3. On the side BC, resp. CD of the parallelogram ABCD, determine points E, resp. F such that segments EF,BD are parallel and triangles ABE,AEF and AFD have the same areas.
A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.
Solution
SOLUTION. Let a be the length of sides AB and CD, and v be the distance between their lines, which is also the height of triangle AFD from vertex A (Fig. 1). From the condition EF∥BD, according to theorem u, it follows that triangles BCD and ECF are similar; let k∈(0,1) be the similarity coefficient. Once we calculate it, the problem will be solved.
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Fig. 1
Since ∣FC∣=ka,∣FD∣=(1−k)a and the heights of triangles ECF,ABE from their common vertex E have lengths kv, respectively (1−k)v, for the areas of triangles AFD and ABE we have
SAFD=2(1−k)av=2a(1−k)v=SABE,
so both areas are equal for any k∈(0,1). Since the area of triangle ECF is SECF=21ka⋅kv=21k2av and the area of the entire parallelogram ABCD is given by the formula SABCD=av, we can express the area of triangle AEF as follows:
The areas of triangles ABE,AFD will be equal to the area of triangle AEF precisely when
21(1−k)=k−21k2 or k2−3k+1=0.
This quadratic equation has roots
k1,2=23±5
of which only the root k=21(3−5) satisfies the condition k∈(0,1). Let us add that for such k we have
1−k=25−1=1−kk
Answer. The desired points E,F are determined by the ratios
∣CE∣:∣EB∣=∣CF∣:∣FD∣=(5−1):2.
Note. The equality (1−k):1=k:(1−k) from the conclusion of the solution means that points E,F divide the corresponding sides of the parallelogram in the so-called golden ratio. This is expressed by the equalities
∣CE∣:∣EB∣=∣EB∣:∣BC∣ and ∣CF∣:∣FD∣=∣FD∣:∣DC∣.
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