Monday, May 19, 2008

Geometry Problem 89



See complete Problem 89
Triangle area, Midpoints. Level: High School, SAT Prep, College geometry

Post your solutions or ideas in the comments.

4 comments:

  1. Let X be the mid-pt of BC,
    XM//BA and XN//CD,
    S_1=[EBX]=S_3/2=[EXC]=S2

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  2. let area of ABC be S

    area of CEN = EC/ED*[END]
    [END]= 1/2[BED]
    [BED]=BE/AE*S

    Thus, [CEN]=1/2*S*(EC/ED)*BE/AE


    [BEM]=BE/AE*[AEM]
    [AEM]=1/2*[AEC]
    [AEC]=EC/ED*S

    Thus,[BEM]=1/2*S*(EC/ED)*(BE/AE)=[CEN]


    [BEC]=(BE/AE)*(EC/CD)*S

    Therefore, S1=S2=1/2S3

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  3. Here is an alternative solution to problem 89.
    Let CP and MQ be altitudes of triangles BEC and EBM respectively. In triangle APC, M and Q are midpoints of the sides, so MQ = CP/2,
    hence S1 = S3/2.
    Let BR and NS be altitudes of triangles BEC and ECN respectively. In triangle DBR, N and S are midpoints of the sides, so NS = BR/2,
    hence S1 = S2/2.
    Thus S1 = S2 = S3/2.

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  4. Area triangle MBE is (MBE)=S1=(AEM)-(ABM)=(AEC)/2-(ABC)/2=(BEC)/2=S3/2.But S2=(NEC)=
    (NED)-(NCD)=(BED)/2-(BCD)/2=(BEC)/2=S3/2.

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