今天有學生問這道會考數學題(1992 HKCEE Paper 2 Q.50):
In the figure, the two circles touch each other at C. The diameter AB of the bigger circle is tangent to the smaller circle at D. If DE bisects ∠ADC, find θ.
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(圖一)
A. 24°
B. 38°
C. 45°
D. 52°
E. 66°
其中一個做法是
∠DCA = 90° – θ (∠ in semi-circle)
= ∠ADE (∠ in alt. seg.)
= ∠CDE (angle bisector)
In △ADC,
3(90° – θ) + 24° = 180°
θ = 38°
學生利用兩圓的公切線,發覺怪事:
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設 CT 為兩圓公切線,
∠BCT = 24° (∠ in alt. seg.)
∠DEC = ∠DCT = θ + 24° (∠ in alt. seg.)
∠ADE = ∠DEC – ∠CAB = θ (ext. ∠ of △)
∠EDC = θ (angle bisector)
and ∠ECD = θ (∠ in alt. seg.) ………….. (*)
In △CDE,
θ + 24° + θ + θ = 180°
θ = 52°
又比如,依從上面做法,在 (*) 後,考慮
∠ACB = θ + θ = 90°
θ = 45°
究竟答案是 B,C 還是 D?看來當年「香港考試局」(2002 年易名為「香港考試及評核局」)出這多項選擇題的 distractors 是認真想過,不過這題似乎出錯。
從作圖的程序想,先畫直徑 AB,由 A 量 24° 得 C,見下:
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此時,同時以 AB 為切線又切大圓於 C 的圓,只有唯一一個,見下。(同學可以想想如何構作下圖的小圓,試用 Geogebra 畫出來)
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於是唯一地決定 D 及 E 點的位置:
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問題來了,當這一切,包括 θ 已經確定,何來再額外需要 DE 平分 ∠ADC 這個條件?
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我嘗試照考試局提供的答案 B 來畫(見下圖),即由 24° 出發畫 C,再由 θ = 38° 得 G,再由角平分線得 H,最後過 C, G, H 得小圓。可見,大小兩圓並不相切。
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習題:
- 參考(圖一):In the figure, the two circles touch each other at C. The diameter AB of the bigger circle is tangent to the smaller circle at D, find the size of θ.
- 如何得出原題的 distractors A 及 E?