Geometry – Find x if AD=CB and Justify Geometrically

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I need help with this geometry question. Find $x$ if $AD=CB$. Justify geometrically.

I tried plotting it on GeoGebra and found that $x=30\unicode{176}$ but I don't know how to prove it, I also tried with a system of linear equations but it has no solution:

$\begin{cases}70\unicode{176}+x_2+x_3=180\unicode{176}\\[5pt]
70\unicode{176}+x_1+40\unicode{176}+x_2=180\unicode{176}\\[5pt]
40\unicode{176}+x_1+\left(180\unicode{176}-x_3\right)=180\unicode{176}\end{cases}$

I also tried drawing the heights of the $2$ triangles to get right triangles but I end up with more unknowns.
Thanks in advance.

Geogebra

Best Answer

Pick $D'$ on $AC$ such that $CD'=CB$. Then triangle $CBD'$ is isosceles with a top angle of $40^\circ$. The remaining two angles are $70^\circ$.

Now take a look at points $D,D'$. By hypothesis $AD=CD'$ so $D,D'$ are symmetric with respect to the midpoint of $AC$.

Moreover, $BD, BD'$ are also symmetric with respect to the bisector of the angle $\angle ABC$ since $\angle ABD = \angle D'BC = 70^\circ$.

This is only possible if the triangle $ABC$ is isosceles and $AB=BC$. This gives $\angle B = 100^\circ$ and $\angle DBC = 30^\circ$.


To conclude that the triangle is isosceles do the following

  • consider a triangle $AD'B'$, translating the triangle $DCB$ until $AD'$ and $DC$ overlap.

  • then $\angle ABD'= \angle AB'D'$, showing that $A,D',B,B'$ are on the same circle

  • by construction $BB'||AC$, thus $A,D',B,B'$ are the vertices of an isosceles trapeze. The non-parallel edges and diagonals are equal, implying that the triangle $ABC$ is isosceles also.