In isosceles triangle DEF, what is the measure of angle E?

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:In isosceles triangle DEF, what is the measure of angle E?

(1) Angle D measures 42 degrees
(2) Angle F measures 96 degrees
Source: Veritas Prep
All measures are in degrees.

$$\Delta DEF\,\,{\rm{isosceles}}\,\,\,\,\left( * \right)$$
$${\rm{?}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,\angle {\rm{E}}$$
$$\left( 1 \right)\,\,\angle {\rm{D}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,{\rm{42}}\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {\angle {\rm{D}}\,{\rm{;}}\,\angle {\rm{E;}}\,\,\angle {\rm{F}}} \right)\,\, = \,\,\left( {42\,;\,42\,;96} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,{\rm{?}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,{\rm{42}} \hfill \cr
\,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {\angle {\rm{D}}\,{\rm{;}}\,\angle {\rm{E;}}\,\,\angle {\rm{F}}} \right)\,\, = \,\,\left( {42\,;69\,;69} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,{\rm{?}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,{\rm{69}}\,\, \hfill \cr} \right.\,$$
$$\left( 2 \right)\,\,\angle {\rm{F}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,{\rm{96}}\,\,\,\left( { \ne \,\,\angle {\rm{D}}\,\,{\rm{and}}\,\, \ne \angle {\rm{E}}} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\angle {\rm{D}}\,\, = \,\,\angle {\rm{E}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,{{{\rm{180}} - 96} \over 2}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,{\rm{SUFF}}.\,\,\,\,\,\,$$


This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:39 pm

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:In isosceles triangle DEF, what is the measure of ∠E?

(1) ∠D measures 42 degrees
(2) ∠F measures 96 degrees
Target question: What is the measure of ∠E?

Given: Triangle DEF is an ISOSCELES triangle
This tells us that there are 2 equal angles

Statement 1: ∠D measures 42 degrees
Here it's hard to tell whether there's a second 42-degree angle or whether the other two angles are different.
Consider these two possible cases that satisfy statement 1:
Case a: ∠D = 42°, ∠E = 42° and ∠F = 96° . In this case, the answer to the target question is ∠E = 42°
Case b: ∠D = 42°, ∠E = 69° and ∠F = 69° . In this case, the answer to the target question is ∠E = 69°
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: ∠F measures 96 degrees
In this case we KNOW that there are no other angles that measure 96 degrees.
How do we know this?
If we have a 2nd angle measuring 96 degrees, then the sum of those two angles is GREATER THAN 180°
This means the two other angles (∠D and ∠E) must be equal
So, it MUST be the case that ∠D = 42°, ∠E = 42° and ∠F = 96°
The answer to the target question is ∠E = 42°
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer: B

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