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This one is a lot like the first, but it's simpler.

Triangle ABC is isosceles.

Find angle x. [edit - give the solution]

post-1048-1221513659_thumbgif

Do not assume the figure is drawn to scale.

Do not use the law of sines.

Use simple geometric reasoning.

Since it's easier, you may draw only one auxiliary line. ;)

Have fun.

Edited by bonanova
Added "give the solution"
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so now we have to figure out what x is and how this could possibly be easier than the last one...

30 degrees?

That was my first thought.

traingle ADE is similar to trangle CDB, but I can't prove it...yet

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I think I have it but it will be hard to explain.

40 degrees. I worked out as many angles as I could using the fact that the internal angles of a triangle add to 180. And that opposite angles of a pair of crossing lines are equal. That left me with x and the three other angles adjacent to the line DE. The angles at points E and D must each equal 180 as must the internal angles of the triangle which icludes x. I could then see that x=CDE-20, EDB=CED-30, and CDE=x+20.

If the x triangle is an isosceles, then EDB is seventy and x is 40. Plugging those values in gave consistant answers. Varying x to 30 gives two results for CDE and EDB. Only 40 degrees holds true.

Sorry for the clumsy explanation. I left out one step but it was getting so long winded.

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I'm a bit stuck, can someone help please? PM me or post a spoiler if you do!

I've drawn out the angles for the 3 bottom most triangles, and the bottom angle of the triangle X is in.

What is meant by auxilary line? I'm guessing it can't be done without this, but do I get to draw a line of a known angle through the triangle?

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I'm a bit stuck, can someone help please? PM me or post a spoiler if you do!
I've drawn out the angles for the 3 bottom most triangles, and the bottom angle of the triangle X is in.

What is meant by auxilary line? I'm guessing it can't be done without this, but do I get to draw a line of a known angle through the triangle?

The solution to the first puzzle used two auxiliary lines. For example.

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Got it!!!!

I feel relieved now...

The answer is 30.

I'll try to prove it without a drawing, but I'm sure bonanova will eventually post the drawing.

If we draw a line from B but at 60 degrees instead of 50, it crosses first with AE at, let's call it M and with AC at let's call it F.

Angle ADB=50 (trivial), thus triangle ADB is isosceles, so AD=AB.

Triangle AMB is equilateral, so AB=AM.

So AD=AM, thus ADM is isosceles.

Since angle DAM is 20, angles ADM and AMD are 80.

Thus angle DMF is 180-BMA-AMD=40.

But DFM is also 40 (trivial) so DFM is isosceles.

But also FME is equilateral (trivial).

Therefore the quadrilateral DFEM is symmetric, and the axis of symmetry is DE.

Therefore x is the bisector of MEF (60deg), thus it's equal to 30.

Great puzzle, 5 stars!

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Got it!!!!

I feel relieved now...

The answer is 30.

I'll try to prove it without a drawing, but I'm sure bonanova will eventually post the drawing.

If we draw a line from B but at 60 degrees instead of 50, it crosses first with AE at, let's call it M and with AC at let's call it F.

Angle ADB=50 (trivial), thus triangle ADB is isosceles, so AD=AB.

Triangle AMB is equilateral, so AB=AM.

So AD=AM, thus ADM is isosceles.

Since angle DAM is 20, angles ADM and AMD are 80.

Thus angle DMF is 180-BMA-AMD=40.

But DFM is also 40 (trivial) so DFM is isosceles.

But also FME is equilateral (trivial).

Therefore the quadrilateral DFEM is symmetric, and the axis of symmetry is DE.

Therefore x is the bisector of MEF (60deg), thus it's equal to 30.

Great puzzle, 5 stars!

Nice Proof :P Kudos to you

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I thought you could only add 1 new line?

When I first said 30 degrees, I didn't have any proof, but i had some hunch that the unknown angle CDE was equal to angle DA_. I just couldn't figure out why.

And if CDE was 50, then ED_ had to be 80, which leaves x at 30.

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Very nice. ;)

And thanks to Ben Law for the figure.

Marinja correctly points out an error in the OP which restricts the solution to a single extra line.

There is a simpler construction, but it instead adds a single extra point.

And that point defines two extra lines.

So to my knowledge a single extra line won't do it.

My bad. :mellow:

somewhere on line BC.

despistado's explanation is formalized, the last two lines could be rewritten ]Therefore the quadrilateral DFEM is symmetric, and the axis of symmetry is DE.

Therefore x is the bisector of MEF (60deg), thus it's equal to 30.

Since DF=DM, FE=ME and of course DE=DE, triangles DEF and DEM have three equal sides [sSS] and are congruent [mirror images].

Therefore angle FED = angle MED.

Since their sum is 60, they both equal 30.

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The solution with one extra point hasn't been found yet.

Eureka!

If we trace a segment that forms 20 degrees with AB until it crosses BC, that point is called P.

And now the deductions:

Angle ADB=50º (trivial) thus ADB is isosceles and AD=AB.

Angle APB=80º (trivial) thus APB is isosceles and AP=AB.

Thus AD=AP.

But Angle DAP=60º, so DAP is equilateral, thus DP=AD=AP.

Both angles AEP and EAP are 40º (trivial) so AEP is isosceles thus AP=PE.

Thus DP=PE, therefore PDE is isosceles.

Since Angle DPE is 180-60-80=40, and PDE is isosceles, angle DEP has to be 70.

Thus x=70-40=30.

B))

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