This cannot be the median

Geometry Level 3

A vertical line divides the triangle with vertices ( 0 , 0 ) , ( 1 , 1 ) (0,0), (1,1) and ( 9 , 1 ) (9,1) in the coordinate plane into two regions of equal area. The equation of the line is x = ? x = \, ?

4.5 4.0 3.5 3 2.5

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1 solution

Reineir Duran
Mar 27, 2016

Define points A ( 0 , 0 ) A\left(0,0\right) , B ( 1 , 1 ) B\left(1,1\right) and C ( 9 , 1 ) C\left(9,1\right) . Let the equation be x = a x = a for some a ( 1 , 9 ) a \in \left(1,9\right) . Also, define P ( a , 1 ) P\left(a,1\right) and Q ( a , a 9 ) Q\left(a,\dfrac{a}{9}\right) as the intersections of the line x = a x = a to the lines containing the points B B , C C , and A A , C C , respectively. Finally, define point D ( 0 , 1 ) D\left(0,1\right) . Notice that D P Q A DPQA is an isosceles trapezoid since D A P Q DA \parallel PQ . Additionally, D B A \triangle DBA is an isosceles triangle with an area 1 2 \dfrac{1}{2} . Thus, the area of B P Q A BPQA is a ( 1 + 1 a 9 ) 2 1 2 = a ( 2 a 9 ) 2 1 2 . \dfrac{a\left(1 + 1 - \dfrac{a}{9}\right)}{2} - \dfrac{1}{2} = \dfrac{a\left(2 - \dfrac{a}{9}\right)}{2} - \dfrac{1}{2}. On the other hand, the area of P C Q \triangle PCQ is ( 1 a 9 ) ( 9 a ) 2 . \dfrac{\left(1 - \dfrac{a}{9}\right)\left(9 - a\right)}{2}. Solving for a a in the equation a ( 2 a 9 ) 2 1 2 = ( 1 a 9 ) ( 9 a ) 2 \dfrac{a\left(2 - \dfrac{a}{9}\right)}{2} - \dfrac{1}{2} = \dfrac{\left(1 - \dfrac{a}{9}\right)\left(9 - a\right)}{2} gives a = { 3 , 15 } a = \lbrace3,15\rbrace and so the desired equation is x = 3 \boxed{x = 3} .

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