Perpendicular medians

Geometry Level 4

Let A B C \triangle ABC be a triangle with area 18 18 , and side length A B = 5 AB=5 . Let A D AD and B E BE be medians of triangle. Given that A D B E AD \perp BE , find the perimeter of A B C \triangle ABC .


The answer is 20.755.

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2 solutions

Paola Ramírez
Jan 14, 2015

Let Q Q the centroid and C F CF a median of A B C \triangle ABC .

Focus in A Q B \triangle AQB : as A Q B \triangle AQB is rectangle A B AB , F F circumcircle's center thus F Q FQ is radii this circumcircle and F Q = A F = F B = 2.5 FQ=AF=FB=2.5

By medians propierties Q C = 2 F Q QC=2FQ so F C = 7.5 FC=7.5

A B F \triangle ABF area is 9 9 and its base is 2.5 2.5 h 2 = 9 h = 7.2 2.5 \rightarrow \frac{2.5h}{2}=9 \rightarrow h=7.2

Let G G the interseccion of A B AB with alture since C C , apply pythagoras:

G F 2 = 7. 5 2 7. 2 2 GF^2=7.5^2-7.2^2 G F = 7. 5 2 7. 2 2 GF=\sqrt{7.5^2-7.2^2}

G F = 2.1 GF=2.1

A G = 2.5 2.1 = 0.4 AG=2.5-2.1=0.4

To find A C AC ad B C BC apply pythagoras again:

A C 2 = 0. 4 2 + 7. 2 2 = 52 AC^2=0.4^2+7.2^2=52 A C = 52 AC=\sqrt{52}

B C 2 = 4. 6 2 + 7. 2 2 = 73 BC^2=4.6^2+7.2^2=73 B C = 73 BC=\sqrt{73}

A B C \triangle ABC perimeter is 5 + 73 + 52 20.755 \boxed{5+\sqrt{73}+\sqrt{52} \approx 20.755}

We can also use the property that medians intersect 2/3 of the way from the vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side. assuming the sides to be 2a nad 2b we get a^2 + b ^2 = 125/4 = 31.25

This can be then put in Heron's formula to get 8ab=123.22 which is 2 ab= 30.81

a^2 + b ^2 +2ab= 154.47 and hence a+b = 7.88

Perimeter is 2a+ab+5 = 20.75

Anshuman Harshwardhan - 6 years, 4 months ago

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This is how I did it. How ever I tried also as under. AB= 5, is the hypotenuse, I thought of trying the legs 3, and 4. We get AD=9/4 = say 3Y and BE=6 =say 3X. Applying Pythagoras Theorem, ( A C 2 ) 2 = X 2 + 4 Y 2 A C = 52 a n d ( B C 2 ) 2 = 4 X 2 + Y 2 A C = 73 . (\dfrac{ AC}2)^2=X^2+4*Y^2 ~~\implies AC=\sqrt{52} ~and ~(\dfrac{ BC}2)^2=4*X^2+Y^2 ~~\implies AC=\sqrt{73}. And this is the answer ! I do not know if this is valid or not.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 2 months ago

what is gravicentre

Mehul Chaturvedi - 6 years, 4 months ago

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Center of gravity, aka centroid.

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 4 months ago

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Thanks sir

Mehul Chaturvedi - 6 years, 4 months ago

it is point where all the medians of the triangle intersect

Gokul Kumar - 6 years, 4 months ago

Great question and solution, Paola. I just want to ask a question regarding your "An Unknown Pitcher" problem. It was fun to work on, but I am getting an answer of (deleted) degrees, which is considered as incorrect. I've double-checked my work and keep coming up with the same answer, so I was wondering if you could take a second look at your posted answer. If you're still certain of your solution then that's fine, I'll try again, but I wanted to check with you first before spending any more time on the problem. I didn't want to report your problem because then I would forfeit my right to answer it and write a solution, so I decided to ask for your help here instead. I'll reshare the problem as well once I'm clear on what the correct answer is. Thanks.

P.S.. Thanks also for all the other good questions you have been posting. :)

@Paola Ramírez Great, thanks for checking. I'm glad we're in agreement now. I've deleted the numerical value of the angle in my note above so that readers can't then just go to your re-posted problem and get free points. Now that you've posted your solution to your re-post, it might be an idea to delete the copy you've added to your note here, (for the same reason as I deleted my answer). :)

Brian Charlesworth - 6 years, 4 months ago

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Oh! I have not posted a solution yet Let me check my answer, maybe I am wrong

Thanks to the person who put the image Thanks for the comment:)

@brian charlesworth I haven't seen the comment

Paola Ramírez - 6 years, 4 months ago

Please write first 2- 3lines properly . I can't get the idea

Prayas Rautray - 3 years, 11 months ago

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What do you not understand about this problem?

Calvin Lin Staff - 3 years, 11 months ago
Milind Mehta
Jan 23, 2015

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