Equal Angles in Two Circles: What is this about?
A Mathematical Droodle
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Explanation
Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny
The applet presents a generalization of a recent problem of an accidental angle bisector . (There is a further generalization if this result.) In the present problem the two equal halves of an angle split up but stay equal:
Given two circles that cross at points S and T and a point P on one but inside the other. Let AB be a chord in the latter touching the former at P. Then ASP = BTP (and also ATP = BSP).
The proof is even simpler than that of the original problem .
This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.
The inscribed PST is subtended by chord PT so that it equals the angle formed by the chord with the tangent at its end point P:
PST = BPT.
Now, in ΔBPT,
(1)
PBT + BPT + BTP = 180o .
On the other hand, since quadrilateral ABTS is cyclic,
AST + ABT = 180o ,
or, which is the same
(2)
ASP + PST + ABT = 180o ,
Comparing (1) and (2) we get
ASP = BTP.
The equality of angles ATP and BSP from this and the fact that quadrilateral ABTS is cyclic such that ASB = ATB.
Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny
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