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Golden Ratio in an Irregular Pentagon, Construction II

Let A, B, C be three noncollinear points and K complete a parallelogram ABCK. Extend AK to AD such that AD/AK = φ, the golden ratio. Similarly, extend CK to CE such that CE/CK = φ. Pentagon ABCDE is of a very peculiar kind.

 

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Explanation

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Ratio in an Irregular Pentagon, Construction II

Pentagon ABCDE has the diagonals parallel to the sides. In addition, the points of intersection of the diagonals divide each in the golden ratio.

 

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AD||BC and CE||AB by construction. Also, since AK/DK = φ = CK/EK, AC||AD. (AD/AK = φ implies AK/DK = φ because φ - 1 = 1/φ.)

Further, in ΔABD, KM||AB implying BD/BM = AD/AK = φ. Similarly, in ΔBCE, KL||BC implies BE/BL = φ. In particular, BD/BM = BE/BL so that LM||DE and DE/LM = φ.

In trapezoid DELM, DE/LM = φ and triangles DEK and LMK are similar so that DK/KL = EK/KM = φ.

No consider the four collinear points A, L, K, and D. We have,

  (AL + KL) / DK = φ = DK/KL,

from which we derive

  φ = (DK + KL) / AL = DL/AL.

But, as we already saw, BE/BL = φ and then also BL/EL = φ. Thus in the quadrilateral ABDE the diagonals BE and AD divide each other in equal ratios: BL/EL = DL/AL (= φ).

This tells us that ABDE is a trapezoid with BD||AE. Similarly, CD||BE.

Now, points K and L divide AD in the golden ration. Points K and M divide in the golden ration diagonal CE. It's now not difficult to verify that this is also true of points L, M, N, P and the remaining diagonals.

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

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