6
$\begingroup$

Here is a cute geometry problem I saw some time ago. I know the solution, I just wanted to share ;-) (Please, don't be mad at me.)

Consider an acute triangle $\triangle ABC$. Let $AP$, $AQ$ and $BP$,$BQ$ be the angle trisectors as shown on the picture below. Prove that $|\angle APQ| = |\angle QPB|$.

$\hspace{60pt}$ enter image description here

Edit: There does exist one very simple and elegant solution, so don't be stumbled if you happen to guess/derive it.

  • 4
    Am I missing something? Doesn't it immediately follow from the fact that the angle bisectors of the angles of the triangle $APB$ are concurrent and concur at $Q$. Since $QA$ is the angle bisector of $\angle PAB$, and $QB$ is the angle bisector of $\angle PBA$, we have that $PQ$ is the angle bisector of $\angle APB$.2012-05-23
  • 0
    @Marvis, please, do not spoil the fun for others ;-) (Yes, it is that simple.)2012-05-23
  • 0
    What's wrong with spoiling other's fun? Besides, surely the idea of math.se is to post aswers. Maybe @Marvis should post the comment as an answer.2012-05-23
  • 0
    @GeorgeLowther That is what I meant, the comments below the question are often for clarification and other similar things (and so this is spoiling the fun for those who read comments, but not answers). Posting this as an answer would be definitely a better idea ;-)2012-05-23
  • 0
    I remember a similar problem but not where I saw it. Can you remember where you saw this one?2012-05-23
  • 0
    @plm It was a course on computational geometry I think ;-) We (the audience) have had a nice lecturer who sometimes did enjoyable breaks, among others, introducing such curiosities.2012-05-23
  • 0
    @plm You are probably thinking about Morley's theorem.2012-05-23
  • 0
    dtldarek, thanks. I think I saw it on AoPS actually. @Phira, I did not know I knew so much. :) (I did not know that interesting theorem, thx for the pointer.)2012-05-23

1 Answers 1