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Jeff
Lv 7
Jeff asked in Science & MathematicsMathematics · 1 decade ago

PROVE TRIANGLE ABC IS EQUILATERAL.?

PROVE TRIANGLE ABC IS EQUILATERAL?

GIVEN:

POINTS D,E,F ON SIDES AB, BC, AC, RESPECTIVELY, OF Δ ABC

DB=EC=AF

Δ DEF IS EQUILATERAL

PROVE:

Δ ABC IS EQUILATERAL

1 Answer

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I have a solution, but you may find it unsatisfactory.

    Begin with an equilateral triangle DEF. Through point F construct a line ℓ at an angle θ with FD. On the side of ℓ closer to D, construct the point A at the given distance AF (=DB=EC) from F.

    Now, construct the line AD, and construct the point B at the given distance DB (=AF=EC) from D on the opposite side as A.

    Finally, construct the line BE, and let C be its intersection with line AF (i.e. line ℓ). Now, depending on θ, we might or might not have EC equal to the prescribed length (i.e. EC=DB=FA). In fact, by continuity there is only (or at most) one unique θ so that EC=DB=FA.

    But it's fairly easy to see that if any solution exists for a given DEF and AF, then an equilateral solution exists; therefore the only solution (if any) is equilateral. In other words, ABC must be an equilateral triangle.

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