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avatar+115 

Let PA and PC be tangents from P to a circle. Let B and D be points on the circle such that B, D, and P are collinear. Prove that AB*CD=BC*DA.

 Mar 4, 2018
 #1
avatar+129899 
+2

Note that  m angle PAD  =  1/2 m arc AD  =  m angle DBA

And

m angle PCD  =  1/2 m  arc   DC   =  m  angle DBC

 

And PA  = PC....so....

 

sin PAD / PD  =      sin DBA / PD

sin PCD / PD    =    sin DBC/ PD

 

sin PDA/ PC  = sin PAD / PD   =  sin DBA / PD

sin PDC / PC  =  sinPCD / PD  =    sin DBC / PD

 

PC / PD  =  sin PDA / sin DBA

PC / PD  = sin PDC / sin DBC

 

So.....

 

sin PDA / sin DBA   =  sin PDC/ sin DBC

 

Note  sin PDA = sin ADB     because they are supplemental   ...and..

sin PDC  = sin BDC  for the same reason....so....

 

sin ADB / sin DBA  =  sinBDC / sin DBC     (A)

 

sin ADB / AB  =  sin DBA / DA

sinBDC / BC  =  sin DBC / DC

 

sin ADB / sin DBA  =  AB /DA

sin  BDC / sin DBC  = BC / DC

 

From (A)    we must have, by substitution, that

 

AB / DA  =  BC / DC   ⇒   

AB * DC  =  BC * DA ⇒

 

AB * CD   = BC * DA

 

 

 

cool cool cool

 Mar 4, 2018
 #2
avatar+115 
+2

Thanks, but is there a way to not use trig?

 Mar 4, 2018
edited by MIRB14  Mar 4, 2018
 #3
avatar+129899 
0

I'm sure there is....but....I'm not a good enough geometer to figure it out....

 

 

cool cool cool

CPhill  Mar 4, 2018
 #4
avatar
+4

The angle PAD is equal to the angle ABD, so the triangles PAD and PAB are similar (since the angle APB is common to both triangles).

That allows you to write down the ratios

\(\displaystyle \frac{AP}{PB} = \frac{PD}{AP}=\frac{DA}{AB}.\)

If you now do the same thing for the triangles the other side of the line PB, and compare the two sets of ratios, you should see that the result drops out in one line.

 

Tiggsy

 Mar 5, 2018

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