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Discrete Math - Find X

Discrete Math - Find X-example-1
User Arberg
by
5.3k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

x = 70°

Explanation:

Clockwise from top, call the three tangent points A, B, and C. Central angle AXC is the supplement of the marked external angle, so is 140°. Arc AB is bisected by the upper ray of angle x; and arc BC is bisected by the lower ray of angle x. That is to say x is half the measure of arc AC, so is 70°.

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Attached is the output of a geometry program. The angle at lower left is 40° as in the given figure. The central angle α (70°) remains the same as tangent point C is moved around, which is to say that the measure of the angle α does not depend on the dimensions of the triangle containing α. It just depends on the fact that the triangle is tangent to the circle.

Discrete Math - Find X-example-1
User Christopher Rogers
by
5.2k points
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