Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 3 / 95 of 260 #95 of 1964

Problem 95

AMC 10/12, early questions
Geometry Difficulty 3.3 Find the answer

In ABC\triangle ABC, the sides opposite to angles AA, BB, CC are aa, bb, cc respectively. If angles AA, BB, CC form an arithmetic sequence and a=1a=1, SABC=32S_{\triangle ABC}= \frac{ \sqrt{3}}{2}, then b=b= \_\_\_\_\_\_.

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

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Official solution

Given that angles AA, BB, CC form an arithmetic sequence,
2B=A+C\therefore 2B=A+C,
Since the sum of angles in a triangle is π\pi,
B=π3\therefore B= \frac{ \pi}{3},
Given SABC=12acsinB=32S_{\triangle ABC}= \frac{1}{2}ac \sin B= \frac{ \sqrt{3}}{2}, a=1a=1, sinB=32\sin B= \frac{ \sqrt{3}}{2},
c=2\therefore c=2,
By applying the cosine rule, we get: b2=a2+c22accosB=1+42=3b^{2}=a^{2}+c^{2}-2ac \cos B=1+4-2=3,
Hence, b=3b= \sqrt{3}.

So the answer is: b=3\boxed{b = \sqrt{3}}.

The problem is solved by utilizing the properties of an arithmetic sequence and the sum of angles in a triangle to find the measure of angle BB. Then, the formula for the area of a triangle is used along with the given information to find the value of cc. Finally, the cosine rule is applied to find the value of bb.

This problem tests your understanding of the cosine rule, the formula for the area of a triangle, and the properties of arithmetic sequences. Proficiency in these theorems and formulas is essential for solving this problem.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.