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Difference between revisions of "1950 AHSME Problems/Problem 48"
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
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By [[Viviani's Theorem]], the answer must be <math>\textbf{(C)}</math>
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begin by drawing the triangle, the point, the altitudes from the point to the sides, and the segments connecting the point to the vertices.  Let the triangle be <math>ABC</math> with <math>AB=BC=AC=s</math>.  Name the point <math>P</math>.  Name the altitude from <math>P</math> to <math>BC</math> <math>PA'</math>.  Similarly, we will name the other two altitudes <math>PB'</math> and <math>PC'</math>.  We can see that
 +
<cmath>\frac{1}{2}sPA'+\frac{1}{2}sPB'+\frac{1}{2}sPC'=\frac{1}{2}sh)</cmath>
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Where h is the altitude. Multiplying both sides by <math>2</math> and dividing both sides by <math>s</math> gives us
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<cmath>PA'+PB'+PC'=h</cmath>
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The answer is <math>\textbf{(C)}</math>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 16:03, 9 May 2015

Problem

A point is selected at random inside an equilateral triangle. From this point perpendiculars are dropped to each side. The sum of these perpendiculars is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{Least when the point is the center of gravity of the triangle}\qquad\\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{Greater than the altitude of the triangle} \qquad\\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{Equal to the altitude of the triangle}\qquad\\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{One-half the sum of the sides of the triangle} \qquad\\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{Greatest when the point is the center of gravity}$

Solution

begin by drawing the triangle, the point, the altitudes from the point to the sides, and the segments connecting the point to the vertices. Let the triangle be $ABC$ with $AB=BC=AC=s$. Name the point $P$. Name the altitude from $P$ to $BC$ $PA'$. Similarly, we will name the other two altitudes $PB'$ and $PC'$. We can see that \[\frac{1}{2}sPA'+\frac{1}{2}sPB'+\frac{1}{2}sPC'=\frac{1}{2}sh)\] Where h is the altitude. Multiplying both sides by $2$ and dividing both sides by $s$ gives us \[PA'+PB'+PC'=h\] The answer is $\textbf{(C)}$

See Also

1950 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 47 		Followed by
Problem 49
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All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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