All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Just Math
Solving triangles (Posted on 2019-10-03) Difficulty: 3 of 5
A triangle has sides a, b and c respectively such that 2a2+bc=6. Find the maximum area of the triangle.

No Solution Yet Submitted by Danish Ahmed Khan    
No Rating

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
Some Thoughts Possible solution | Comment 1 of 2
Heron's formula can be rearranged into 16A^2 = 2a^2b^2 + 2a^2c^2 + 2b^2c^2 - a^4 - b^4 - c^4.  Finding the maximum value of 16A^2 will also maximize A.

The condition 2a^2 + bc = 6 implies a^2 = 3 - bc/2.  Substitute this into the area equation to yield 16A^2 = -b^4 - b^3c + 7b^2c^2/4 - bc^3 - c^4 + 6b^2 + 3bc + 6c^2 - 9.

The symmetry of b and c implies that the maximum will occur when b=c.  Then 16A^2 = -9b^4/4 + 15b^2 - 9.

The first derivative of the right side is -9b^3+30b, which has one positive root b=sqrt(10/3), which implies c=sqrt(10/3), a=sqrt(4/3), and A=sqrt(146/144).

  Posted by Brian Smith on 2019-10-08 22:51:07
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (0)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information