Geometry Brainteaser

[~The_Duke~]

an azn bad at math? wtf is wrong w/u?

There is a line in a steven lynch song that prolly happened to him when he was small...

"momma dropped him on his head, now he thinks he is a peice of bread"

either that or his math teachers have always worn lots of perfume and he just pasted out when they walked into the room...

VVVVV pic of my answer

[ATK_Designs]

Let's look at it this way:

At point E, we have 3 angles, E1 = unknown, E2 = a(which we want to know) and E3 = 30. Same goes for D's angles, D1 = unknown, D2 = Unknow, D3 = 40 (calculated).

From Calculations by using simple means of adding and subtracting, we results in E1+E2(a) = 150 and D1+D2 = 140

Therefore, if you give any number to E2(a), the rest will work out mathematically because they'll fit right in.

For example:

If E2(a) = 10, therefore E1 = 150-10 = 140. Then D1 = 180 - (140+20) = 20.

Then D2 = 140-20 = 120.

So for the top triangle, we have 20, 140, 20, and for the middle angle (aka a's triangle), we'll have 120, 10, 50, which mathematically, all added correctly.

Try using any combinations, and they'll come out to match up perfectly.


So the "truest" way to contruct the triangles using the correct measurements and measure the correct angle would be using a ruler and measure it. By using simple addition, subtraction, and subtitution, you can't truly find out the right angle because of the reason explained above.

[~The_Duke~]

Let's look at it this way:

At point E, we have 3 angles, E1 = unknown, E2 = a(which we want to know) and E3 = 30. Same goes for D's angles, D1 = unknown, D2 = Unknow, D3 = 40 (calculated).

From Calculations by using simple means of adding and subtracting, we results in E1+E2(a) = 150 and D1+D2 = 140

Therefore, if you give any number to E2(a), the rest will work out mathematically because they'll fit right in.

For example:

If E2(a) = 10, therefore E1 = 150-10 = 140. Then D1 = 180 - (140+20) = 20.

Then D2 = 140-20 = 120.

So for the top triangle, we have 20, 140, 20, and for the middle angle (aka a's triangle), we'll have 120, 10, 50, which mathematically, all added correctly.

Try using any combinations, and they'll come out to match up perfectly.


So the "truest" way to contruct the triangles using the correct measurements and measure the correct angle would be using a ruler and measure it. By using simple addition, subtraction, and subtitution, you can't truly find out the right angle because of the reason explained above.

I didnt catch that draw a pic of what you mean...

[ATK_Designs]

Here, please allow me to use your pic (Duke)

[~The_Duke~]

So in other words what you are saying is also long as you adjust the unknown values correctly a could be just about anything (with in reason according to the known values)?

[ATK_Designs]

So in other words what you are saying is also long as you adjust the unknown values correctly a could be just about anything (with in reason according to the known values)?

yes, mathematically, E2 (aka "a") could be anything from 1 to 149 degrees and it'd still be within the calculations.

[~The_Duke~]

yes, mathematically, E2 (aka "a") could be anything from 1 to 149 degrees and it'd still be within the calculations.

That is what I thought, but i didnt want to spend that much time sitting there and proving that theory, instead I just found one that worked and wrote it down lol

I bet I could write a C++ to prove it for me lol

[krindus]

i don't necissarily agree with that, i believe 20 degrees is closer to the right answer. after trying the math and not being able to get a conclusive answer, due to multiple unknowns in the equations, i turned to cad, drew the triangle, and it measured out to 20 degrees. realistically, the only true way to find this answer is to set a lenght of at least one side, and use trig. otherwise it's a pointless question, it has a deffinant answer but is impossible to find with the given standards

[ATK_Designs]

i don't necissarily agree with that, ....realistically, the only true way to find this answer is to set a lenght of at least one side, and use trig. otherwise it's a pointless question, it has a deffinant answer but is impossible to find with the given standards

Isn't that what I said above?

[~The_Duke~]

There is no one answer to this problem...the answer is a range of values cas as long as it doesnt equal 0 or less than zero and doesnt equal 150 or greater it will work...

[ShooterMcGavin]

^^^i for one don't believe that's true, i'll post up the right answer once i find it...

[~The_Duke~]

^^^i for one don't believe that's true, i'll post up the right answer once i find it...

If you read the theroy that interlude had it makes perfect sense...I mean just pick random numbers and see if it works...