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In the figure below, ABCD is a rectangle with AB = 20, DA = 15. AE is the altitude on diagonal BD. What is the area of the △AEB?
(A) 24
(B) 48
(C) 64
(D) 96
(E) 120
Source:
Manhattan ReviewAttachment:
rectangleABCD 2019.02.03.jpg [ 39.99 KiB | Viewed 3494 times ]
Use properties of right triangles divided by altitude
and properties of similar triangles to find the area of ∆ AEB
All three triangles are similar. (see rule below)
Find side length of DB from 3-4-5 right triangle properties.
(1) ∆ ADB is a right
3x-4x-5x triangle.
-- \(4x = 20\)
-- \(x = 5\)
-- side DB = \(5x = 25\)
Rule: A right triangle divided by an altitude creates two right triangles
similar to the original triangle and similar to each other.Find area of ∆ AEB from area of ∆ ADB
(2) ∆ AEB is similar to ∆ ADB - from rule above
(3) Rule: If two triangles are similar and their sides are in ratio \(\frac{a}{b}\), then their areas will be in ratio \(\frac{a^2}{b^2}\)
• ratio of sides is \(\frac{20}{25} = \frac{4}{5}\)
• ratio of areas is \(\frac{4^2}{5^2} = \frac{16}{25}\)
(4) Area of large ∆ ADB = \(\frac{1}{2}\) of rectangle ABCD
• rectangle area = \((l * w) = (15* 20) = 300\)
• area of ∆ ADB =\((\frac{1}{2} * 300) = 150\)
(5) Area of ∆ AEB = \(\frac{16}{25}\) of area of ∆ ADB
Area of ∆ AEB =
\((\frac{16}{25} * 150) = 96\)Answer D