Langley's adventitious angles is a seemingly simple problem first posed in 1922 by E. M. Langley in connection with an isosceles triangle. In its original form, it is stated as follows: ABC is an isosceles triangle. B = C = 80°. CF at 30° to AC cuts AB in F. BE at 20° to AB cuts AC in E. Prove angle BEF = 30°. (No mention is made of D. Perhaps it is at the intersection of BE and CF.)

 

A number of solutions appeared shortly after, including this one given by J. W. Mercer: Draw BG at 20° to BC, cutting CA in G. Then angle GBF = 60° and angles BGC and BCG are 80°. So BC = BG. Also angle BCF = angle BFC = 50°, so BF = BC and triangle BFG is equilateral. But angle GBE = 40° = angle BEG, so BG = GE = GF. And angle ° = 40°, hence GEF = 70° and BEF = 30°.

 

Reference

1. Langley, E. M. "Problem 644." Mathematical Gazette, 11: 173, 1922.