The Encyclopedia of Geometry (0075)


Problem

Let $O$ be the intersection of the bisectors of $∠B$ and $∠C$ of a triangle $ABC$, and let $M$ and $N$ be the intersections of $AB$ and $AC$ with a straight line drawn through $O$ parallel to $BC$, respectively. Then,

$$MN=MB+NC.$$


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Solution

Since $MN∥BC$,
$$∠MON=∠OBC.$$
By definition,
$$∠MBO=∠OBC,$$
$$∴ \ ∠MBO=∠MOB.$$
Therefore, since $△MBO$ is an isosceles triangle with $M$ as the vertex,
$$MO=MB.$$
Similarly,
$$∠NOC=∠OCB.$$
By definition,
$$∠NCO=∠OCB,$$
$$∴ \ ∠NCO=∠NOC.$$
Therefore, since $△NCO$ is an isosceles triangle with $N$ as the vertex,
$$NO=NC.$$
However,
$$MN=MO+NO,$$
$$∴ \ MN=MB+NC.$$
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Reference

Teiichiro Sasabe (1976) The Encyclopedia of Geometry (2nd edition), Seikyo-Shinsha, pp.18-19