Ratio Lemma
Lesson · Intermediate
Geometry: Plane Geometry

By the Law of Sines in triangles ABP and APC,
By dividing,

If A₁ = A₂, then

In triangle ABC,
and P lies on BC. Suppose
and
Find BP : PC.

Let
Then
By the Ratio Lemma,
Using
we get
Since
we obtain
Therefore,
In triangle ABC, M is the midpoint of BC. Suppose
and
Find cos ∠MAC.
Let
Then

Since BM = MC,
Using
we get
Thus
Since
Therefore,