Difference between revisions of "1984 AIME Problems/Problem 3"
I_like_pie (talk | contribs) (→See also) |
m (+img) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
== Problem == | == Problem == | ||
A [[point]] <math>\displaystyle P</math> is chosen in the interior of <math>\displaystyle \triangle ABC</math> such that when [[line]]s are drawn through <math>\displaystyle P</math> [[parallel]] to the sides of <math>\displaystyle \triangle ABC</math>, the resulting smaller [[triangle]]s <math>\displaystyle t_{1}</math>, <math>\displaystyle t_{2}</math>, and <math>\displaystyle t_{3}</math> in the figure, have [[area]]s <math>\displaystyle 4</math>, <math>\displaystyle 9</math>, and <math>\displaystyle 49</math>, respectively. Find the area of <math>\displaystyle \triangle ABC</math>. | A [[point]] <math>\displaystyle P</math> is chosen in the interior of <math>\displaystyle \triangle ABC</math> such that when [[line]]s are drawn through <math>\displaystyle P</math> [[parallel]] to the sides of <math>\displaystyle \triangle ABC</math>, the resulting smaller [[triangle]]s <math>\displaystyle t_{1}</math>, <math>\displaystyle t_{2}</math>, and <math>\displaystyle t_{3}</math> in the figure, have [[area]]s <math>\displaystyle 4</math>, <math>\displaystyle 9</math>, and <math>\displaystyle 49</math>, respectively. Find the area of <math>\displaystyle \triangle ABC</math>. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:1984_AIME-3.png]] | |
| + | |||
== Solution == | == Solution == | ||
Notice that all four triangles are [[similar triangles|similar]] to each other. Also, note that the length of any one side of the larger triangle is equation to the sum of the sides of each of the corresponding sides on the smaller triangles. Since the squares of the lengths of the sides are in proportion with the area, we can write the lengths of corresponding sides of the triangle as <math>2x,\ 3x,\ 7x</math>. Thus, the corresponding side on the large triangle is <math>12x</math>, and the area of the triangle is <math>12^2 = 144</math>. | Notice that all four triangles are [[similar triangles|similar]] to each other. Also, note that the length of any one side of the larger triangle is equation to the sum of the sides of each of the corresponding sides on the smaller triangles. Since the squares of the lengths of the sides are in proportion with the area, we can write the lengths of corresponding sides of the triangle as <math>2x,\ 3x,\ 7x</math>. Thus, the corresponding side on the large triangle is <math>12x</math>, and the area of the triangle is <math>12^2 = 144</math>. | ||
Revision as of 15:41, 10 September 2007
Problem
A point 
is chosen in the interior of 
such that when lines are drawn through parallel to the sides of , the resulting smaller triangles 
, 
, and 
in the figure, have areas 
, 
, and 
, respectively. Find the area of .
Solution
Notice that all four triangles are similar to each other. Also, note that the length of any one side of the larger triangle is equation to the sum of the sides of each of the corresponding sides on the smaller triangles. Since the squares of the lengths of the sides are in proportion with the area, we can write the lengths of corresponding sides of the triangle as 
. Thus, the corresponding side on the large triangle is 
, and the area of the triangle is 
.
See also
| 1984 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 2 |
Followed by Problem 4 | |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
| All AIME Problems and Solutions | ||
