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geometry
Problem
Let be an acute triangle with altitudes , and , and let be the center of its circumcircle. Show that the segments , , , , , dissect the triangle into three pairs of triangles that have equal areas.
Solution
Let and be midpoints of sides and , respectively. Notice that , , so triangles and are similar and we get . For triangles and we also have . Then or .
Denote by the area of the figure . So, we see that . Analogously, and .
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Alternative solution.
Let be the circumradius of triangle , and as usual write , , for angles , , respectively, and , , for sides , , respectively. Then the area of triangle is Now , and (since triangle is isosceles, and ). So A similar calculation gives so and have the same area. In the same way we find that and have the same area, as do and .
Denote by the area of the figure . So, we see that . Analogously, and .
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Alternative solution.
Let be the circumradius of triangle , and as usual write , , for angles , , respectively, and , , for sides , , respectively. Then the area of triangle is Now , and (since triangle is isosceles, and ). So A similar calculation gives so and have the same area. In the same way we find that and have the same area, as do and .
Techniques
Triangle centers: centroid, incenter, circumcenter, orthocenter, Euler line, nine-point circleTriangle trigonometryAngle chasing