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Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell
May 10, 2026

Can you solve this tricky viral triangle puzzle?

I found this geometry problem on Twitter and nobody in my class can solve it:

In triangle ABCABCABC, angle A=50∘A = 50^\circA=50∘, angle B=60∘B = 60^\circB=60∘, angle C=70∘C = 70^\circC=70∘.

Point DDD lies on ABABAB such that ∠DCB=30∘\angle DCB = 30^\circ∠DCB=30∘.
Point EEE lies on ACACAC such that ∠EBC=20∘\angle EBC = 20^\circ∠EBC=20∘.

Find ∠DEB\angle DEB∠DEB.

I tried using the sum of angles in triangles and got multiple possible answers. One person said 30∘30^\circ30∘, another said 40∘40^\circ40∘.

I think this requires constructing an equilateral triangle somewhere or using the law of sines. Can someone solve this with a clear geometric construction approach?

Also the answer is apparently 30∘30^\circ30∘ but I dont see how.

1 answers1.3k views

1 Answer

3
James O'Neill
May 26, 2026
Accepted
This is a classic angle-chasing trick. The key is to notice two hidden right angles. Since: $$\angle A=50^\circ,\quad \angle B=60^\circ,\quad \angle C=70^\circ,$$ and $E$ is chosen so that: $$\angle EBC=20^\circ,$$ we get: $$\angle ABE=40^\circ.$$ In triangle $ABE$: $$\angle AEB=180^\circ-50^\circ-40^\circ=90^\circ.$$ So $BE$ is perpendicular to $AC$. Similarly, since $D$ is chosen so that: $$\angle DCB=30^\circ,$$ we have: $$\angle ACD=40^\circ.$$ In triangle $ACD$: $$\angle ADC=180^\circ-50^\circ-40^\circ=90^\circ.$$ So $CD$ is perpendicular to $AB$. Now look at quadrilateral $BDEC$. It has: $$\angle BEC=90^\circ,\qquad \angle BDC=90^\circ.$$ That means $B,D,E,C$ lie on a circle with diameter $BC$. Angles standing on the same chord $DB$ are equal, so: $$\angle DEB=\angle DCB=30^\circ.$$ Therefore: $$\boxed{30^\circ}.$$ The construction feels mysterious until you spot that $BE$ and $CD$ are just two altitudes.
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