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Half Perpendicular Times Two (Posted on 2008-10-06) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Let ABC be a right triangle with A the right angle and let D be the mid-point of side AB. If E is the foot of the perpendicular from A to CD and F is the mid-point of CE, prove that BE is perpendicular to AF.

  Submitted by Bractals    
Rating: 3.0000 (2 votes)
Solution: (Hide)


NOTATION: PQ denotes the vector from point P to point Q.

Since A is a right angle, AC·AD = 0.

Since E lies on line CD, AE = xAC + (1-x)AD for some real x.

Since lines AE and CD are perpendicular,

   AE·CD = [ xAC + (1-x)AD ]·[ AD - AC ]

         = xAC·AD - x|AC|2 + (1-x)|AD|2 - (1-x)AC·AD

         = (1-x)|AD|2 - x|AC|2 = 0    
Since F is the midpoint of CE,

   AF = ( AC + AE )/2

      = [ (1+x)AC + (1-x)AD ]/2
Therefore,

   AF·BE =  AF·( AE - AB ) = AF·( AE - 2AD )

         = [ (1+x)AC + (1-x)AD ]·[ xAC - (1+x)AD ]/2

         = [ x(1+x)|AC|2 - (1+x)2AC·AD + x(1-x)AC·AD - (1-x)(1+x)|AD|2 ]/2

         = -(1+x)[ (1-x)|AD|2 - x|AC|2 ]/2 = 0
Therefore, BE and AF are perpendicular.

Sorry that the bold does not show up in pre blocks.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Simpler approach!rod hines2008-10-06 18:51:02
proof :-)Daniel2008-10-06 18:01:34
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