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Midpoint Areas (Posted on 2012-02-18) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Let points D, E, and F lie on the sidelines
BC, CA, and AB respectively of ΔABC.

The lines AD, BE, and CF are nonparallel and
concurrent at a point not on any of the sidelines.

Prove that the triangles BDF and CED have the
same orientation and equal areas if and only if
D is the midpoint of side BC.

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


NOTATION:

   PQ denotes the vector from point P to point Q.
    denotes the vector cross product.

PROOF:

Let BD = xDC, CE = yEA, and AF = zFB.

From Ceva's theorem we know that lines

   AD, BE, and CF are concurrent

              

            xyz = 1.                  (1)

  Triangles BDF and CED have the
  same orientation and equal areas

  BD⊗BF = CE⊗CD

  [x/(1+x)](AC-AB)⊗[-1/(1+z)]AB =
    [-y/(1+y)]AC⊗[-1/(1+x)](AC-AB)

  [-x/((1+x)(1+z))]ACAB =
    [-y/((1+x)(1+y))]ACAB

  x/(1+z) = y/((1+y)                (2)

Both sets of equations (3) and (4)
satisfy equations (1) and (2):

   x = 1 and z = 1/y                  (3)

   x = -1/(1+y) and z = -(1+y)/y      (4)

The set of equations (4) imply

   CF = (1+y)AB - AC

   BE = -1/(1+y)CF

   AD = 1/yCF

In other words, lines AD, BE, and CF
are parallel. Thus,

  Triangles BDF and CED have the
  same orientation and equal areas

  x = 1

  BD = DC

  D is the midpoint of side BC.

QED

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
re: Possible solutionBractals2012-02-19 14:07:11
Some ThoughtsPossible solutionbroll2012-02-19 08:02:30
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