Question

# The sides of a triangle $ABC$ are $a,b$ and $c$ with $A,B$ and $C$as their opposite vertices respectively.If $2b = 3a$ and ${\tan ^2}A = \dfrac{3}{5},$prove that there are two values of the third side, one of which is double the other.

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Hint: Using the equation ${\tan ^2}A = \dfrac{3}{5},$find the value of $\cos A$ and then apply cosine rule.

From the question:
${\tan ^2}A = \dfrac{3}{5}$and we know that $1 + {\tan ^2}A = {\sec ^2}A$,
$\Rightarrow {\sec ^2}A = 1 + \dfrac{3}{5}, \\ \Rightarrow {\sec ^2}A = \dfrac{8}{5}. \\$
Further, we know that ${\cos ^2}A = \dfrac{1}{{{{\sec }^2}A}},$
$\Rightarrow {\cos ^2}A = \dfrac{5}{8}, \\ \Rightarrow \cos A = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{8}} , \\ \Rightarrow \cos A = \dfrac{{\sqrt 5 }}{{2\sqrt 2 }}. \\$
Now, applying cosine rule,
$\Rightarrow {b^2} + {c^2} - {a^2} = 2bc\cos A.$
From question, we know that $2b = 3a.$ Putting $a = \dfrac{{2b}}{3}$ and $\cos A = \dfrac{{\sqrt 5 }}{{2\sqrt 2 }}$in above equation:
$\Rightarrow {b^2} + {c^2} - \dfrac{{4{b^2}}}{9} = 2bc \times \dfrac{{\sqrt 5 }}{{2\sqrt 2 }}, \\ \Rightarrow {c^2} + \dfrac{{5{b^2}}}{9} = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} bc, \\ \Rightarrow {c^2} - \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} bc + \dfrac{{5{b^2}}}{9} = 0. \\$
Above equation is a quadratic equation in $c.$ Let ${c_1},{c_2}$ be the root of the equation. Then,
Sum of roots $= {c_1} + {c_2} = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b .....(i)$
Product of root $= {c_1}{c_2} = \dfrac{{5{b^2}}}{9}.$
We know that, ${({c_1} - {c_2})^2} = {({c_1} + {c_2})^2} - 4{c_1}{c_2}.$Putting values from above:
$\Rightarrow {({c_1} - {c_2})^2} = \dfrac{{5{b^2}}}{2} - 4 \times \dfrac{{5{b^2}}}{9}, \\ \Rightarrow {({c_1} - {c_2})^2} = \dfrac{{5{b^2}}}{{18}}, \\ \Rightarrow {c_1} - {c_2} = \dfrac{1}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b .....(ii) \\$
Now adding equation $(i)$and $(ii)$, we have:
$\Rightarrow 2{c_1} = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b + \dfrac{1}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b, \\ \Rightarrow 2{c_1} = \dfrac{{4b}}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} , \\ \Rightarrow {c_1} = \dfrac{{2b}}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} . \\$
Putting the value of ${c_1}$in equation $(i)$,we’ll get:
$\Rightarrow {c_1} + {c_2} = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b, \\ \Rightarrow {c_2} = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b - {c_1}, \\ \Rightarrow {c_2} = \sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} b - \dfrac{{2b}}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} , \\ \Rightarrow {c_2} = \dfrac{b}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}} . \\$
So, we have ${c_1} = \dfrac{{2b}}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}}$and ${c_2} = \dfrac{b}{3}\sqrt {\dfrac{5}{2}}$. From this we can say that ${c_1} = 2{c_2}.$
Therefore, we have two values of the third side in which one is twice the other. This is the required proof.

Note: Whenever two sides of a triangle are given along with the angle made by these two sides, we can use cosine rule to find out the third side.