Dihedral Angles of a Tetrahedron

Problem

In a tetrahedron S-ABCS\text{-}ABC, the base △ABC\triangle ABC is equilateral. Let α,β,γ\alpha,\beta,\gamma be the plane angles of the dihedral angles along ABAB, BCBC, CACA (i.e., S-AB-CS\text{-}AB\text{-}C, S-BC-AS\text{-}BC\text{-}A, S-CA-BS\text{-}CA\text{-}B), with α,β,γ≠π2\alpha,\beta,\gamma\neq\dfrac{\pi}2. Determine, with proof, which of the following are true.

1. 1tan⁡α+1tan⁡β+1tan⁡γ\dfrac 1{\tan\alpha}+\dfrac 1{\tan\beta}+\dfrac 1{\tan\gamma} may be negative. 2. α+β+γ<3π2\alpha+\beta+\gamma<\dfrac{3\pi}2. 3. α+β+γ>π\alpha+\beta+\gamma>\pi. 4. 1tan⁡α+1tan⁡β+1tan⁡γ\dfrac 1{\tan\alpha}+\dfrac 1{\tan\beta}+\dfrac 1{\tan\gamma} is always positive.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty8/10
Topicssolid geometry, Trigonometric Identities, Triangle Geometry

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