Solving a triangle using the given equation

Question

In a triangle $ABC$ $2a^2+4b^2+c^2=4ab+2ac$ then the numerical value of $cos B$ equals ?

($a,b,c$ are sides opposite to angles $A,B,C$)

I tried to use cosine rule , but couldn't adjust terms accordingly, using the given equation.
Any hints / Solutions are welcome.

Answer: $7/8$

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 07 '14 at 07:55

5

$$2a^2+4b^2+c^2=4ab+2ac\iff (a-2b)^2+(a-c)^2=0$$

Now sum of squares of two real numbers is zero, so each must be individually zero. Hence $a=c=2b$. Then $$ \cos B=\frac{a^2+c^2-b^2}{2ac}=\frac{4b^2+4b^2-b^2}{8b^2}=\frac{7}{8}. $$

edited Apr 07 '14 at 07:55

A.D

6,400
1
20
43

answered Apr 07 '14 at 07:49

lab bhattacharjee

274,582

Got it . For some reason I can only accept after 2 minutes :) – Simar Apr 07 '14 at 07:55
@impartialmale, not sure why you have not left anything to the OP. Here, we are not committed to purvey a complete solution – lab bhattacharjee Apr 07 '14 at 07:58
@lab bhattacharjee: Since I give the process of calculating $\cos B$, we posted our solution 5 seconds late than you :D – impartialmale Apr 07 '14 at 07:59
@impartialmale, May I request you not to edit my solutions in future just to complete the solution – lab bhattacharjee Apr 07 '14 at 08:01
@labbhattacharjee Okie. Just kidding!!! Sorry to make you annoyed... – impartialmale Apr 07 '14 at 08:02

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 07 '14 at 07:48

0

Since $a^2+c^2\geq 2ac$ and $a^2+4b^2\geq 4ab$ (Cauchy's inequality) and so from the given equality we have $$ a=c \quad \text{and} \quad a=2b. $$ Then $$ \cos B=\frac{a^2+c^2-b^2}{2ac}=\frac{4b^2+4b^2-b^2}{8b^2}=\frac{7}{8}. $$

answered Apr 07 '14 at 07:48

impartialmale

826

Solving a triangle using the given equation

2 Answers2