Length of Angle Bisector/Proof 2

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Theorem

Let $\triangle ABC$ be a triangle.

Let $AD$ be the angle bisector of $\angle BAC$ in $\triangle ABC$.

LengthOfAngleBisector.png

Let $d$ be the length of $AD$.


Then $d$ is given by:

$d^2 = \dfrac {b c} {\paren {b + c}^2} \paren {\paren {b + c}^2 - a^2}$

where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are the sides opposite $A$, $B$ and $C$ respectively.


Proof

LengthOfAngleBisector2.png

From Length of Angle Bisector: Proof 1, we have:

$BD = \dfrac {a c} {b + c}$
$DC = \dfrac {a b} {b + c}$

Then we have:

\(\ds \angle BAD\) \(\cong\) \(\ds \angle FAC\) Definition of Angle Bisector
\(\ds \angle ABD\) \(\cong\) \(\ds \angle AFC\) Angles in Same Segment of Circle are Equal

Then from Triangles with Two Equal Angles are Similar we have:

$\triangle ABD \sim \triangle AFC$

So:

\(\ds \frac c d\) \(=\) \(\ds \frac {AF} b\) as $\triangle ABD$ and $\triangle AFC$ are similar
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds \frac c d\) \(=\) \(\ds \frac {d + DF} b\)

Now we use the Intersecting Chords Theorem, which gives us $BD \cdot DC = d \cdot DF$.

\(\ds \frac c d\) \(=\) \(\ds \frac {d + \frac {BD \cdot DC} d} b\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds b c\) \(=\) \(\ds d^2 + BD \cdot DC\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds d^2\) \(=\) \(\ds b c - BD \cdot DC\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds d^2\) \(=\) \(\ds b c - \frac {a c} {b + c} \cdot \frac {a b} {b + c}\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds d^2\) \(=\) \(\ds \frac {b c} {\paren {b + c}^2} \paren {\paren {b + c}^2 - a^2}\)

$\blacksquare$