Browse · MATH
Printjmc
geometry senior
Problem
The parallelogram bounded by the lines , , , and has area 18. The parallelogram bounded by the lines , , , and has area 72. Given that , , , and are positive integers, what is the smallest possible value of ?
Solution
Two vertices of the first parallelogram are at and .
The -coordinates of the other two vertices satisfy and , so the -coordinates are . Thus the parallelogram is composed of two triangles, each of which has area It follows that .
By a similar argument using the second parallelogram, . Subtracting the first equation from the second yields , so . Thus is even, and is minimized when . Also, is a multiple of 27, and is minimized when . Hence the smallest possible value of is . Note that the required conditions are satisfied when .
The -coordinates of the other two vertices satisfy and , so the -coordinates are . Thus the parallelogram is composed of two triangles, each of which has area It follows that .
By a similar argument using the second parallelogram, . Subtracting the first equation from the second yields , so . Thus is even, and is minimized when . Also, is a multiple of 27, and is minimized when . Hence the smallest possible value of is . Note that the required conditions are satisfied when .
Final answer
16