Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let $P$ be a point on side $BC$ such that $\frac{BP}{PC}=\frac{1}{2}$. If $\measuredangle ABC$ $=$ $45^{\circ}$ and $\measuredangle APC$ $=$ $60^{\circ}$, determine $\measuredangle ACB$ without trigonometry.
Problem
Source: Paraguayan Mathematical Olympiad 2006
Tags: geometry
tommyxu3
22.07.2015 10:15
Does your trigonometry contain just knowing the ratio of the side length of certain triangles?
Have a point $H\in\overline{BC}$ such that $\overline{AH}\perp\overline{BC}.$ Let $\overline{PH}=a,$ then it's obviously that $\overline{AH}=a$ and $\overline{BH}=\sqrt{3}a,$ so $\overline{BP}=(\sqrt{3}-1)a$ and hence $\overline{CP}=2\overline{BP}=2(\sqrt{3}-1)a.$ Here we can get $\overline{CH}=\overline{CP}-\overline{PH}=(2\sqrt{3}-3)a.$
Now in $RT\bigtriangleup{ACH},$ with the ratio $\frac{\overline{CH}}{\overline{AH}}=\frac{2\sqrt{3}-3}{\sqrt{3}}=2-\sqrt{3},$ we can know $\angle{ACB}=\boxed{75^{\circ}}.$
Mualpha7
23.07.2015 08:58
Yes, I think knowing the cotangent of $\measuredangle ACB$ counts as trigonometry
There's a more elementary solution using only the Pythagorean Theorem (several times) and similarity. You can see it if you decompose some angles.
JSJ20142014
23.07.2015 10:30
take a point $D$ on $AP$, let $<DBP=30$°,connect $DC$,then $AD=BD=CD$.