#3 - Hard

Geometry Level 5

A right angles triangle has sides 4 and 3 units. If the right angle is bisected, then find the distance between orthocentres of the smaller triangles.

Try to give a solution using Coordinate Geometry.


The answer is 0.714.

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3 solutions

Nelson Mandela
Jan 6, 2015

First off, consider the origin as the point having the right angle, B in triangle ABC.

Then, A = (4,0) , B = (0,0) and C = (0,3).

Use vertical angle bisector theorem and sections formula where the required point divides AC into 4 : 3 ratio.

Name this point as D. Now using sections formula, D = ( 0 + 4 3 4 + 3 , 4 3 + 0 4 + 3 ) (\frac { 0+4*3 }{ 4+3 } ,\frac { 4*3+0 }{ 4+3 } ) = ( 12 7 , 12 7 ) (\frac { 12 }{ 7 } ,\frac { 12 }{ 7 } ) .

Now to find orthocentre,O(x,y) of triangle ADB,

slope of AO x slope of BD = -1.

So, -1 = y x 4 \frac { y }{ x-4 } .

Also, as D and O lie on the same line( parallel to x-axis), y = 12/7.

Moreover, x = 4 - 12/7 = 16/7, which is A B 2 A B + B C \frac { { AB }^{ 2 } }{ AB+BC } .

In the same way orthocentre of the other triangle is (12/7,9/7).

The distance between them using distance formula is 1/7 x 3 2 + 4 2 \sqrt { { 3 }^{ 2 }+{ 4 }^{ 2 } } . = 5/7 = 0.714 \boxed{0.714}

I solved as you:)

Paola Ramírez - 6 years, 5 months ago
Aakash Khandelwal
Jan 11, 2015

Take the Vertices of the triangle as A(3,0),B(4,0) and origin

Now the angle bisector meets AB at D(12/7 , 12/7)

The perpendicular dropped from D meets OB at E(12/7,0)

Let another perpendicular from O on DB in triangle DOB meet DE at F(12/7 ,16/7)

therefore F is orthocenter of Triangle DOB.

Similarly do the same for triangle DOA.

The orthocenter thence found be G(9/7 , 12/7)

BY USING DISTANCE FORMULA

FG=5/7

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