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Angle Bisector (Posted on 2013-10-06) Difficulty: 3 of 5

Let ABC be a triangle with a, b, and c the lengths of the
sides opposite vertices A, B, and C respectively.
Let the cevian CD bisect ∠ACB.

Prove the following:

    |CD|2 = ab[ 1-{c/(a+b)}2 ]

without using the Law of Cosines.

  Submitted by Bractals    
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Solution: (Hide)

From the Angle Bisector theorem we have

   |AD| = bc/(a+b) and |BD| = ac/(a+b).

Let the extension of CD intersect the circumcircle of
ΔABC at point E. Since CD bisects ∠ACD,

   ∠ACD = ∠DCB = ∠ECB.

Inscribed angles subtended by the same chord are
equal. Therefore,

   ∠CAD = ∠CAB = ∠CEB.

Therefore,

   ΔCAD ~ ΔCEB and
   |CA|     |CE|     |CD|+|DE|
  ------ = ------ = -----------
   |CD|     |CB|        |CB|

         or

   |CB||CA| = |CD|2 + |CD||DE|
From the Intersecting Chords theorem we have
|CD||DE| = |AD||BD|. Therefore,
   |CB||CA| = |CD|2 + |AD||BD|

            or

   |CD|2 = |CB||CA| - |AD||BD|

            or

   |CD|2 = ab - [bc/(a+b)][ac/(a+b)]

            or
 
   |CD|2 = ab[ 1-{c/(a+b)}2 ]
QED

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionPossible SolutionHarry2013-10-08 17:00:24
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