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geometry intermediate
Problem
The line crosses the -axis at and the -axis at . Point is on line segment . If the area of is three times the area of , then what is the value of ? 
Solution
The -intercept of the line is , so has coordinates .
To determine the -intercept, we set , and so obtain or or . Thus, has coordinates .
Therefore, the area of is , since is right-angled at .
Since we would like the area of to be one third that of , then the area of should be 18.
If has coordinates , then has base of length 12 and height , so or or .
Since lies on the line, then or or or .
Thus, .
To determine the -intercept, we set , and so obtain or or . Thus, has coordinates .
Therefore, the area of is , since is right-angled at .
Since we would like the area of to be one third that of , then the area of should be 18.
If has coordinates , then has base of length 12 and height , so or or .
Since lies on the line, then or or or .
Thus, .
Final answer
11