Apply Midpoint Theorem?

Geometry Level 5

Let A B C D ABCD be a convex quadrilateral, and let the midpoints of A B AB , B C BC , C D CD and D A DA be K K , L L , M M and N N . Let K M KM intersect L N LN at T T . If the area of B K T L BKTL is 15, find the sum of the infimum and the supremum areas of A B C D ABCD .


The answer is 160.

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2 solutions

Sharky Kesa
May 1, 2016

We will create a bound for A B C D |ABCD| in terms of B K T L |BKTL| .

We will first find a lower bound.

By Midpoint Theorem, K L A C M N KL \parallel AC \parallel MN and K N B D L M KN \parallel BD \parallel LM . Thus, K L M N KLMN is a parallelogram and K L T = L M T = M N T = N T K = 1 4 K L M N |KLT|=|LMT|=|MNT|=|NTK|=\frac{1}{4} |KLMN| . Also, since K K and N N are the midpoints of A B AB and D A DA , the length of the perpendicular dropped from A A to K N KN is the same as the length of the perpendicular from a point on K N KN on to B D BD . The same applies for the other 3 points. Thus, A K N + B K L + C L M + D M N = K L M N |AKN|+|BKL|+|CLM|+|DMN|=|KLMN| , which implies K L T = 1 8 A B C D |KLT|=\frac {1}{8} |ABCD| .

By similarity, we have B K L = 1 4 B C A |BKL|=\frac{1}{4}|BCA| . We also know that B C A < A B C D |BCA|<|ABCD| since the quadrilateral is convex and we also know that B C A + ϵ A B C D |BCA|+\epsilon \leq |ABCD| for any small ϵ > 0 \epsilon>0 . Thus, B K L < 1 4 A B C D |BKL|<\frac{1}{4}|ABCD| .

From this, we get K L T + B K L < 1 8 A B C D + 1 4 A B C D |KLT|+|BKL|<\frac{1}{8} |ABCD| + \frac{1}{4} |ABCD| , which implies 8 3 B K T L < A B C D \frac{8}{3} |BKTL| < |ABCD| . Note that this is the tightest lowest bound since the strictly less than case becomes less than or equal to for any sufficiently small ϵ > 0 \epsilon>0 . Thus, the infimum area of A B C D ABCD is 40.

We will now find an upper bound.

We have that B K L > 0 |BKL|>0 , and this is obviously the tightest bound since for any small ϵ > 0 \epsilon>0 , we have that we can construct a quadrilateral with that area. We also have that K L T = 1 8 A B C D |KLT|=\frac{1}{8}|ABCD| . Thus, B K L + K L T > 1 8 A B C D |BKL|+|KLT|>\frac{1}{8} |ABCD| , which implies 8 B K T L > A B C D 8|BKTL|>|ABCD| , which we have shown to be the supremum. Thus, the supremum area of A B C D ABCD is 120.

Thus, the sum of the infimum and supremum areas of A B C D ABCD is 120 + 40 = 160 120+40=\boxed{160} .

We could've put \geq or \leq everywhere, allowing for degenerate cases right?

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Yes, we could have but, as you said, we'd get the degenerate cases.

Sharky Kesa - 5 years, 1 month ago

In a triangle XYZ, join midpoints F of XY and G of XZ. Join X to E, the midpoint of YZ. FG and XE intersect at T.
The area of each triangle XGT and XFT is equal, and equal to one eighth of triangle XYZ , also equal to one third of each quadrilateral TGYE and TFZE. Area of each quadrilateral is equal and 3/8 of triangle XYZ. This is based on the midpoint Theorem. This results are used below. See the bottom left two sketches.

INFIMUM
Minimum would be when line AND degenerates into a point say N( or line DMC into say M. The result will be the same.) , and quadrilateral ABCD degenerates into triangle NBC. The triangle NBC has midpoints K, M, and L. KM intersect LN at T.
3 8 A r e a q u a d r i l a t e r a l K B L T = f u l l a r e a Δ N B C . \therefore\ \dfrac 3 8* Area\ quadrilateral \ KBLT\ =\ full\ area\ \Delta\ NBC.
So the area of degenerated quadrilateral ABCD=8/3*15=40.


SUPERMUM
Now maximum would be when line BLC degenerates into a point say L ( or line AKB into say K. The result will be the same.) , and quadrilateral ABCD degenerates into triangle BNC. The triangle BNC has midpoints K, M, and L. KM intersect LN at T.
8 A r e a Δ B N C = f u l l a r e a Δ N B C . \therefore\ 8* Area\ \Delta \ BNC\ =\ full\ area\ \Delta\ NBC.
The area of degenerated quadrilateral ABCD=8*15=120.

So the sum is 40 + 120 = 160. \color{#D61F06}{160}.

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