[Math] Angle between 2 faces of tetrahedron

algebra-precalculustrigonometry

Two faces ABC and DBC of a tetrahedron ABCD are right-angled triangles with $\angle ACB = \angle DCB = 90^{\circ}$.

Given that the edge DA is perpendicular to the face $ABC$, $\angle CBD = 45^{\circ}$ and the angle between the line $DB$ and the face $ABC$ is $30^{\circ}$.

Find the angle between the two faces $ABC$ and $DBC$.

I am not sure how to go about this problem. I made a paper tetrahedron to try and visualize this problem better, and what I get is that the angle should be $45^{\circ}$. I am however not able to make the connection on how to go about proving this.

Can you guys please help me figure this out? Thanks again for all your help.

Best Answer

Put $C$ at the origin, $B$ on the $x$-axis, and $A$ on the $y$-axis; $D$ is in the $yz$-plane, $\overline{DA}$ is perpendicular to the $xy$-plane, $\overline{DB}$ makes a $30$º degree angle with the $xy$-plane (so that $\angle DBA = 30$º), $\angle CBD = 45$º, and what’s wanted is $\angle DCA$.

$\triangle DCB$ is an isosceles right triangle; there is no harm in assuming that $|CB| = 1$, in which case $|CD| = 1$, and $|DB| = \sqrt 2$. $\angle BAD$ is a right angle, since $\overline{DA}$ is perpendicular to the $xy$-plane, and $\angle DBA = 30$º, so $\triangle DBA$ is a $30-60-90$ right triangle, and $|DA| = \frac{|DB|}{2} = \frac{\sqrt 2}{2}$. Finally, $\triangle DCA$ is a right triangle with hypotenuse $|DC| = 1$ and leg $|DA| = \frac{\sqrt 2}{2}$, so the remaining side is $\sqrt{1^2 - \left( \frac{\sqrt 2}{2} \right)^2}= \frac{\sqrt 2}{2}$, $\triangle DCA$ is an isosceles right triangle, and $\angle DCA$ is indeed $45$º.

This is a little more than I should probably say for homework, but I’ve deliberately been a bit concise, and you’re still going to have to visualize it properly to follow the calculations.