Lecture 14

Areas of Triangles and Applications of Area

Basic formulae for area of a triangle

Note: The area of a triangle U V W is denoted by [U V W ] hereafter.

1 1 1
Theorem I. For 4ABC, [ABC] = a · ha = b · hb = c · hc , where BC =
2 2 2
a, CA = b, AB = c and ha , hb , hc are altitudes on BC, CA, AB respectively.
p
Theorem II. (Heron’s Formula) For 4ABC, [ABC] = s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c),
1
where s = (a + b + c).
2

Proof. For 4ABC, let BC = a, CA = b, AB = c, and AD = h, where

AD ⊥ BC at D. Let CD = x, then

c2 − (a − x)2 = h2 = b2 − x2 ,
c2 − a2 + 2ax = b2 ,

a2 + b2 − c2
∴x= .
2a

Therefore
µ ¶2
2 a2 + b2 − c2 1 £ ¤
h 2
= b − = 2 (2ab)2 − (a2 + b2 − c2 )2
2a 4a
(2ab + a2 + b2 − c2 )(2ab − a2 − b2 + c2 )
=
4a2
[(a + b) − c ][c − (a − b)2 ]
2 2 2
=
4a2

85
86 Lecture 14 Areas of Triangles and Applications of Area

(a + b + c)(a + b − c)(c + a − b)(c − a + b)

=
4a2
16 4p(p − a)(p − b)(p − c)
= 2
p(p − c)(p − b)(p − a) = .
4a a2
µ ¶2
2 ha
∴ [ABC] = = p(p − a)(p − b)(p − c).
2
Thus, the conclusion is proven. ¤
Note: If ∠C is obtuse, then c2 > a2 + b2 , so x < 0, but the proof remains
unchanged.

Comparison of areas of triangles

(I) For each triangle, let S = h · b, where b is one side and h is the height on
the side. then the ratio of areas of any two triangles is equal to the ratio of
corresponding two Ss.
(II) For two triangles with equal bases, the ratio of their areas is equal to the
ratio of their heights on the bases. Hence the area of a triangle does not
change when a vertex of it moves on a line parallel to its opposite side.
(III) For two triangles with equal height, the ratio of their areas is equal to the
ratio of their bases.
(IV) If two triangles have a pair of equal angles, then the ratio of their areas is
equal to the ratio of the products of the two sides of the equal angles.
(V) If two triangles have a pair of supplementary angles, then the ratio of their
areas is equal to the ratio of the products of the two sides of the supple-
mentary angles.
There are two kinds of questions to be discussed in this chapter. One is those
for finding areas or discussing questions involving areas. The other is those able
to be solved by considering areas. Below some examples of these two kinds of
questions are given.

Examples

Example 1. (SMO/1988) Suppose area of 4ABC = 10 cm2 , AD = 2 cm,

DB = 3 cm and area of 4ABE is equal to area of quadrilateral DBEF . Then
area of 4ABE equals
(A) 4 cm2 (B) 5 cm2 (C) 6 cm2 (D) 7 cm2 (E) 8 cm2 .

Solution Connect DE. Since [ABE] = [DBEF ], we have

 Lecture Notes on Mathematical Olympiad 87

[ADE] = [ABE] − [DBE] C .

.......
= [DBEF ] − [DBE] = [F DE], ..... ...
..... ....
..
...... ...
. ...
∴ AC k DE, .....
F ......
.................................. .....
...

∴ CE : EB = AD : DB = 2 : 3. .
.. ..
.
.. ...
.
... ...
.
. ...........
.
..
E
..............
.
.
.. . ..
... .. ..
..... ... ....... ... ....
[ABE] BE 3 .... . ....... .. ...
..
..... .. ............ .....
. ...
∵ = = , .
.....
....
.
.............
.
....... ...
... ...
...
[ABC] BC 5 ..
..
.. .
..
.
.
.... ...........
.
.. ..
. ....
.... ...
.
.. ....
.
..... ...
...
...
.
............ . .... . ...
.. .
3 .. .
.
.
.
.......... .
.
.
....
.......................................................................................................................
..
∴ [ABE] = · [ABC] = 6. A D B
5
Thus, the answer is (B).

Example 2. In the given diagram, ABCD is a convex quadrilateral. Find a point

M on the segment BC such that AM partitions ABCD to two parts with equal
areas.

Solution We need to change the shape of the graph from quadrilateral to a

triangle, keeping its area unchanged. From D introduce ED k AC such that DE
intersects the extension of line BC at E. Then
A...........
[DAC] = [EAC], ∴ [ABCD] = [EAB]. .........
... ..............................
... ................ .... ......................
... ... ... ....
... ... ....
............
....... D
.... ... ... .... . ......
.. ... .... ... .. ......
Now taking M be the midpoint of BE, then ....
...
... ....
... ....
.. ..
.. .. ... ....
. ...
...
... .......
.
. .... ..... .....
... ... ... .... . .. ...
... ... ... ......
..... ... ......
..
...
[AEM ] = 12 [ABCD]
... ...
[ABM ] = ...
...
...
...
...
....
....
.... ...
... . ....
... .... .......
.
.... ..
.. ... .... ... .... ...
.... ...
.... ...
... . .
... ... .... ....
.....
.. ...
................................................................................................................ .... .... .... .... .... .......
= [AM CD]. B M E
C

Example 3. In 4ABC, D, E are on BC and CA respectively, and BD : DC =

3 : 2, AE : EC = 3 : 4. AD and BE intersect at M . Given that the area of
4ABC is 1, find area of 4BM D.
DN
Solution From E introduce EN k AD, intersecting BC at N . Since =
NC
AE 3 BD 3
= , = , A
EC 4 DC 2 ....
..........
..... ... ..
..... .. ...
..... .... ....
3 3 ....
....
.
...
... ....
.
[ABE] = [ABC] = , .....
..... ...
..
...
7 7 .. .
.....
......
.
.
..
.
.
..
...
..
..... E
.. . .......... .......
. .. .
....
∴ [BEC] = 47 [ABC] = 47 . .
.....
.
...
.
.
..
M .
....... ..
. ..
.
.
.
....... ..
. ...
... ....
.
..... ....... .... ... ....
..... .......
..... ....... .. ... ...
..
...... ..
...
........ .
... . ...
.... ....... .. . ...
∵ BD : DN : N C = 21 : 6 : 8, .. .
.
......... ............
............. .
.
..
.
...
..
.
... ...
...
..... .
............................................................................................................................
∴ BN : N C = 27 : 8 and B D N C
88 Lecture 14 Areas of Triangles and Applications of Area

27 27 4
BD : BN = 21 : 27 = 7 : 9, [BEN ] = [BEC] = · ,
35 35 7
µ ¶2
7 72 · 27 · 4 4
[BM D] = [BEN ] = 2 = .
9 9 · 35 · 7 15

Example 4. (USAMO/1972) A convex pentagon ABCDE has the following

property: the five triangles ABC, BCD, CDE, DEA, EAB have same area 1.
Prove that all such pentagons have an equal area, and there are infinitely many
distinct such pentagons.

Solution As shown in the right diagram, the equality [EAB] = [CAB]

yields EC k AB. Similarly, we have

AD k BC, BE k CD, AC k DE, BD k AE.

Let [BP C] = x. Then [DP C] = 1 − x

and
[BP C] BP [EBP ] A
= = , ......................
........... .... .. ..............
........... ...... ....
[DP C] PD [EP D] ... .... ..
. ..........
........... ..........
..
..
.
..
...
.......
.......
.......
.......
x 1 B ........... ..... . ..
.............................................................................................................................................................................. E
so it follows that = , ... ..........
.....
.
........
....... .........
.......
. .
.
. ..... ..
.
.. ..................... ..........
...................
1 − x√ x .... .......
..... .............. P ........... ....
.
......... ..
......
... ..... . ........... ......
5−1 ..... ............... .... .....
... ..... ........... .............. ......
... .............................. .
∴ x2 + x − 1 = 0, x =
. .
.
, .. ....
........ .. ......
..
........................................................................................................
. ..

2√ C D
5+ 5
∴ [ABCDE] = 3 + x = .
2

Example 5. In a quadrilateral ABCD, the points E, F are on AB and H, G

are on DC such that AE = EF = F B and DH = HG = GC. Prove that
1
[EF GH] = [ABCD].
3

Solution Connect HF, AH, AC, F C.

C
G .............
.........................
∵ [HEF ] = [HEA] and [F GH] = [F GC], H .............
............ .... ....... . ....
D ............ ...........
.
.......... ...
..
...
...
.
....
.......
. ... .....
.
... .. . .. ...
... .. .. ... ...... .... ..
..
...
... .... .....
1 ....
... ... ... ... ....
...
... ...
...
...
∴ [EF GH] = [HAF C]. . .
.
.... .. .... ...
.
...
.
.
. . .
... .... ..
... .. ...
...
2 . .. ... ..
.
.... ... ....... ....
.. .. ..
... ....
. .
...
...
...
... .... .
. .. ... ... ...
... ..... ..
. ...
. . ...
It suffices to show that [ADH] + [CF B] = ........................................................................................................................
1 A E F B
3 [ABCD].
 Lecture Notes on Mathematical Olympiad 89

From DH = 31 CD and F B = 13 AB, we have

1 1
[ADH] + [CF B] =([DAC] + [BAC]) = [ABCD],
3 3
1 1 2 1
∴ [EF GH] = [HAF C] = · [ABCD] = [ABCD].
2 2 3 3
Example 6. (AIME/1985) As shown in the figure, triangle ABC is divided into
six smaller triangles by lines drawn from the vertices through a common interior
point. The areas of four of these triangles are as indicated. Find the area of triangle
ABC.
[CAP ] CP [CBP ]
Solution = = yields
[F AP ] FP [F BP ]
84 + y x + 35
= , (14.1) C
40 30 ........
...........
..... .. ...
..... .... ....
[CAP ] AP [BAP ] ....
.....
..
..
... .....
.
and = = yields .....
.....
...
..
...
...
[CDP ] DP [BDP ] .
.
.
..........
. .
.
.
.
.. ...
...
. .
.....
.
.
....
84 .
.
.
.
. x ...
...

84 + y 70 E ... .
...
.
. .
.
.
. ...
...
...
.
.
..........
... ..............
.
.
.
. ... D
= = 2. (14.2) ...
.
.
.....
. .........
... P .
.
.
.
.
.
.
...... ....
.
....................
x 35 ..
.
.
....
.
....
.
y ..........
.......... .. .............
.
. ...
.....
.. ..
.
.....................
.
......... 35
...
...
...
..... ............. .. ......... ...
...... ... ............
. ..
. .........
......... ....
.
(2) x x + 35 ... ..
.
...................... ..
.. ..
.
40 .
.
. 30
......................................................................................................................................................
. . .. .

By , it follows that = , A F B
(1) 40 60
∴ 3x = 2x + 70, i.e. x = 70. Then by (2), y = 140 − 84 = 56.
Thus, [ABC] = 84 + 56 + 40 + 30 + 35 + 70 = 315.
Example 7. If from any fixed inner point P of 4ABC introduce P D ⊥ BC at
PD PE PF
D, P E ⊥ CA at E and P F ⊥ AB at F . Prove that + + = 1, where
ha hb hc
ha , hb , hc are the heights of 4ABC introduced from A, B, C to their opposite
sides, respectively.
Solution From
A ....
PD [P BC] ..... ...
........ ..
= , ...
..... .
...... ... .....
...
ha [ABC] .....
.....
.... ...
.
...
...
E
F .
........ ...
.. .
.
..
............
PE [P CA] .
.
.............
... ....... ... ..........
..
..
...
..... ...
...
= , ....
.
.....
.
. ..... .........
.. .
............. ....
...
...
hb [ABC] ..
.
.
...
.
..
.. .. . .
.. .. ....
.
...
...
.
.. .
.....
.
.
...
..... ... .... P .
.
.
.
.
....
...
. ....
.
...
...
...
PF [P AB] .
.
.
.... .... ....
.
... .. ....
.
.
.
.
.
.
... ..
.. ....
...
. ... .....
.
= , .
..
.
..
.
... .... ..
..... ....
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
. .... ....
hc [ABC] ..
..
.. .
.
.
.............................................................................................................................................................
.... .

B D C
it follows that
PD PE PF [P BC] + [P CA] + [P AB]
+ + = = 1.
ha hb hc [ABC]
90 Lecture 14 Areas of Triangles and Applications of Area

Example 8. (AUSTRALIA/1991) In 4ABC, M is the midpoint of BC, P, R are

on AB, AC respectively, Q is the point of intersection of AM and P R. If Q is
the midpoint of P R, prove that P R k BC.
Solution From that Q, M are the midpoints of P R and BC respectively,

[AP Q] = [ARQ], [ABM ] = [ACM ],

......
A
...........
... ... .....
[AP Q] [ARQ] .... .... .........
. .....
∴ = , ...
..
...
...
... .....
.....
[ABM ] [ACM ] .
....
...
...
...
.
...
.....
.....
.....
.... ... .....
.....
AP · AQ AQ · AR P .
.
.
... . Q .
............................................................................................... R
∴ = , ...
.
... ...
...
.....
.....
.....
AB · AM AM · AC .
....
.
...
...
...
.
.....
.....
....
. .
......................................................................................................................................
AP AR B M C
i.e. = , ∴ P Q k BC.
AB AC

Example 9. (CHINA/1992) In the given diagram below, ABCD is a parallel-

ogram, E, F are two points on the sides AD and DC respectively, such that
AF = CE. AF and CE intersect at P . Prove that P B bisects ∠AP C.
Solution Connect BE, BF , make BU ⊥ AF at U and BV ⊥ CE at V .
Then

1 D ..............................................................................F
.................................................................
C
.
... .... .. ............ ....
[BAF ] = [BCE] = [ABCD]. ...
P .....
..... ............................
..........................
.. ...
2 ...
.... .
.. . .....
. ..
........ ....... ...
.
.....................
. V .
. ...
.... ..
...
..
.. .
...
.. .. . .
.
Further, since AF = CE, we have E ... ...................
...............
...... ....
.......
..... ..... U
...
...
...
....
......
.....
...
...
... .... .... ..... ........ ... .... ..
..
. .... . .
..
...... ..... ...
. ....
. .
...
... .. ...... ..... .
... .... ..... ..... ....... ...
BU = BV, ∴ 4BP U ∼ ... ..... .... .... . ...
..... ... .....
= 4BP V, .
...
.. ....
.....
.....
... ..
.. ...
.
..... ... ...
..... .. ......
....... .. .... .. . .
.
..
..
... ..... .... . .. .. ... ...
... ..... ... ..
.. ... ........ .... ..... ...
.....
∴ ∠BP A = ∠BP U = ∠BP V = ∠BP C. ... ........
.............
. .... ..... ... ... ..
.... . ............. ...
... .. ......... ..
... .. ......
..............................................................................................................................................
A B

Testing Questions (A)

1. (CHINA/1993) When extending the sides AB, BC, CA of 4ABC to B 0 , C 0 , A0

respectively, such that AB 0 = 2AB, CC 0 = 2BC, AA0 = 3CA. If area of
4ABC is 1, find the area of 4A0 B 0 C 0 .
2. (CHINA/1998) ABCD is a rectangle. AD = 12, AB = 5. P is a point on
AD, P E ⊥ BD at E, P F ⊥ AC at F . Find P E + P F .
3. (CHINA/1996) Given that the point P is outside the equilateral triangle ABC
but inside the region of ∠ABC. If the distances from P to BC, CA, AB
 Lecture Notes on Mathematical Olympiad 91

are h1 , h2 and h3 respectively, and h1 − h2 + h3 = 6, find the area of

4ABC.
4. (CHINA/1996) Let the heights on three sides of 4ABC be ha , hb , hc respec-
2 1 1
tively, and 2b = a + c. Prove that = + .
hb ha hc
5. (CHINA/2000) In 4ABC, D, E, F are on the sides BC, CA, AB respec-
tively, such that they are concurrent at a point G, BD = 2CD, the areas
S1 = [GEC] = 3, S2 = [GCD] = 4. Find the area of 4ABC.
6. (CHINA/1958) Let AD, BE, CF be the three angle bisectors of the triangle
ABC, prove that the ratio of area of 4DEF to area of 4ABC is equal to
2abc
, where a = BC, b = CA and c = AB.
(a + b)(b + c)(c + a)
7. In a trapezium ABCD, AD k BC, the extensions of BA and CD intersect
at E. Make EF k BD where EF intersects the extension of CB at F . On
the extension of BC take G such that CG = BF . Prove EG k AC.
8. (AIME/1988) Let P be an interior point of triangle ABC and extend lines
from the vertices through P to the opposite sides. Let a, b, c, and d denote
the lengths of the segments indicated in the figure below. Find the product
abc if a + b + c = 43 and d = 3.
C
......
...........
...... .. ..
.
........ .... .....
D ........
.
.... c ...
......
...
...
...
.. F
...... .............d .... d .............
...
....... ....... .. .......... ...
..... ................ ...
.
.. . .... . .
. ...
..
...... ...... ... ..........
.......... P ..
..... a...........
.......
d..... .......b ....
....
.......................... . ....... ...
.................
. . . ..........
..
.. .
. ..............................................................................................................
. .

A E B
9. (CHNMOL/1998) In the isosceles right triangle ABC, AB = 1, ∠A =
90◦ , E is the midpoint of the leg AC. The point F is on the base BC
such that EF ⊥ BE. Find the area of 4CEF .

Testing Questions (B)

1. (IMO/Shortlist/1989) In the convex quadrilateral ABCD, the midpoints of

BC and AD are E and F respectively. Prove that [EDA] + [F BC] =
[ABCD].
√
2. (JAPAN/1991)
√ Given that G is the centroid of 4ABC, GA = 2 3, GB =
2 2, GC = 2. Find the area of 4ABC.
92 Lecture 14 Areas of Triangles and Applications of Area

3. (Ceva’s Theorem) P is an inner point of 4ABC. Extend the lines AP, BP, CP
to intersect the opposite side at D, E, F respectively, then
BD CE AF
· · = 1.
DC EA F B

4. (AIME/1992) In triangle ABC, A0 , B 0 , and C 0 are on the sides BC, CA,

and AB, respectively. Given that AA0 , BB 0 , and CC 0 are concurrent at the
AO BO CO AO BO CO
point O, and that 0
+ 0
+ 0
= 92, find · · .
OA OB OC OA0 OB 0 OC 0
5. (AIME/1989) Point P is inside 4ABC. Line segments AP D, BP E, and
CP F are drawn with D on BC, E on CA, and F on AB (see the figure
below). Given that AP = 6, BP = 9, P D = 6, P E = 3, and CF = 20,
find the area of 4ABC.
C.....
........
.........
...... ....
.... ..... ....
.. .. ...
... ... ....
... .... ....
.... .... ...
.. ...
... ... .... ...
D ...
..
.... .... ..... .....
E ........ ... ....
... .............
...
...
.. ............. P
.... ..... .... ........... ....
...
.
... .... ... ...... ...
...... ..
....... .... .... ..
........................................................
A F B