Six Lines, Six Sides, One Point

Geometry Level 5

{ a + b = c + e a + c = e a + e = c + d 2 a = e + f \large{\begin{cases} a+b &=& c+e \\ a+c &=& e \\ a+e &=& c+d \\ 2a &=& e+f \end{cases} }

A triangle has three side lengths of co-prime integers. Then the lines are drawn from the vertices, passing one common point, to the opposite sides, dividing into 6 lengths a , b , c , d , e , f a, b, c, d, e, f , satisfying the constraints above.

What is the perimeter of this triangle?


The answer is 34.

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2 solutions

a + b = c + e ( 1 ) a+b = c+e \quad (1)

a + c = e ( 2 ) a+c = e \quad (2)

a + e = c + d ( 3 ) a+e = c+d \quad (3)

2 a = e + f ( 4 ) 2a = e+f \quad (4)

From the first and second constraint, we can conclude: b = 2 c b = 2c
From the second and third constraint, we can conclude: d = 2 ( e c ) = 2 a d = 2(e-c) = 2a

Then according to Ceva's theorem , a b c d e f = 1 \dfrac{a}{b}\cdot\dfrac{c}{d}\cdot\dfrac{e}{f} =1 .

Thus, a 2 c c 2 a e f = 1 \dfrac{a}{2c}\cdot\dfrac{c}{2a}\cdot\dfrac{e}{f} =1 .
Hence, e = 4 f e = 4f .

Referring to the fourth constraint, 2 a = 5 f 2a = 5f ,

Thus, a = 5 k a = 5k and f = 2 k f = 2k for some positive integer k k .

Then e = 4 f = 8 k e = 4f = 8k .

d = 2 a = 10 k d = 2a =10k .

c = e a = 8 k 5 k = 3 k c = e - a = 8k - 5k = 3k .

Finally, b = 2 c = 6 k b = 2c = 6k .

Then a + b = 11 k a+b = 11k ; c + d = 13 k c+d = 13k ; e + f = 10 k e+f = 10k .

Since all the three sides of this triangle are co-prime, k = 1 k=1 .

As a result, the perimeter equals a + b + c + d + e + f = 5 + 6 + 3 + 10 + 8 + 2 = 34 a+b+c+d+e+f = 5+6+3+10+8+2 = \boxed{34} .

Good usage of ceva's theorem to set up the concurrency constraint.

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 7 months ago

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Thank you. A little bit hard to come up with these co-prime stuff though. 😉

Worranat Pakornrat - 4 years, 7 months ago

None of the constants is 0.

a+b = c+e ........(1)
a+c = e ........... (2)
a+e = c+d ...... (3)
2a = e+f ......... (4)

(1) - (2)...gives ......................b=2c ...........(5)
(2) + (3).gives ......................d=2a ............(6)

By Ceva's Theorem,
a * c * e = b * d * f
From (5) and (6),
a * c * e =2c * 2d * f
So e = 4f, By (4) e + f = even.
So likely ................f = 2, ...e = 8.

From (4) ................a = 5.
From (2) ................c = 3.
From (5) ................b = 6.
From (6) ................b = 10.

The sides are ,
5+6=11,......3+10=13,........8+2=10.
They are co-prime and integers.

So perimeter = 11 + 13 + 10 = 34 \color{#D61F06}{ \huge 34}

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