Friday, March 29, 2013

Problem 864: Parallelogram, Diagonal, Congruence, Similarity, Metric Relations

Geometry Problem
Level: Mathematics Education, High School, Honors Geometry, College.

Click the figure below to see the complete problem 864.

Online Geometry Problem 864: Parallelogram, Diagonal, Congruence, Similarity, Metric Relations

4 comments:

  1. if i worng, please do not sanction my post
    but if my solution is true:
    BF=Y=GE
    FG=Z
    DE=X-3
    3/X=y/(z+y)
    y/(z+y)=(x-3)/3
    3/x=(x-3)/3
    9=x^2-3x
    x^2-3x-9=0
    x1,2=(3+-sqrt(9-4*1*(-9)))/2=
    =1.5+sqrt(45)/2

    ReplyDelete
  2. Constrct a line PQ through F parrallel to AB,CD such that P lies on BC and Q lies on AD.
    FP:FQ = 3:x
    Since triangle(BFP) = triangle(EGD), FP = GD, so CG = FQ.
    By triangle(BCG) ~ triangle(EDG),
    GD/CG = DE/BC
    => FP/FQ = DE/BC
    => 3/x = (x - 3)/3
    => x = 3*(1 + sqrt5)/2

    ReplyDelete
  3. From ΔFBC~ΔFEA
    3/x = BF/FE := a/b

    From ΔGBC~ΔGED
    3/(x-3) = BG/GE = b/a

    ⇒ x(x-3) = 9
    ⇒ x^2 - 3x - 9 = 0
    ⇒ x = 3(1 + √5)/2

    ReplyDelete
  4. We use Barycentric Coordinates.
    Definition: Capital letters will denote vectors. P = x A + y B + z C will be written as P = (x, y, z). By definition, x + y + z = 1
    Let A = (1, 0, 0), B = (0, 1, 0) and C = (0, 0, 1).
    ABCD is a parallelogram, hence D + B = A + C, which results in D = (1, -1, 1)
    Let F = q B + (1 – q) G. As FB = GE, we have G = (1 – q) F + q E
    Let F = (p, 0, 1 – p). This leads to G = (p, -q, 1 – p) / (1 – q)
    Consider the fact that G is the intersection of CD and BF. If (x, y, z) is on a specified straight line, then 0 = ux + vy + wz for some constant u, v, w. After solving the systems of equations, it’s clear that line BF is x (1 – p) – z p = 0 and CD is x + y = 0. To find G, we also need x + y + z = 1. With this, it’s clear that G = (p / (1 – p), -p / (1 – p), 1).
    Using the two expressions of G, we get that p = q. Using these facts leads to finding E = (p – 1 + 1/(1-p), -1/(1-p), -p + 2).
    But we also know that E is the intersection of AD [z + y = 0] and BF [x(1-p) – zp = 0]. So E = (1, -(1 – p)/p, (1 – p)/p). Combining the two expressions for E, we get p = 0.5 (3 + sqrt(5)) or 0.5(3 – sqrt(5)). This gives two possible coordinates for E: 0.5 (2, sqrt(5) – 1, 1 – sqrt(5)) or 0.5 (2, -sqrt(5) – 1, 1 + sqrt(5)).
    D is between A and E. Thus, must be possible to express D as mA + nE, such that m + n = 1 for positive m and n. From the formula of the division of an interval, AD : DE = n : m.
    Straight away, it is clear that E = 0.5 (2, -sqrt(5) – 1, 1 + sqrt(5)) only, as the alternative would produce negative m or n. Simple arithmetic tells us that (sqrt(5) – 1) A / (sqrt(5) + 1) + 2 E / (1 + sqrt(5)) = D.
    Hence, AD : DE = 2 : sqrt(5) – 1, which means that AD:AE = 2 : 1 + sqrt(5)
    It’s given that AD = 3
    So quite obviously, AE = 1.5 (1 + sqrt(5)).

    ReplyDelete