Puzzles

The triangle is equilateral.

To see why, add a copy of point \(E\) rotated by 90°. This is labelled \(F\) on the diagram below.

Angles \(BDE\) and \(CDF\) are both 75°. Therefore angles \(CDE\) and \(BDF\) are both 15°. This means that angle \(FDE\) is 60°.

Line \(AD\) is a line of symmetry of the diagram, so angles \(DFE\) and \(DEF\) are equal and both 60°. Therefore, triangle DEF is equilateral. This triangle is show in green in the diagram below.

Lines \(EF\), \(DF\) and \(BF\) are all equal length, so triangles \(BFE\) and \(BFD\) are isosceles. Angles \(BDF\) and \(FBD\) are both 15°. Angles \(FBE\) and \(FEB\) are equal, and the angles in triangle \(BED\) add to 180°: this means that angle \(FBE\) is 15°.

Angles \(FBE\) and \(FBD\) are both 15°, and so angle \(EBD\) is 30°. Angles \(EBD\) and \(ABE\) add to 90°, and so angle \(ABE\) is 60°.

By symmetry, angle \(BAE\) is also 60°. Angle \(BEA\) must therefore also be 60°, so triangle \(ABE\) is equilateral.