OFFICIAL GMAT EXPLANATIONConsider the figure above, where DB is a diameter of the circle with center O and AD is a chord. Since OC = AC, ΔOCA is isosceles and so the base angles, ∠AOC and ∠OAC, have the same degree measure. The measure of ∠AOC is given as x°, so the measure of ∠OAC is x°. Since AC = AB, ΔCAB is isosceles and so the base angles, ∠ACB and ∠ABC, have the same degree measure. The measure of each is marked as y°. Likewise, since OD and OA are radii of the circle, OD = OA, and ΔDOA is isosceles with base angles, ∠ADO and ∠DAO, each measuring z°. Each of the following statements is true:
i. The measure of ∠CAB is 180 − 2y since the sum of the measures of the angles of ΔCAB is 180.
ii. ∠DAB is a right angle (because DB is a diameter of the circle) and so z + x + (180 − 2y) = 90, or, equivalently, 2y − x − z = 90.
iii. z + 90 + y = 180 since the sum of the measures of the angles of right triangle ΔDAB is 180, or, equivalently, z = 90 − y.
iv. x = 2z because the measure of exterior angle ∠AOC to ΔAOD is the sum of the measures of the two opposite interior angles, ∠ODA and ∠OAD.
v. y = 2x because the measure of exterior angle ∠ACB to ΔOCA is the sum of the measures of the two opposite interior angles, ∠COA and ∠CAO.
Multiplying the final equation in (iii) by 2 gives 2z = 180 − 2y. But, x = 2z in (iv), so x = 180 − 2y. Finally, the sum of the measures of the angles of ΔCAB is 180 and so y + y + x = 180. Then from (v), 2x + 2x + x = 180, 5x = 180, and x = 36.
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