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Triangular Billiard Table (Posted on 2005-05-12) Difficulty: 3 of 5
We have a billiard table in the shape of a right triangle ABC with B the right angle. A cue ball is struck at vertex A and bounces off sides BC, AC, AB, and AC at points D, E, F, and G respectively ending up at vertex B. Assume the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection at each bounce. If the path segments AD, EF, and GB are concurrent, then what is the tangent of angle BAD?

  Submitted by Bractals    
Rating: 2.5000 (2 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
Let I and J be the intersection of AD with EF and GB respectively. Using the sine rule on triangles
AFI: AI/sin(<AFI) = AF/sin(<AIF)

AGJ: AJ/sin(<AGJ) = AG/sin(<AJG)

AGF: AF/sin(<AGF) = AG/sin(<AFG)

If AD, EF, and GB are to be concurrent, then AI = AJ. Using this and the above three equations gives:

sin(<AIF) = sin(<AJG) or

sin(2 <BAC) = sin(180 - 4 <BAC) = sin(4 <BAC) = 2*sin(2 <BAC)*cos(2 <BAC) or

cos(2 <BAC) = 1/2 or

<BAC = 30

Note: If <BAC = 30, then the path segments are concurrent no matter what the value of <BAD
(although, the cue ball does not end up at vextex B).

Reflect triangle ABC    about BC   to get triangle A'BC.
Reflect triangle A'BC   about A'C  to get triangle A'B'C.
Reflect triangle A'B'C  about A'B' to get triangle A'B'C'.
Reflect triangle A'B'C' about A'C' to get triangle A'B"C'.

The line AB" corresponds to the path taken by the cue ball.

It is clear from this figure that tan(<BAD) = sqrt(3)/5.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
AnswerK Sengupta2008-10-16 02:04:00
re(3): My EffortsCharley2005-05-14 04:48:25
Solutioncorrected programCharlie2005-05-14 03:57:21
re: Method -- Solution, if I've done the trig rightCharlie2005-05-12 20:51:37
Hints/Tipsre(2): My EffortsCharley2005-05-12 20:21:42
Some ThoughtsMethodCharlie2005-05-12 19:12:51
What I've foundJer2005-05-12 18:44:13
re: My EffortsJer2005-05-12 18:10:48
Hints/TipsMy EffortsCharley2005-05-12 17:48:49
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