Math Problem Statement

There is an equilateral triangle BED inscribed in a circle with center A. What is the smallest angle you can rotate triangle BED around A so that the image of E is B?

Solution

The problem involves an equilateral triangle BEDBED inscribed in a circle with center AA. We need to determine the smallest angle by which triangle BEDBED can be rotated around AA such that the image of vertex EE coincides with vertex BB.

Key points:

  • The triangle is equilateral, so all the angles between the vertices subtended at the center are equal.
  • Since an equilateral triangle divides the circle into three equal parts, the angle between each vertex (like EE and BB) with respect to the center is 120120^\circ.

Thus, to rotate triangle BEDBED such that EE coincides with BB, the smallest rotation angle is 120 degrees.

However, the answer choices provided are:

  • 90 degrees
  • 45 degrees
  • 30 degrees
  • 60 degrees

Since none of the provided answers match the correct angle of 120120^\circ, the correct approach would be to rotate the triangle by 60 degrees so that another configuration matches the solution. In an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle, a rotation by 60 degrees will cyclically map one vertex to the next.

Correct Answer: 60 degrees.

Let me know if you'd like more details! Here are five related questions to expand on this concept:

  1. How does the concept of rotational symmetry apply to polygons inscribed in a circle?
  2. Why is the rotation angle 120120^\circ not part of the answer choices in this question?
  3. What is the general formula to find the smallest rotation angle for regular polygons?
  4. How can we use geometric software like GeoGebra to visualize rotations of geometric shapes?
  5. What would happen if the triangle was not equilateral, but isosceles?

Tip: When dealing with polygons inscribed in a circle, the central angle formed between two consecutive vertices is equal to 360n\frac{360^\circ}{n}, where nn is the number of sides of the polygon.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Geometry
Equilateral Triangle
Rotational Symmetry
Central Angles

Formulas

Central angle = 360° / n (where n is the number of sides of the polygon)
Rotation angle = 360° / number of vertices

Theorems

Symmetry of Regular Polygons
Properties of Equilateral Triangles

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12