallel to $AB$ with $B$ as the origin), I get the equation $y = frac{x^2}{2b} + frac{b}{2}$, which you want to intersect with the line $y = frac{b}{a}x + b$.
Solving, I get that the point $D$ has $(x,y)$ coordinates of $x = frac{b(b - c)}{a}$ and $y = frac{bc(c - b)}{a^2}$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The curve that traces out the points that are equidistant to $C$ and the line extension of $AB$ is a parabola with focus $C$ and directrix $AB$.
Choosing a convenient coordinate system (parallel to $AB$ with $B$ as the origin), I get the equation $y = frac{x^2}{2b} + frac{b}{2}$, which you want to intersect with the line $y = frac{b}{a}x + b$.
Solving, I get that the point $D$ has $(x,y)$ coordinates of $x = frac{b(b - c)}{a}$ and $y = frac{bc(c - b)}{a^2}$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The curve that traces out the points that are equidistant to $C$ and the line extension of $AB$ is a parabola with focus $C$ and directrix $AB$.
Choosing a convenient coordinate system (parallel to $AB$ with $B$ as the origin), I get the equation $y = frac{x^2}{2b} + frac{b}{2}$, which you want to intersect with the line $y = frac{b}{a}x + b$.
Solving, I get that the point $D$ has $(x,y)$ coordinates of $x = frac{b(b - c)}{a}$ and $y = frac{bc(c - b)}{a^2}$.
$endgroup$
The curve that traces out the points that are equidistant to $C$ and the line extension of $AB$ is a parabola with focus $C$ and directrix $AB$.
Choosing a convenient coordinate system (parallel to $AB$ with $B$ as the origin), I get the equation $y = frac{x^2}{2b} + frac{b}{2}$, which you want to intersect with the line $y = frac{b}{a}x + b$.
Solving, I get that the point $D$ has $(x,y)$ coordinates of $x = frac{b(b - c)}{a}$ and $y = frac{bc(c - b)}{a^2}$.
answered Apr 17 at 17:15
Michael BiroMichael Biro
11.7k21931
11.7k21931
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $$CD=DE=y$$ then we get $$frac{b}{c}=frac{y}{c-y}$$ so $$y=frac{bc}{b+c}$$
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $$CD=DE=y$$ then we get $$frac{b}{c}=frac{y}{c-y}$$ so $$y=frac{bc}{b+c}$$
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $$CD=DE=y$$ then we get $$frac{b}{c}=frac{y}{c-y}$$ so $$y=frac{bc}{b+c}$$
$endgroup$
Let $$CD=DE=y$$ then we get $$frac{b}{c}=frac{y}{c-y}$$ so $$y=frac{bc}{b+c}$$
edited Apr 17 at 17:22
answered Apr 17 at 16:55
Dr. Sonnhard GraubnerDr. Sonnhard Graubner
79.6k42867
79.6k42867
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
add a comment |
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
$begingroup$
@mathmandan There was an edit after my comment.
$endgroup$
– Michael Biro
Apr 17 at 21:17
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not sure if this is less barbaric but using simple trig: $DE=(a-x)tan A$, $DC=frac{x}{cos A}$ so the equation to solve is $$(a-x)frac{b}{a}=frac{xsqrt{a^2+b^2}}{a}$$ or $$x=frac{ab}{sqrt{a^2+b^2}+b}$$
Just another idea to construct point $E$: since $triangle{DCE}$ is isosceles, it's easy to find $angle{ACE}=(90°-A)/2$
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not sure if this is less barbaric but using simple trig: $DE=(a-x)tan A$, $DC=frac{x}{cos A}$ so the equation to solve is $$(a-x)frac{b}{a}=frac{xsqrt{a^2+b^2}}{a}$$ or $$x=frac{ab}{sqrt{a^2+b^2}+b}$$
Just another idea to construct point $E$: since $triangle{DCE}$ is isosceles, it's easy to find $angle{ACE}=(90°-A)/2$
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not sure if this is less barbaric but using simple trig: $DE=(a-x)tan A$, $DC=frac{x}{cos A}$ so the equation to solve is $$(a-x)frac{b}{a}=frac{xsqrt{a^2+b^2}}{a}$$ or $$x=frac{ab}{sqrt{a^2+b^2}+b}$$
Just another idea to construct point $E$: since $triangle{DCE}$ is isosceles, it's easy to find $angle{ACE}=(90°-A)/2$
$endgroup$
Not sure if this is less barbaric but using simple trig: $DE=(a-x)tan A$, $DC=frac{x}{cos A}$ so the equation to solve is $$(a-x)frac{b}{a}=frac{xsqrt{a^2+b^2}}{a}$$ or $$x=frac{ab}{sqrt{a^2+b^2}+b}$$
Just another idea to construct point $E$: since $triangle{DCE}$ is isosceles, it's easy to find $angle{ACE}=(90°-A)/2$
edited Apr 17 at 17:24
answered Apr 17 at 17:15
VasyaVasya
4,5441619
4,5441619
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
$begingroup$
You still have not described what $F$ is either from the statement or from the graph.
$endgroup$
– Hw Chu
Apr 17 at 16:42
$begingroup$
Right when I said $F$ i meant $E$. I will fix it in the problem statement =)
$endgroup$
– N3buchadnezzar
Apr 17 at 16:47
$begingroup$
cateti is Italian for legs
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Apr 17 at 16:56
1
$begingroup$
Your system of equations very quickly and easily simplifies to $x=ab/(b+c).$ That does not seem too ugly. But the half-angle method also works. In fact, your problem is a nice way to derive at least one of the half-angle formulas for the tangent function!
$endgroup$
– David K
Apr 17 at 20:25