<p>The expression \(\frac{(a + b + c)(b + c - a)(c + a - b)(a + b - c)}{4b^2c^2}\) is equal to:</p><p>(where symbols used have usual meanings)</p>
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept: Recognize that the numerator contains terms of the form (s), (s-a), (s-b), (s-c) where s is the semi-perimeter. Use Heron's formula and the standard triangle relations involving cosine rule to simplify.
Step 1: Express terms using the semi-perimeter.
Let $s = \frac{a+b+c}{2}$ be the semi-perimeter of the triangle.
Then the terms in the numerator can be expressed as:
$a+b+c = 2s$
$b+c-a = (a+b+c) - 2a = 2s - 2a = 2(s-a)$
$c+a-b = (a+b+c) - 2b = 2s - 2b = 2(s-b)$
$a+b-c = (a+b+c) - 2c = 2s - 2c = 2(s-c)$
Step 2: Substitute these into the given expression.
$$ \frac{(2s) \cdot 2(s-a) \cdot 2(s-b) \cdot 2(s-c)}{4b^2c^2} = \frac{16s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}{4b^2c^2} = \frac{4s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}{b^2c^2} $$
Step 3: Apply Heron's formula for the area of a triangle.
The area of a triangle, denoted by $\Delta$, is given by Heron's formula:
$$ \Delta = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} $$
Therefore, $s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c) = \Delta^2$.
Step 4: Substitute $\Delta^2$ into the expression.
The expression becomes:
$$ \frac{4\Delta^2}{b^2c^2} $$
Step 5: Express the area of a triangle using the sine rule.
The area of a triangle can also be expressed as $\Delta = \frac{1}{2}bc\sin A$.
Squaring this, we get:
$$ \Delta^2 = \left(\frac{1}{2}bc\sin A\right)^2 = \frac{1}{4}b^2c^2\sin^2 A $$
Step 6: Substitute this expression for $\Delta^2$ back into the simplified expression.
$$ \frac{4 \cdot \left(\frac{1}{4}b^2c^2\sin^2 A\right)}{b^2c^2} = \frac{b^2c^2\sin^2 A}{b^2c^2} = \sin^2 A $$
Correct Answer: A