A triangle has corners at points A, B, and C. Side AB has a length of 35 . The distance between the intersection of point A's angle bisector with side BC and point B is 14 . If side AC has a length of 36 , what is the length of side BC?

2 Answers
Mar 18, 2016

The right answer for this problem is given by @shwetank-m (Shwetank Mauria). In explanation I give an answer for the case in which the segment between point A and the intersection with side BC is 14.

Explanation:

Refer to the figure below
I created this figure using MS Excel

Applying the Law of Sines
to triangle_(ACD)

a/sin beta=m/sin alpha

to triangle_(ABD)

b/sin(180^@-beta)=n/sin alpha => b/sin beta=n/sin alpha

So
a/b=m/n => m=(a/b)n

NOTE 1
WHAT IS WRITTEN ABOVE STANDS JUST AS PREAMBLE TO THE ANSWER BY @shwetank-m, WHEN -> N=14

NOTE 2
WHAT IS WRITTEN BELOW IS THE ANSWER WHEN -> D=14

Applying the Law of Cosines to both the aforementioned triangles

m^2=a^2+d^2-2ad*cos alpha => m^2-a^2-d^2=-2ad*cos alpha
n^2=b^2+d^2-2bd*cos alpha => n^2-b^2-d^2=-2bd*cos alpha

Dividing the two last expressions and substituting m we get
(a^2/b^2n^2-a^2-d^2)/(n^2-b^2-d^2)=a/b
a^2/bn^2-b(a^2+d^2)=an^2-a(b^2+d^2)
(a^2/b-a)n^2=-a(b^2+d^2)+b(a^2+d^2)
a/b(b-a)n^2=a(b^2+d^2)-b(a^2+d^2)
n=sqrt(b/a*(a(b^2+d^2)-b(a^2+d^2))/(b-a))

For a=35, b=36 and d=14

n=sqrt(36/35*(35(36^2+14^2)-36(35^2+14^2))/(36-35))
n=sqrt(36/35*(35*1492-36*1421)/1)=sqrt(36/35*1064)=12sqrt(38/5)~=33.08
=>m=35/36*12sqrt(38/5)=35/3sqrt(38/5)~=32.16

So
BC=c=m+n=35/3sqrt(38/5)+12sqrt(38/5)=71/3sqrt(38/5)~=65.24

Mar 18, 2016

BC=28.4

Explanation:

Using angle bisector theorem (in the figure drawn by Rui D.), we have

a/b=m/n or 36/35=m/14

Hence m=36/35xx14=72/5=14.4

Hence BC=14.4+14=28.4