Math Problem Statement
ABCD is a rhombus. M and N are the midpoints of BC and CD respectively. Find ∠MAN, if ∠ADC = 120◦ and AB = 12.
Solution
We are given that is a rhombus, and we need to find , where and are the midpoints of and , respectively. We are also given and .
Step 1: Properties of a Rhombus
In a rhombus:
- All sides are equal, so .
- Opposite angles are equal, so , and .
- The diagonals bisect each other at right angles.
Step 2: Coordinate Geometry Approach
Let's place the rhombus in the coordinate plane. Assume is at the origin , and use symmetry to assign coordinates to the other vertices.
- Since and , the coordinates of will be .
- Similarly, the coordinates of can be calculated based on the rhombus symmetry. Since , we can compute the coordinates of .
Step 3: Calculating
To find , we need the vectors and , where and are the midpoints of and . Once we have these vectors, we can apply the dot product formula to find the angle between them.
Let's denote the angle between two vectors and as . The dot product formula is:
After computing the vectors and their magnitudes, we can solve for .
Step 4: Conclusion
After performing the calculations, we find that .
Would you like further details or have any questions on this solution?
Here are 5 related questions to expand your understanding:
- How do the properties of a rhombus help in determining its angles and side lengths?
- Why are the diagonals of a rhombus perpendicular?
- How can coordinate geometry simplify solving problems related to quadrilaterals?
- What is the importance of the dot product in calculating angles between vectors?
- How can you find the coordinates of points in geometric shapes given angles and lengths?
Tip: Always use symmetry properties in geometric shapes like rhombuses to simplify your calculations.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Geometry
Rhombus Properties
Vectors
Coordinate Geometry
Angle Calculation
Formulas
Vector dot product: cos(θ) = (u · v) / (|u| |v|)
Properties of a rhombus: all sides are equal, diagonals bisect each other at right angles
Theorems
Rhombus Diagonal Theorem
Midpoint Theorem
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12