Centroid Triangle

Geometry Level 2

Triangle A B C ABC has centroid G G . Triangles A B G ABG , B C G BCG , and C A G CAG have centroids G 1 , G 2 , G 3 G_1,G_2,G_3 respectively.

The value of [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] [ A B C ] \dfrac{[G_1G_2G_3]}{[ABC]} can be represented by p q \dfrac{p}{q} , for positive coprime integers p , q p,q .

Find p + q p+q .

Details and Assumptions: \text{Details and Assumptions:}

[ A B C D ] [ABCD] denotes the area of A B C D ABCD .


The answer is 10.

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5 solutions

Daniel Liu
Dec 24, 2014

Let D , E , F D, E, F be the midpoints of B C , C A , A B BC, CA, AB respectively.

Note that obviously [ D E F ] [ A B C ] = 1 4 \dfrac{[DEF]}{[ABC]}=\dfrac{1}{4}

Since G 1 G_1 is the centroid of A B G \triangle ABG , then G G 1 = 2 G 1 F GG_1=2G_1F

Similarly, G G 2 = 2 G 2 D GG_2 = 2G_2D G G 3 = 2 G 3 E GG_3 = 2G_3E

Thus, G 1 G 2 G 3 \triangle G_1G_2G_3 maps to F D E \triangle FDE by a homothety of ratio 2 3 \dfrac{2}{3} .

Therefore, [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] [ D E F ] = ( 2 3 ) 2 = 4 9 \dfrac{[G_1G_2G_3]}{[DEF]} = \left(\dfrac{2}{3}\right)^2=\dfrac{4}{9}

Finally, [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] [ A B C ] = [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] [ D E F ] [ D E F ] [ A B C ] = 4 9 1 4 = 1 9 \dfrac{[G_1G_2G_3]}{[ABC]} = \dfrac{[G_1G_2G_3]}{[DEF]}\cdot \dfrac{[DEF]}{[ABC]} = \dfrac{4}{9}\cdot \dfrac{1}{4}=\dfrac{1}{9} and our answer is 1 + 9 = 10 1+9=\boxed{10}

Fantastic solution including simple logic

Ritabrata Roy - 3 years, 7 months ago

we can take M as the midpoint of BG,then MG1G2 is similar to MAC.this gives G1G2 as AC/3 similarly for the others this gives its area as 1/9 of total area.so 10.

Venkatalakshmi Sundaram - 3 years, 1 month ago

I don't think that it's THAT obvious that D E F \triangle DEF is 1/4 A B C \triangle ABC

Trevor Arashiro - 6 years, 5 months ago

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Its the simple application of midpoint theorem

Vighnesh Raut - 6 years, 5 months ago

Well, D E F A E F D B F D E C \triangle DEF \cong \triangle AEF \cong \triangle DBF \cong \triangle DEC soo...

Daniel Liu - 6 years, 5 months ago
Kartik Sharma
Dec 25, 2014

We know that a centroid divides a median in ratio 2:1. Hence,

Let AD = x, BE = y, CF = z.

G D = 1 3 x , G E = 1 3 y , G F = 1 3 z GD = \frac{1}{3}x, GE = \frac{1}{3}y, GF = \frac{1}{3}z

G G 1 = 2 9 x , G G 2 = 2 9 y , G G 3 = 2 9 z G{G}_{1} = \frac{2}{9}x, G{G}_{2} = \frac{2}{9}y, G{G}_{3} = \frac{2}{9}z

Now, [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] = [ G G 1 G 2 ] + [ G G 1 G 3 ] + [ G G 2 G 3 ] [{G}_{1}{G}_{2}{G}_{3}] = [G{G}_{1}{G}_{2}] + [G{G}_{1}{G}_{3}] + [G{G}_{2}{G}_{3}]

[ G G 1 G 2 ] = 1 2 2 9 x 2 9 y s i n θ 1 [G{G}_{1}{G}_{2}] = \frac{1}{2}*\frac{2}{9}x*\frac{2}{9}y*sin{\theta}_{1}

[ G G 1 G 3 ] = 1 2 2 9 y 2 9 z s i n θ 2 [G{G}_{1}{G}_{3}] = \frac{1}{2}*\frac{2}{9}y*\frac{2}{9}z*sin{\theta}_{2}

[ G G 2 G 3 ] = 1 2 2 9 z 2 9 x s i n θ 3 [G{G}_{2}{G}_{3}] = \frac{1}{2}*\frac{2}{9}z*\frac{2}{9}x*sin{\theta}_{3}

if θ 1 , θ 2 , θ 3 {\theta}_{1}, {\theta}_{2}, {\theta}_{3} are angles G 1 G G 2 , G 1 G G 3 , G 2 G G 3 {G}_{1}G{G}_{2}, {G}_{1}G{G}_{3}, {G}_{2}G{G}_{3} respectively.

Similarly, [ A B C ] = 1 2 2 3 2 3 ( x y s i n θ 1 + y z s i n θ 2 + z x s i n θ 3 ) [ABC] = \frac{1}{2}*\frac{2}{3}*\frac{2}{3}(xysin{\theta}_{1} + yzsin{\theta}_{2} + zxsin{\theta}_{3})

As a result, [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] : [ A B C ] = 1 2 2 9 2 9 ( x y s i n θ 1 + y z s i n θ 2 + z x s i n θ 3 ) 1 2 2 3 2 3 ( x y s i n θ 1 + y z s i n θ 2 + z x s i n θ 3 ) [{G}_{1}{G}_{2}{G}_{3}]:[ABC] = \frac{\frac{1}{2}*\frac{2}{9}*\frac{2}{9}(xysin{\theta}_{1} + yzsin{\theta}_{2} + zxsin{\theta}_{3})}{\frac{1}{2}*\frac{2}{3}*\frac{2}{3}(xysin{\theta}_{1} + yzsin{\theta}_{2} + zxsin{\theta}_{3})}

= 1 : 9 =1:9

So, p + q = 10 p + q = \boxed{10}

Aaaaa Bbbbb
Dec 24, 2014

It does not reduce generalization, assume ABC is a equilateral triangle. So: G 1 G 3 I K = 2 3 \frac{G_1G_3}{IK}=\frac{2}{3} G 1 G 3 B C = 2 3 × 1 2 = 1 3 \frac{G_1G_3}{BC}=\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{3} [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] [ A B C ] = 1 9 p + q = 10 \frac{[G_1G_2G_3]}{[ABC]}=\frac{1}{9} \Rightarrow p+q=\boxed{10}

Although the problem could be approached in your way, when facing constraint of time, it no doubt defeats the motto of the problem!

ARUNEEK BISWAS - 4 years, 8 months ago

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Very true @ARUNEEK BISWAS

Rudrayan Kundu - 2 years, 7 months ago
N. Aadhaar Murty
Sep 3, 2020

First, let's extend A G , B G AG, BG and C G CG to meet A B C \triangle ABC at E , D E, D and F F respectively. Since each median of the larger triangle bisects the side of one of the smaller triangles, we can say that ( A , G 2 ) (A, G_2) , ( C , G 1 ) (C,G_1) and ( B , G 3 ) (B, G_3) are collinear. Also, note that G 1 G 3 B C G_1G_3 || BC by midpoint theorem.

Therefore, B G E = H G G 3 \angle BGE = \angle HGG_3 and B E G = G 3 H G \angle BEG = \angle G_3HG G E B G H G 3 \Rightarrow \triangle GEB \approx \triangle GHG_3 . Now, we know that B G 2 = G D \frac {BG}{2} = GD and 2 3 G D = G G 3 \frac {2}{3}GD = GG_3 . So, B G 3 = G G 3 \frac {BG}{3} = GG_3 . Which implies -

s 1 = 3 s 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 1 ) s_1 = 3s_2 . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. (1)

(Where s 1 s_1 is the semiperimeter of G E B \triangle GEB and s 2 s_2 is the semiperimeter of G H G 3 \triangle GHG_3 ).

By the law of cotangents r 1 = 3 s 3 G H cot G B E 2 r_1 = \frac {3s - 3GH}{\cot \frac {\angle GBE}{2}} and r 2 = s G H cot G G 3 H 2 r_2 = \frac {s - GH}{\cot \frac {\angle GG_3H}{2}} .

(Where r 1 r_1 is the inradius of G E B \triangle GEB and r 2 r_2 is the inradius of G H G 3 \triangle GHG_3 ). Which gives us -

r 1 = 3 r 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 2 ) r_1 = 3r_2 . . . . . . . . .. . . (2) .

Using the formula [ A B C ] [ABC] = inradius \cdot semiperimeter, we can say from ( 1 ) (1) and ( 2 ) (2) that -

9 [ G H G 3 ] = [ G E B ] 9[GHG_3] = [GEB] . Observe that G G is the centroid of G 1 G 2 G 3 \triangle G_1G_2G_3 .It can also be proven that the medians and centriod of a triangle divide it into six triangles of equal area (but not necessarily congruent ones).

So we can conclude that, [ G 1 G 2 G 3 ] [ A B C ] = 1 9 p + q = 10 \frac {[G_1G_2G_3]}{[ABC]} = \frac {1}{9} \Rightarrow p + q = \boxed {10}

Note - because B E G G H G 3 , G E C G H G 1 \triangle BEG \approx \triangle GHG_3, \triangle GEC \approx \triangle GHG_1 and B E = C E BE = CE , we also proved that G G is the centroid of G 1 G 2 G 3 G_1G_2G_3 .

Let M be the midpoint of BG,we get G 1 M M A \frac{G_1M}{MA} = 1 3 \frac{1}{3} and G 2 M C M \frac{G_2M}{CM} = 1 3 \frac{1}{3} so we get G 2 G 1 A C \frac{G_2G_1}{AC} = 1 3 \frac{1}{3} by the same approach each side of t r i a n g l e G 1 G 2 G 3 \ triangle G_1G_2G_3 is one-third of its corresponding side in ABC so the area is one-ninth so p+q=10

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