The hypotenuse of right-angled △AOB lies on the line with equation y=−2x+12, as shown in Figure 1. The legs of △AOB lie on the axes.IMG1 What is the area of △AOB? A second line passes through O and is perpendicular to the first line, as shown in Figure 2.The two lines intersect at C. Determine the coordinates of C. The second line passes through the point D in the first quadrant, as shown in Figure 3.Points E and F are positioned on the axes so that DEOF is a rectangle. If the area of DEOF is 1352, determine the coordinates of D.
Solution
The y-intercept of the line with equation y=−2x+12 is 12 and so OA=12. The x-intercept of this line is determined by letting y=0 and solving for x. We get 0=−2x+12 or 2x=12 and so x=6. The x-intercept is 6, and so OB=6. The area of △AOB is 21(OB)(OA)=21(6)(12)=36. [[IMAGE0]] Solution 1 We begin by determining the equation of the line passing through O and C. This line is perpendicular to the line with equationy=−2x+12, and so its slope is the negative reciprocal of −2, which is 21. This line passes through the origin and so it has y-intercept 0 and equation y=21x. [[IMAGE1]] Point C is the point of intersection of the lines y=21x and y=−2x+12. Substituting the equation of the first line into the second, we get 21x=−2x+12 or 25x=12 and so x=524. When x=524, the equation y=21x gives y=21(524)=512, and so the coodinates of C are (524,512). Solution 2 As in Solution 1, we begin by recognizing that the line passing through O and C has slope 21. Point C lies on the line with equation y=−2x+12 and so if the x-coordinate of C is a, then the y-coordinate is −2a+12. The slope of the line through O(0,0) and C(a,−2a+12) is a−2a+12 and must equal 21. [[IMAGE2]] Solving, we get a−2a+12=21 or 2(−2a+12)=a or 24=5a, and so a=524. When a=524, we get −2a+12=−2(524)+12=−548+12=512, and so the coordinates of C are (524,512). From part (b) Solution 1, the equation of the line passing through O and C is y=21x. Point D lies on this line and so if the x-coordinate of D is n, then the y-coordinate of D is 21n, so D has coordinates (n,21n). [[IMAGE3]] Point E lies vertically below D and thus has the same x-coordinate as D. That is, the coordinates of E are (n,0) and so OE=n. Similarly, F is positioned horizontally from D and thus has the same y-coordinate as D. That is, the coordinates of F are (0,21n) and so OF=21n. The area of DEOF is 1352, and so (OE)(OF)=1352 or n(21n)=1352 or n2=2704, and so n=2704=52 (since n>0), and 21n=26. If the area of DEOF is 1352, the coordinates of D are (52,26).
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