In triangle $ABC,$ altitudes $\overline{AD}$ and $\overline{BE}$ intersect at $H$. If $\angle BAC = 40^\circ$ and $\angle ABC = 40^\circ$, then what is $\angle AHB$?

Answer 1

Since $\overline{AD}$ and $\overline{BE}$ are perpendiculars to their respective bases, triangle $ABC$ is an isosceles triangle by a theorem derived from the Pythagorean Theorem. Hence, $\angle BCA = \angle ABC = 40^\circ,$ so
\[\angle ACB = 180^\circ - 2 \cdot 40^\circ = 100^\circ.\]Therefore, $\angle AHB = \angle ACB = \boxed{100^\circ}.$ [asy]
import olympiad; import cse5; size(150); defaultpen(linewidth(0.8));
dotfactor=4;
pair B=(0,0), C=1*dir(60), A=C+dir(180-40+60*dir(0));
pair D=foot(A,B,C), E=foot(B,A,C), H=extension(A,D,B,E);
draw(A--B--C--cycle^^A--D^^B--E);
draw(A--H--B^^C--H,dashed);
label("$A$",A,NE);
label("$B$",B,SW);
label("$C$",C,N);
label("$D$",D,S);
label("$E$",E,SE);
label("$H$",H,NE);
[/asy]