• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Circle Geometry Question (2 Viewers)

nrlwinner

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2009
Messages
194
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Hi. This is my first post here although I've been reading many posts before. I need some help on this question. I mainly need a diagram because I don't get what the question is trying depict. If you can, leave the answer and working out out, but include a diagram.

Cheers.

22. Two points A and B are taken on a circle and C is the other end of the diameter through A. If AE is the perpendicular from A on to the tangent at B, prove that AB bisects angle CAE.
 

jet

Banned
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
3,148
Gender
Male
HSC
2009


CAE = 90° (given)
Therefore AE is the tangent to the circle at A
Therefore angle EAB = angle BCA (alternate segment theorem)
Now, angle ABC = 90° (the angle in a semicircle is a right angle, AC is a diameter)
Therefore angle BAC = 90 - BCA = 90 - EAB

But, since EAC = 90° angle BAC already equals 90 - EAB
Hence BAC = EAB
Therefore AB bisects angle CAE.
 

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Here's soln. But I don't know how to get diagram up.

Draw a circle centre o. Pick two points a & b on circle. Draw diameter thru A & O to meet circle at C. Draw tangent line at B and drop a perpendicular from A to this tangent at E. Draw lines AB and BC. Let F be any point on tangent opposite side of B from E .

Now angle OBE is a right angle, Therefore AE//OB.
Now angle CBF = angle CAB = @ say ( angle in alt segment)
Since triangle AOB is isosceles, angle OBA = angle BAO = @
Angle EAB = angle OBA = @ (alt angles , AE//OB)

Therefore angle EAB = angle BAC

Hence AB bisects angle CAE


QED

jetblack2007: very nice diagram; wish I knew how to do it.

Edit

Oh what an embarassingly long-winded solution. Here's revised version; forget F)

angle BAO = angle ABO (ABO isosceles)
But angle EAB = angle ABO (alternate angles, AE//OB)
Therefore angle OAB = angle EAB
Hence AB bisects angle CAE
 
Last edited:

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
jetblack2007:

have I read the question incorrectly? Isn't AE to be perpendicular to the tangent at B; i.e. AEB is 90 deg. ??
 
Last edited:

GUSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Active Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Messages
1,102
Location
Turra
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
jetblack2007:

have I read the question incorrectly? Isn't AE to be perpendicular to the tangent at B; i.e. AEB is 90 deg. ??
That's the impression i got when reading the question
and did it that way u did in the "edit" part of ur solution

..
 

jet

Banned
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
3,148
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
I got the impression that it was perpendicular to A, because it said the perpendicualr from A to B, as in the perpendicular is originating at A.
Though it is weird that both solutions worked. So I am really unsure now.
 

GUSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Active Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Messages
1,102
Location
Turra
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
I got the impression that it was perpendicular to A, because it said the perpendicualr from A to B, as in the perpendicular is originating at A.
Though it is weird that both solutions worked. So I am really unsure now.
lol i think it's STILL just as ambiguous lol

but yes, very odd that both ways worked out in the end hmmm......
 

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
No. Re perpendicular, there is no ambiguity at all.
 
Last edited:

GUSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Active Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Messages
1,102
Location
Turra
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
kk im confused

i initially thought the same as drongoski

but then his strong reply made me think he agreed with jetblack so my head start turning in that direction

then drongoski say he DUN agree with jetblack
and tim siu agrees

but it was odd how in both instances it worked out perfectly...hmmmmmmm
 

jet

Banned
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
3,148
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
Well, it doesn't even matter really... the OP has a choice of both.
Problem solved :D
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 2)

Top