Only Altitudes?

Geometry Level 4

A triangle has altitudes of length 15 , 21 15, 21 and 35 35 and area of M 3 M\sqrt3 square units.

Find the value of M M .


The answer is 245.

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3 solutions

Let x=15, y=21 and z=35 be the altitudes, p reciprocal of x, q of y, and r of z.
Let H = 1/2 * (p + q+ r). It is well known that reciprocal of area= 4 * H ( H p ) ( H q ) ( H r ) \sqrt{H*(H-p)*(H-q)*(H-r)} .
Putting the values, we get 245 * 3 \sqrt3 .
So M = 245.


The approach suggested by Ujjwal Rane, is far better so I am requesting him to post his solution.

good approach..+1

Ayush G Rai - 4 years, 11 months ago

That is a nice result sir! Did not know it, but now see how it works. I had taken the LCM 105 of 15, 21 & 35 to get the sides (a:b:c = 7:5:3) Then used Heron's formula.

Ujjwal Rane - 4 years, 11 months ago

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I never thought that way. But your method is far better since it is simple directly from fundamentals as it is normal with you. Congratulations.
Can you please post the solution ? Thanks.

Niranjan Khanderia - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Kind of you sir! I posted it as a solution.

Ujjwal Rane - 4 years, 11 months ago
Ahmad Saad
Jul 2, 2016

Ujjwal Rane
Jul 11, 2016

The product of any altitude and the corresponding base is constant because it is twice the area of the triangle. For convenience, this product can be taken as 105 x 105 \textit{x} as 105 is the LCM of 15, 21 and 35

Yielding an area of A = 105 x 2 A = \frac{105 \textit{x}}{2} . . . (I)

i.e. 15 × b 1 = 21 × b 2 = 35 × b 3 = 105 x ( b 1 , b 2 , b 3 ) = ( 7 x , 5 x , 3 x ) 15 \times b_1 = 21 \times b_2 = 35 \times b_3 = 105 \textit{x} \Rightarrow (b_1, b_2, b_3) = (7 \textit{x}, 5 \textit{x}, 3 \textit{x})

Giving semiperimeter S = ( 7 x + 5 x + 3 x ) / 2 = 15 x / 2 S = (7 \textit{x} + 5 \textit{x} + 3 \textit{x})/2 = 15 \textit{x}/2

From Heron's formula A = S × ( S 7 x ) × ( S 5 x ) × ( S 3 x ) = 15 3 x 2 4 A = \sqrt { S \times (S - 7\textit{x}) \times (S - 5\textit{x}) \times (S - 3\textit{x}) } =\frac {15\sqrt{3} \textit{x}^2}{4} . . . . .(II)

Equating (I) and (II) x = 14 3 3 \Rightarrow \textit{x} = \frac {14\sqrt{3}}{3} and area A = 245 3 M = 245 A = 245 \sqrt{3} \Rightarrow \textbf{M = 245}

Thank you. Very prompt reply.

Niranjan Khanderia - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Pleasure sir!

Ujjwal Rane - 4 years, 11 months ago

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