1982
Problem - 3044
The diagonals $AC$ and $CD$ of the regular hexagon $ABCDEF$ are divided by inner points $M$ and $N$ such that $AM:AC = CN:CE=r$. Determine $r$ if $B, M,$ and $N$ are collinear.
This problem can be solved in several different ways. Here, we present a solution utilizing the Menelaus Theorem. Other solutions are contained in the book %%HREF%%Geometry Techniques%%Home/35-books/94-book-geometry-techniques%%.
Join $BE$ and let its intersection point with $ABC$ be $P$.
Apply Menelaus' theorem on $\triangle{CPE}$ with respect to line $BMN$:
\begin{equation}
\frac{CM}{MP}\cdot\frac{PB}{BE}\cdot\frac{EN}{NC}=-1
\end{equation}
We note that:
- $\frac{CM}{MP}=\dfrac{1-r}{r-\frac{1}{2}}$
- $\frac{PB}{BE}=-\dfrac{1}{4}$ (because $BP=AB\sin{30^\circ}$)
- $\frac{BN}{BC}=\dfrac{1-r}{r}$
Setting $(i), (ii), (iii)$ to the previous equation leads to: $$\frac{1-r}{r-\frac{1}{2}}\cdot(-\frac{1}{4})\cdot\frac{1-r}{r}=-1 \implies r=\boxed{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$$