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Triangle Angle Ratio Problem Solutions

The document presents a geometry problem involving triangle ABC with angles in the ratio 1:2:4 and sides BC and AC given. Two methods using the Sine Rule yield different results for the length of 2AB, with one method resulting in 3 and the other in 5. The conclusion questions the reason for the discrepancy in the answers obtained from the two methods.

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moksh14072009
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5 views3 pages

Triangle Angle Ratio Problem Solutions

The document presents a geometry problem involving triangle ABC with angles in the ratio 1:2:4 and sides BC and AC given. Two methods using the Sine Rule yield different results for the length of 2AB, with one method resulting in 3 and the other in 5. The conclusion questions the reason for the discrepancy in the answers obtained from the two methods.

Uploaded by

moksh14072009
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1 Main Question/Doubt

Why there are two different answers?

Problem
In △ABC, the angles are in the ratio ∠A : ∠B : ∠C = 1 : 2 : 4. If BC = 2
and AC = 3, find the length of 2AB.

Solution
Let the angles be x, 2x, and 4x, respectively.
Thus, the angles are:

∠A = x, ∠B = 2x, ∠C = 4x.

We will solve this problem using two methods:

Method 1: Using the Sine Rule


From the sine rule, we know:
sin(x) sin(2x) sin(4x)
= = .
2 3 AB
Equating the first two terms:
sin(x) sin(2x)
= .
2 3
We know that sin(2x) = 2 sin(x) cos(x). Substituting this:
sin(x) 2 sin(x) cos(x)
= .
2 3
Cancelling sin(x) (since sin(x) ̸= 0):
1 2 cos(x) 3
= =⇒ cos(x) = .
2 3 4
Now, using the Pythagorean identity:
 2
2 2 2 2 3 9 7
sin (x) + cos (x) = 1 =⇒ sin (x) = 1 − cos (x) = 1 − = 1− = .
4 16 16

1
Thus: √
7
sin(x) = .
4
Next, we compute sin(4x). Using the double-angle formula sin(4x) =
2 sin(2x) cos(2x):
√ √
7 3 3 7
sin(2x) = 2 sin(x) cos(x) = 2 · · = .
4 4 8
Also, cos(2x) = 1 − 2 sin2 (x) = 1 − 2 · 16
7
= 1 − 78 = 18 .
Substituting: √ √
3 7 1 3 7
sin(4x) = 2 · · = .
8 8 32
Finally, using the sine rule again:

sin(x) sin(4x)
= .
2 AB
Substituting values:
√
7
√
3 7
√ √
4 32 7 3 7
= =⇒ = .
2 AB 8 32AB
Simplifying:
3
32AB = 24 =⇒ AB = .
4
Thus:
3 3
2AB = 2 · = .
4 2

Method 2: Using the Sine Rule Differently


From the sine rule:
sin(x) sin(2x) sin(180◦ − 3x)
= = .
2 3 AB
We know:
sin(180◦ − 3x) = sin(3x).
Using the triple-angle formula sin(3x) = 3 sin(x) − 4 sin3 (x):
√ √ !3 √ √
7 7 3 7 7 7
sin(3x) = 3 · −4· = −4· .
4 4 4 64

2
Simplifying:
√ √ √ √ √
3 7 7 7 12 7 7 7 5 7
sin(3x) = − = − = .
4 16 16 16 16
Using the sine rule:
sin(x) sin(3x)
= .
2 AB
Substituting values:
√
7
√
5 7
√ √
4 16 7 5 7
= =⇒ = .
2 AB 8 16AB
Simplifying:
5
16AB = 40 =⇒ AB = .
2
Thus:
5
2AB = 2 · = 5.
2

Conclusion
Using the two methods, we obtain different results for 2AB.
Why there are two different answers?

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