Difference between revisions of "1973 USAMO Problems/Problem 1"

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Let the side length of the regular tetrahedron be a. Link and extend AP to meet the plane containing triangle BCD at E; link AQ and extend it to meet the same plane at F. We know that E and F are inside triangle BCD and that  /_PAQ = /_EAF
 
Let the side length of the regular tetrahedron be a. Link and extend AP to meet the plane containing triangle BCD at E; link AQ and extend it to meet the same plane at F. We know that E and F are inside triangle BCD and that  /_PAQ = /_EAF
  
Now let’s look at the triangle BCD with interior points E and F. Link and extend EF on both sides to meet the sides of the triangle BCD at I and J, I on BC and J on DC.
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Now let’s look at the plane containing triangle BCD with points E and F inside the triangle. Link and extend EF on both sides to meet the sides of the triangle BCD at I and J, I on BC and J on DC.
  
 
We have /_EAF  <  /_IAJ
 
We have /_EAF  <  /_IAJ

Revision as of 00:06, 30 January 2010

Problem

Two points $P$ and $Q$ lie in the interior of a regular tetrahedron $ABCD$. Prove that angle $PAQ<60^o$.

Solution

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See also

1973 USAMO (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
First Question
Followed by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5
All USAMO Problems and Solutions

Let the side length of the regular tetrahedron be a. Link and extend AP to meet the plane containing triangle BCD at E; link AQ and extend it to meet the same plane at F. We know that E and F are inside triangle BCD and that /_PAQ = /_EAF

Now let’s look at the plane containing triangle BCD with points E and F inside the triangle. Link and extend EF on both sides to meet the sides of the triangle BCD at I and J, I on BC and J on DC.

We have /_EAF < /_IAJ

But since I and J are on the sides and not on the vertices, IJ < a, /_IAJ < /_BAD = 60°. Therefore /_PAQ < 60°.