# What is the formula for bisector of triangle? [closed]

Triangle $ABC$: $A(1;4), B(7;8), C(9;2)$.

$BK is$ bisector of triangle.

What is the formula?

• Does $BK$ bisect the angle at $B$, or does it bisect the area of the triangle by placing $K$ at the midpoint of $AC$? – Joffan Jan 24 '17 at 14:50
• BK bisect the angle at B. – Dave Jan 24 '17 at 14:53

If you take two vectors of same length $\mathbf u$ and $\mathbf v$, $|u|=|v|$, then $\mathbf u \pm \mathbf v$ will be vectors parallel to their internal and external bisecting lines.
And this is valid either in 2D and 3D.

Therefore we take the unitary vectors $$\begin{gathered} \mathbf{a} = \frac{{\mathop {BA}\limits^ \to }} {{\left| {BA} \right|}} = - \,\frac{1} {{\sqrt {52} }}\left( {6,4} \right) = - \,\frac{1} {{\sqrt {13} }}\left( {3,2} \right) \hfill \\ \mathbf{c} = \frac{{\mathop {BC}\limits^ \to }} {{\left| {BC} \right|}} = \frac{1} {{\sqrt {40} }}\left( {2, - 6} \right) = \frac{1} {{\sqrt {10} }}\left( {1, - 3} \right) \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ and then taking a generic point $X(x,y)$, we impose that the vector ${\mathop {BX}\limits^ \to }$ be parallel to $\mathbf {a} + \mathbf {c}$.

You can do this by putting the (modulus of) cross product to $0$ $$\mathop {BX}\limits^ \to = \left( {x - x_{\,B} ,y - y_{\,B} } \right)\quad :\quad \left| {\,\left( {\mathbf{a} + \mathbf{c}} \right) \times \mathop {BX}\limits^ \to \,} \right| = 0$$

or by telling that the components be proportional $$\mathop {BX}\limits^ \to = \left( {x - x_{\,B} ,y - y_{\,B} } \right)\quad :\quad \frac{{x - x_{\,B} }} {{\left( {a_{\,x} + c_{\,x} } \right)}} = \frac{{y - y_{\,B} }} {{\left( {a_{\,y} + c_{\,y} } \right)}}$$

• Thank you, it looks like a form of record at the school. – Dave Jan 24 '17 at 18:07
• @divisor: I do not get what you exactly mean to say, however I am glad that you appreciated the answer, and it might be useful. – G Cab Jan 24 '17 at 21:12

The formula looks like it is related to the angle bisector theorem, which gives us that the angle bisector at $B$ divides the opposite side ($AC$) in proportion to the ratio of the other two sides.

From here:

My proof of the angle bisector theorem uses areas:

Given that $AD$ bisects $\angle CAB$. Consider the areas of $\triangle ABD$ and $\triangle ADC$, using $AB$ and $AC$ as the base. The altitude of $D$, $h$, is equal in the two cases - overlay the two triangles by folding over $AD$ to see this easily. Thus area $ABD = \frac h2 AB$ and area $ADC = \frac h2 AC$. Now consider the same triangles with base $CD$ and $DB$. The altitude of $A$, $g$, is equal in these cases giving area $ABD = \frac g2 DB$ and area $ADC = \frac g2 CD$. Thus: $$\frac h2 AB = \frac g2 DB \\ \frac h2 AC = \frac g2 CD \\ \frac gh = \fbox{\frac{AB}{DB} = \frac{AC}{CD}}$$

• Is it actually for all sides of the triangle and all kinds of triangle? – Dave Jan 24 '17 at 15:39
• Yes, it's true for each of the angles and for any triangle. – Joffan Jan 24 '17 at 16:14
• neat answer: +1 – G Cab Jan 24 '17 at 21:21