Difference between revisions of "2006 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 23"

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Since triangles <math>AFC</math> and <math>DFC</math> share an altitude from <math>C</math> and their respective bases are equal, their areas must be equal, hence <math>x+3=y</math>.  
 
Since triangles <math>AFC</math> and <math>DFC</math> share an altitude from <math>C</math> and their respective bases are equal, their areas must be equal, hence <math>x+3=y</math>.  
  
Since triangles <math>EFA</math> and <math>BFA</math> share an altitude from <math>A</math> and their respective areas are in the ratio <math>3:7</math>, their bases must be in the same ratio, hence <math>DF:CF = 3:7</math>.
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Since triangles <math>EFA</math> and <math>BFA</math> share an altitude from <math>A</math> and their respective areas are in the ratio <math>3:7</math>, their bases must be in the same ratio, hence <math>EF:FB = 3:7</math>.
  
Since triangles <math>EFC</math> and <math>BFC</math> share an altitude from <math>B</math> and their respective bases are in the ratio <math>3:7</math>, their areas must be in the same ratio, hence <math>x:(y+7) = 3:7</math>, which gives us <math>7x = 3(y+7)</math>.
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Since triangles <math>EFC</math> and <math>BFC</math> share an altitude from <math>C</math> and their respective bases are in the ratio <math>3:7</math>, their areas must be in the same ratio, hence <math>x:(y+7) = 3:7</math>, which gives us <math>7x = 3(y+7)</math>.
  
 
Substituting <math>y=x+3</math> into the second equation we get <math>7x = 3(x+10)</math>, which solves to <math>x=\frac{15}{2}</math>. Then <math>y=x+3 = \frac{15}{2}+3 = \frac{21}{2}</math>, and the total area of the quadrilateral is <math>x+y = \frac{15}{2}+\frac{21}{2} = \boxed{18}</math>.
 
Substituting <math>y=x+3</math> into the second equation we get <math>7x = 3(x+10)</math>, which solves to <math>x=\frac{15}{2}</math>. Then <math>y=x+3 = \frac{15}{2}+3 = \frac{21}{2}</math>, and the total area of the quadrilateral is <math>x+y = \frac{15}{2}+\frac{21}{2} = \boxed{18}</math>.

Revision as of 14:57, 7 July 2009

Problem

A triangle is partitioned into three triangles and a quadrilateral by drawing two lines from vertices to their opposite sides. The areas of the three triangles are 3, 7, and 7 as shown. What is the area of the shaded quadrilateral?

[asy] unitsize(1.5cm); defaultpen(.8);  pair A = (0,0), B = (3,0), C = (1.4, 2), D = B + 0.4*(C-B), Ep = A + 0.3*(C-A); pair F = intersectionpoint( A--D, B--Ep );  draw( A -- B -- C -- cycle ); draw( A -- D ); draw( B -- Ep ); filldraw( D -- F -- Ep -- C -- cycle, mediumgray, black );  label("$7$",(1.25,0.2)); label("$7$",(2.2,0.45)); label("$3$",(0.45,0.35)); [/asy]

$\mathrm{(A) \ } 15\qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } 17\qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } \frac{35}{2}\qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } 18\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } \frac{55}{3}$

Solution

Label the points in the figure as shown below, and draw the segment $CF$. This segment divides the quadrilateral into two triangles, let their areas be $x$ and $y$.

[asy] unitsize(2cm); defaultpen(.8);  pair A = (0,0), B = (3,0), C = (1.4, 2), D = B + 0.4*(C-B), Ep = A + 0.3*(C-A); pair F = intersectionpoint( A--D, B--Ep );  draw( A -- B -- C -- cycle ); draw( A -- D ); draw( B -- Ep ); filldraw( D -- F -- Ep -- C -- cycle, mediumgray, black );  label("$7$",(1.45,0.15)); label("$7$",(2.2,0.45)); label("$3$",(0.45,0.35));  draw( C -- F, dashed );  label("$A$",A,SW); label("$B$",B,SE); label("$C$",C,N); label("$D$",D,NE); label("$E$",Ep,NW); label("$F$",F,S);  label("$x$",(1,1)); label("$y$",(1.6,1)); [/asy]

Since triangles $AFB$ and $DFB$ share an altitude from $B$ and have equal area, their bases must be equal, hence $AF=DF$.

Since triangles $AFC$ and $DFC$ share an altitude from $C$ and their respective bases are equal, their areas must be equal, hence $x+3=y$.

Since triangles $EFA$ and $BFA$ share an altitude from $A$ and their respective areas are in the ratio $3:7$, their bases must be in the same ratio, hence $EF:FB = 3:7$.

Since triangles $EFC$ and $BFC$ share an altitude from $C$ and their respective bases are in the ratio $3:7$, their areas must be in the same ratio, hence $x:(y+7) = 3:7$, which gives us $7x = 3(y+7)$.

Substituting $y=x+3$ into the second equation we get $7x = 3(x+10)$, which solves to $x=\frac{15}{2}$. Then $y=x+3 = \frac{15}{2}+3 = \frac{21}{2}$, and the total area of the quadrilateral is $x+y = \frac{15}{2}+\frac{21}{2} = \boxed{18}$.

See Also