The perimeter of △ABC is equal to the perimeter of rectangle DEFG. What is the area of △ABC?
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
The perimeter of △ABC is equal to (3x+4)+(3x+4)+2x=8x+8. The perimeter of rectangle DEFG is equal to 2×(2x−2)+2×(3x−1)=4x−4+6x−2=10x−6. Since these perimeters are equal, we have 10x−6=8x+8 which gives 2x=14 and so x=7. Thus, △ABC has AC=2×7=14 and AB=BC=3×7+4=25. We drop a perpendicular from B to T on AC. Since △ABC is isosceles, then T is the midpoint of AC, which gives AT=TC=7. By the Pythagorean Theorem, BT=BC2−TC2=252−72=625−49=576=24. Therefore, the area of △ABC is equal to 21⋅AC⋅BT=21×14×24=168.
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