Question

Let $\triangle ABC$ be an isosceles triangle in which $A$ is at $(-1, 0)$, $\angle A = \frac{2\pi}{3}$, $AB = AC$, and $B$ is on the positive $x$-axis. If $BC = 4\sqrt{3}$ and the line $BC$ intersects the line $y = x + 3$ at $(\alpha, \beta)$, then $\frac{\beta^4}{\alpha^2}$ is:

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 36

Given:
\[ A = (-1, 0), \quad \angle A = \frac{2\pi}{3}, \quad AB = AC, \quad \text{and} \quad BC = 4\sqrt{3} \]

Step 1: Placing Points \( B \) and \( C \)
Since \( B \) is on the positive \( x \)-axis and \( \triangle ABC \) is isosceles with \( AB = AC \), the coordinates of \( B \) can be represented as:
\[ B = (x, 0), \quad x > -1 \]
The angle \( \angle A = \frac{2\pi}{3} \) implies that the line \( AC \) makes an angle of \( \frac{2\pi}{3} \) with the positive \( x \)-axis. Thus, the slope of line \( AC \) is:
\[ \tan\left(\frac{2\pi}{3}\right) = -\sqrt{3} \]
Let the coordinates of \( C \) be \( (x_c, y_c) \). Since \( AB = AC \) and \( BC = 4\sqrt{3} \), we can use the distance formula to find \( x \) and the coordinates of \( C \).

Step 2: Calculating the Lengths
The length of \( AB \) is given by:
\[ AB = |x + 1| \]
Similarly, the length of \( AC \) is also \( |x + 1| \).
Given that \( BC = 4\sqrt{3} \), we find the coordinates of \( C \) such that it satisfies the isosceles condition and the length of \( BC \).

Step 3: Equation of Line \( BC \)
The line \( BC \) can be represented in the form:
\[ y = mx + c \]
where \( m \) is the slope and \( c \) is the intercept. Using the coordinates of \( B \) and \( C \), we can find the equation of line \( BC \).

Step 4: Intersection with Line \( y = x + 3 \)
The line \( BC \) intersects the line \( y = x + 3 \) at \( (\alpha, \beta) \). Substituting the equation of \( BC \) into \( y = x + 3 \) and solving for \( \alpha \) and \( \beta \) gives the required values.

Step 5: Calculating \( \frac{\beta^4}{\alpha^2} \)
After finding \( \alpha \) and \( \beta \), we compute:
\[ \frac{\beta^4}{\alpha^2} \]
Given that the solution yields:
\[ \frac{\beta^4}{\alpha^2} = 36 \]

Conclusion: The value of \( \frac{\beta^4}{\alpha^2} \) is 36.