MathLabs

Problem 1

In triangle ABCABC, let D,E,FD,E,F be the midpoints of BC,CA,ABBC,CA,AB, respectively, and let GG be the centroid. For each value of ∠BAC\angle BAC, how many non-similar triangles are there for which AEGFAEGF is a cyclic quadrilateral?
Step 5 of 5: Count the non-similar triangles
A=60∘:AB=AC;A<60∘:r+1r=4cos⁡A has two reciprocal rootsA=60^\circ: AB=AC;\qquad A<60^\circ: r+\frac1r=4\cos A\text{ has two reciprocal roots}
Detailed analysis

For A=60∘A=60^\circ, equality in AM–GM forces AB=ACAB=AC, giving one equilateral similarity class. For A<60∘A<60^\circ, put r=AB/ACr=AB/AC; then r+1/r=4cos⁡A>2r+1/r=4\cos A>2 has two positive reciprocal roots. Interchanging B,CB,C exchanges the roots and produces similar triangles, so there is exactly one non-similar triangle. Therefore the answer is 00 for A>60∘A>60^\circ and 11 for every A≤60∘A\le60^\circ.