Maths Olympiad Prep

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Geometry Difficulty 2.5 Junior Find the answer

The perimeter of ABC\triangle ABC is equal to the perimeter of rectangle DEFGDEFG. What is the area of ABC\triangle ABC?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

The perimeter of ABC\triangle ABC is equal to (3x+4)+(3x+4)+2x=8x+8(3x+4)+(3x+4)+2x=8x+8. The perimeter of rectangle DEFGDEFG is equal to 2×(2x2)+2×(3x1)=4x4+6x2=10x62 \times (2x-2)+2 \times (3x-1)=4x-4+6x-2=10x-6. Since these perimeters are equal, we have 10x6=8x+810x-6=8x+8 which gives 2x=142x=14 and so x=7x=7. Thus, ABC\triangle ABC has AC=2×7=14AC=2 \times 7=14 and AB=BC=3×7+4=25AB=BC=3 \times 7+4=25. We drop a perpendicular from BB to TT on ACAC. Since ABC\triangle ABC is isosceles, then TT is the midpoint of ACAC, which gives AT=TC=7AT=TC=7. By the Pythagorean Theorem, BT=BC2TC2=25272=62549=576=24BT=\sqrt{BC^{2}-TC^{2}}=\sqrt{25^{2}-7^{2}}=\sqrt{625-49}=\sqrt{576}=24. Therefore, the area of ABC\triangle ABC is equal to 12ACBT=12×14×24=168\frac{1}{2} \cdot AC \cdot BT=\frac{1}{2} \times 14 \times 24=168.

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