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.
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).
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,444 problems in a working order, from Junior Challenge level to the IMO shortlist.