SOLUTION: In the diagram below, Triangle ABC is isosceles, and Triangle MPQ is equilateral. Find the length, in cm, of Line PC. Diagram: https://ibb.co/2kGmVg2

Algebra.Com
Question 1187457: In the diagram below, Triangle ABC is isosceles, and Triangle MPQ is equilateral. Find the length, in cm, of Line PC.
Diagram:
https://ibb.co/2kGmVg2

Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by ikleyn(52776)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

This link doesn't work.



Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The link worked for me.

We know that triangle is a n isosceles right triangle, so angles A and C are
both 45°.  Since we know that triangle ABC is an isosceles right triangle, we
can use ratio and proportion with the standard 45-45-90 right triangle to find
BC:









We need to prove that triangles ANQ and BNP are congruent.  We cannot just
assume that they are.  But all we have is SSA, which does not prove that two
triangles are congruent.  However, the SSA theorem is an "either/or" theorem:

The SSA theorem can be stated this way:
If two sides and the non-included angle of one triangle are equal to the
corresponding sides and angle of another triangle, the two triangles are either
 
1. congruent
or
2. the other non-included angles are supplementary.

So we must rule out the possibility that angles AQN and BPN are supplementary.

AN = NB because they are both 20. Angle NAQ = angle NBP and NQ = NP because they
are sides of an equilateral triangle.  So  by the SSA theorem, either triangles
ANQ and BNP are congruent or angles AQN and BPN are supplementary.

Let's let angle QPC have measure a.  Let's put in the values of the angles at P and Q:



So angles AQN and BPN are not supplementary, because (30+a)+(120-a) equals
150, not 180.  Thus by the SSA theorem,  triangles ANQ and BNP are congruent,
and 30°+a = 120°-a
       2a = 90°
        a = 45°

Next we will put in the actual numerical values for the angles at P and Q.





Now we can find BP for we have ASA in triangle BNP.  We use the law of sines.







We know that  and




Substituting:





Multiplying both sides by 4:





Rationalizing,




Now since PC = BC - BP and BC = 







Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

In the diagram below, triangle ABC is isosceles, and triangle MPQ is equilateral. Find... (answered by ikleyn)
In the diagram to the right, Triangle ABC is isosceles, and Triangle MPQ is equilateral.... (answered by ikleyn)
In the diagram to the left, ∆ABC is isosceles, and ∆MPQ is equilateral. Find the... (answered by MathLover1)
In an isosceles triangle labelled ABC, with BC as the base, and AB as the hypotenuse, and (answered by greenestamps)
ABC is a right angle isosceles triangle, angle BCA = 90, with BC as the base and AB as... (answered by Boreal,greenestamps)
Triangle ABC is isosceles, with Line AB=AC, and Line BC=39 cm A square is inscribed in... (answered by MathLover1)
ABC is an equilateral triangle. DE and DF are perpendiculars drawn from D to the sides... (answered by ikleyn)
Triangle ABC below is isosceles, with AB=AC. A square is inscribed in the triangle, with... (answered by ikleyn)
In the equilateral triangle illustrated below, O is the circumcentre of the triangle, and (answered by greenestamps)