December 16, 2007

Damn it - Geometry department

Solve for 'X' Document your work (step by step). Drawing is not to scale. And no Trig, you must use Geometry, you cannot use any Trig functions!
Worlds_Hardest_Easy_Geometry_Problem.GIF
Got it from here: World's Hardest Easy Geometry Problem
Using only elementary geometry, determine angle x. Provide a step-by-step proof.
You may only use elementary geometry, such as the fact that the angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees and the basic congruent triangle rules (side-angle-side, etc.). You may not use more advanced trigonomery, such as the law of sines, the law of cosines, etc. There is a review of elementary geometry below.

This is the hardest problem I have ever seen that is, in a sense, easy. It really can be done using only elementary geometry. This is not a trick question.

Here is a very small hint. Here is a small hint.
Piece of cake with trig but this puppy is going to be rolling around my brainpan for a day or two... Regarding the answer (from the same site):
Sorry, but I'm not giving the answer nor the proof here. You will just have to work on it until you either solve it or are driven insane.
Posted by DaveH at December 16, 2007 8:08 PM
Comments

Wow. I've been working on this for 15 minutes. I know the answer, but I don't know how I did the last part.

I showed my work to my wife, without telling her my answer. She came up with the same answer, but also doesn't know how she did the last step.

Posted by: Kelly at December 16, 2007 11:25 PM
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