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# Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first

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Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 50619
Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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23 Nov 2016, 05:55
2
8
00:00

Difficulty:

65% (hard)

Question Stats:

59% (02:07) correct 41% (01:46) wrong based on 133 sessions

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Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first triangle ABC is built to maximize the length of the base side. The second triangle DEF is built to maximize the area of the triangle. What is the ratio of the length of the base of triangle ABC to the length of the base of triangle DEF? The lengths of all line segments are integers.

A. 1:1
B. 6:5
C. 5:4
D. 7:5
E. 2:1

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Posts: 7035
Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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14 Dec 2017, 19:20
Bunuel wrote:
Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first triangle ABC is built to maximize the length of the base side. The second triangle DEF is built to maximize the area of the triangle. What is the ratio of the length of the base of triangle ABC to the length of the base of triangle DEF? The lengths of all line segments are integers.

A. 1:1
B. 6:5
C. 5:4
D. 7:5
E. 2:1

QUICK tip:-
MAX base will be 14 since 15 or more will make it a LINE and NOT a triangle..
so in given answers ONLY D is with a 7 in it..
without any further calculations you can press D as the answer..

otherwise if you are doing untimed, .. The area of equilateral triangle is MAX in given perimeter and similarly a SQUARE in quadrilateral..
REASONING - closer the number, MORE the product

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3) effects of arithmetic operations : https://gmatclub.com/forum/effects-of-arithmetic-operations-on-fractions-269413.html

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##### General Discussion
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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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23 Nov 2016, 08:14
2
2
Bunuel wrote:
Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first triangle ABC is built to maximize the length of the base side. The second triangle DEF is built to maximize the area of the triangle. What is the ratio of the length of the base of triangle ABC to the length of the base of triangle DEF? The lengths of all line segments are integers.

A. 1:1
B. 6:5
C. 5:4
D. 7:5
E. 2:1

The lengths of 3 sides of triangle ABC is a, b, c where a, b, c are integers and c is the base side.
We have $$c<a+b \implies 2c < a+b+c=30 \implies c<15$$. Triangle ABC is built to maximize $$c$$, so $$c=14$$. The length of base side is 14.

For any triangle that has the same perimeter, equilateral triangle has maximum area. So triangle DEF has 3 sides $$d=e=f=10$$. The length of base side is 10.

Hence, the ratio is 14 : 10 = 7 : 5

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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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23 Nov 2016, 10:53
How can you say the equilateral triangle has the maximum area? Pls clarify

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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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23 Nov 2016, 17:52
1
ashishahujasham wrote:
How can you say the equilateral triangle has the maximum area? Pls clarify

Sent from my A1601 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

I use Heron's formula:

$$S_{ABC}=\sqrt{p(p-a)(p-b)(p-c)}$$ where $$p=\frac{a+b+c}{2}=const$$

From inequation: $$xyz \leq ( \frac{x+y+z}{3})^3$$ for $$x, y, z>0$$. Sign $$"="$$ occurs $$\iff x=y=z$$

We have $$S_{ABC} \leq \sqrt{p \times \left ( \frac{p-a+p-b+p-c}{3} \right) ^3}= \sqrt{p \times (\frac{p}{3})^3}=\frac{p^2}{3\sqrt{3}}$$

$$maxS_{ABC}=\frac{p^2}{3\sqrt{3}} \iff a=b=c=\frac{2p}{3}$$
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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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14 Dec 2017, 10:43
1
broall wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first triangle ABC is built to maximize the length of the base side. The second triangle DEF is built to maximize the area of the triangle. What is the ratio of the length of the base of triangle ABC to the length of the base of triangle DEF? The lengths of all line segments are integers.

A. 1:1
B. 6:5
C. 5:4
D. 7:5
E. 2:1

The lengths of 3 sides of triangle ABC is a, b, c where a, b, c are integers and c is the base side.
We have $$c<a+b \implies 2c < a+b+c=30 \implies c<15$$. Triangle ABC is built to maximize $$c$$, so $$c=14$$. The length of base side is 14.

For any triangle that has the same perimeter, equilateral triangle has maximum area. So triangle DEF has 3 sides $$d=e=f=10$$. The length of base side is 10.

Hence, the ratio is 14 : 10 = 7 : 5

Where do you get the 2c from? I can't figure out why
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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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14 Dec 2017, 17:14
rnz wrote:
broall wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first triangle ABC is built to maximize the length of the base side. The second triangle DEF is built to maximize the area of the triangle. What is the ratio of the length of the base of triangle ABC to the length of the base of triangle DEF? The lengths of all line segments are integers.

A. 1:1
B. 6:5
C. 5:4
D. 7:5
E. 2:1

The lengths of 3 sides of triangle ABC is a, b, c where a, b, c are integers and c is the base side.
We have $$c<a+b \implies 2c < a+b+c=30 \implies c<15$$. Triangle ABC is built to maximize $$c$$, so $$c=14$$. The length of base side is 14.

For any triangle that has the same perimeter, equilateral triangle has maximum area. So triangle DEF has 3 sides $$d=e=f=10$$. The length of base side is 10.

Hence, the ratio is 14 : 10 = 7 : 5

Where do you get the 2c from? I can't figure out why

c < a + b => c + c < a + b+ c => 2c < a + b + c
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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first  [#permalink]

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08 Oct 2018, 04:35
Some Simple concepts to solve this tricky Question : ( mug this up )

1. Equilateral Triangle has the largest area of all triangles with same Perimeter.
2. 2a < Perimeter , where a is a side of a Triangle , which basically means that twice of any side of a Triangle cannot be greater than its Perimeter.

Now , coming back to the Question :

Given : Perimeter of both the Triangles = 30.
1. If you want to maximize the area , you will need an Equilateral triangle which makes the side = 10 .
2. If you want to maximize the base , the longest length will be 14 ( because of Rule No. 2 mentioned above ) .

Ratio of these 2 will give you 14/10 = 7:5 ( Answer Option D)
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Re: Patricia builds two triangles, each with 30 feet of wood. The first &nbs [#permalink] 08 Oct 2018, 04:35
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