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Divide a triangle (Posted on 2010-07-07) Difficulty: 3 of 5

Let P be a point on side AB of triangle ABC.

Construct a line through P that divides the 
triangle into two polygons of equal area.

  Submitted by Bractals    
Rating: 4.0000 (1 votes)
Solution: (Hide)

Let A', B', and C' be the midpoints of the sides opposite
vertices A, B, and C respectively. If P equals A, B, or C',
then the desired line is AA', BB', or CC' respectively.

If P lies between B and C', then

   the desired line must intersect side AC. Construct a
   line through B parallel to line PB' that intersects side
   AC at point Q. Line PQ is the desired line. Proof:
   From similar triangles APB' and ABQ,

       |AP|     |AB'|
      ------ = -------  or
       |AB|     |AQ|

      |AP||AQ| = |AB||AB'|  or

      |AP||AQ| = |AB||AC|/2  or

      (1/2)|AP||AQ|sin(A) = (1/2)|AB||AC|sin(A)/2 or

      Area(APQ) = Area(ABC)/2

else if P lies between A and C', then

   same as above swapping letters "A" and "B". 

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionSolutionPraneeth2010-07-07 16:18:20
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