Problem - 3139
In $\triangle{ABC}$, $AE$ and $AF$ trisects $\angle{A}$, $BF$ and $BD$ trisects $\angle{B}$, $CD$ and $CE$ trisects $\angle{C}$. Show that $\triangle{DEF}$ is equilateral.
This problem has several different proofs. The trigonometry based approach requires some computation, but is one of the most straightforward solutions.
For convenience, let $\angle{A} = 3\alpha, \angle{B} = 3\beta,$ and $\angle{C} = 3\gamma$. Furthermore, let $R$ be $\triangle{ABC}$'s circumradius. Then apply the law of sine:
\begin{align*}
BD &= \frac{BC}{\sin\angle{BDC}}\cdot\sin\angle{BCD}\\
&=\frac{2R\sin 3\alpha}{\sin(180^\circ - \beta - \gamma)}\cdot\sin\gamma\\
&=2R\cdot\frac{\sin 3\alpha \cdot\sin\gamma}{\sin(\beta + \gamma)}\\
&=2R\cdot\frac{4\sin\alpha\sin(60^\circ+\alpha)\sin(60^\circ-\alpha)\sin\gamma}{\sin{(\beta+\gamma)}}&\because\scriptsize{\text{\myRefEquation{eq_trig_triple_s_2}}}\\
&=8R\cdot\sin\alpha\sin(60^\circ+\alpha)\sin\gamma
\end{align*}
By symmetry, it must hold that $$BF=8R\cdot\sin\gamma\sin(60^\circ+\gamma)\sin\alpha$$
Therefore by the law of cosine, we have
\begin{align*}
&DF^2 \\
&= BD^2 + BF^2 - 2\cdot BD\cdot BF\cos\angle{DBF}\\
&= 64R^2\sin^2\alpha\sin^2(60^\circ+\alpha)\sin^2\gamma\\
&\quad+64R^2\sin^2\gamma\sin^2(60^\circ+\gamma)\sin^2\alpha\\
&\quad-2\cdot 8R\sin\alpha\sin(60^\circ+\alpha)\sin\gamma \cdot 8R\sin\gamma\sin(60^\circ+\gamma)\sin\alpha\cdot\cos\beta\\
&=64R^2\cdot\sin^2\alpha\sin^2\gamma(\sin^2(60^\circ+\alpha)+2\sin^2(60^\circ+\gamma)\\
&\quad-\sin(60^\circ+\alpha)\sin(60^\circ+\gamma)\cos\beta)
\end{align*}
It is possible to simplify the expression inside the bracket using trigonometric identities. However, there is a simpler way to show that it equals $\sin^2\beta$.
Given $(60^\circ+\alpha) + (60^\circ+\gamma) + \beta = 180^\circ$ and $\alpha, \beta, \gamma > 0$, there must exist a triangle with angles $(60^\circ+\alpha), (60^\circ+\gamma),$ and $\beta$. Let its sides be $x, y,$ and $z$, respectively, and $R'$ be its circumradius. Then apply the law of cosine and the law of sine:
\begin{align}
z^2 &= x^2 + y^2 - 2xy\cos\beta\\
(2R'\sin\beta)^2 &= (2R'\sin(60^\circ+\alpha))^2+(2R'\sin(60^\circ+\gamma))^2\\
&\quad - 2(2R'\sin(60^\circ+\alpha))(2R'\sin(60^\circ+\gamma))\cos\beta\\
\sin^2\beta &= \sin^2(60^\circ+\alpha)+2\sin^2(60^\circ+\gamma)\\
&\quad-\sin(60^\circ+\alpha)\sin(60^\circ+\gamma)\cos\beta
\end{align}
Setting this result to the previous equation leads to $$DF^2=64R^2\sin^2\alpha\sin^2\beta\sin^2\gamma\implies DF=8R\sin\alpha\sin\beta\sin\gamma$$
Similarly, we must have $$DE=EF=FD=8R\sin\alpha\sin\beta\sin\gamma$$