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Difference between revisions of "1988 AIME Problems/Problem 7"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
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In [[triangle]] <math>ABC</math>, <math>\tan \angle CAB = 22/7</math>, and the [[altitude]] from <math>A</math> divides <math>BC</math> into [[segment]]s of length 3 and 17.  What is the area of triangle <math>ABC</math>?
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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{{image}}
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Let <math>D</math> be the intersection of the [[altitude]] and <math>\overline{BC}</math>, and <math>h</math> be the length of the altitude. [[Without loss of generality]], let <math>BD = 17</math> and <math>CD = 3</math>. Then <math>\tan \angle DAB = \frac{17}{h}</math> and <math>\tan \angle CAD = \frac{3}{h}</math>. Using the [[tangent sum formula]],
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<div style="text-align:center;">
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<math>\begin{eqnarray*}
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\tan CAB &=& \tan (DAB + CAD)\\
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\frac{22}{7} &=& \frac{\tan DAB + \tan CAD}{1 - \tan DAB \cdot \tan CAD} \\
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&=& \frac{\frac{17}{h} + \frac{3}{h}}{1 - \left(\frac{17}{h}\right)\left(\frac{3}{h}\right)} \\
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\frac{22}{7} &=& \frac{20h}{h^2 - 51}\\
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0 &=& 22h^2 - 140h - 22 \cdot 51\\
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0 &=& (11h + 51)(h - 11)
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\end{eqnarray*}</math></div>
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The postive value of <math>h = 11</math>, so the area is <math>\frac{1}{2}(17 + 3)\cdot 11 = 110</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* [[1988 AIME Problems]]
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{{AIME box|year=1988|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
  
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{{AIME box|year=1988|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
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[[Category:Intermediate Trigonometry Problems]]

Revision as of 19:32, 26 September 2007

Problem

In triangle $ABC$, $\tan \angle CAB = 22/7$, and the altitude from $A$ divides $BC$ into segments of length 3 and 17. What is the area of triangle $ABC$?

Solution

An image is supposed to go here. You can help us out by creating one and editing it in. Thanks.

Let $D$ be the intersection of the altitude and $\overline{BC}$, and $h$ be the length of the altitude. Without loss of generality, let $BD = 17$ and $CD = 3$. Then $\tan \angle DAB = \frac{17}{h}$ and $\tan \angle CAD = \frac{3}{h}$. Using the tangent sum formula,

$\begin{eqnarray*} \tan CAB &=& \tan (DAB + CAD)\\ \frac{22}{7} &=& \frac{\tan DAB + \tan CAD}{1 - \tan DAB \cdot \tan CAD} \\ &=& \frac{\frac{17}{h} + \frac{3}{h}}{1 - \left(\frac{17}{h}\right)\left(\frac{3}{h}\right)} \\ \frac{22}{7} &=& \frac{20h}{h^2 - 51}\\ 0 &=& 22h^2 - 140h - 22 \cdot 51\\ 0 &=& (11h + 51)(h - 11)

\end{eqnarray*}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

The postive value of $h = 11$, so the area is $\frac{1}{2}(17 + 3)\cdot 11 = 110$.

See also

1988 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 6 		Followed by
Problem 8
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions
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