Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2014

Geometry Difficulty 1.3 Junior Find the answer Canada

In the diagram, PQR\triangle PQR has RPQ=90\angle RPQ = 90^\circ, PQ=10PQ=10, and QR=26QR=26.

The area of PQR\triangle PQR is

Pick one

Solution

Since PQR\triangle PQR is right-angled at PP, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem.

We obtain PQ2+PR2=QR2PQ^2 + PR^2 = QR^2 or 102+PR2=26210^2 + PR^2 = 26^2.

This gives PR2=262102=676100=576PR^2 = 26^2 - 10^2 = 676 - 100 = 576 and so PR=576=24PR = \sqrt{576} = 24, since PR>0PR>0.

Since PQR\triangle PQR is right-angled at PP, its area equals 12(PR)(PQ)=12(24)(10)=120\frac{1}{2}(PR)(PQ) = \frac{1}{2}(24)(10) = 120.

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Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.