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What is the greatest possible area of a triangular region

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Director
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 572
Location: NYC
What is the greatest possible area of a triangular region [#permalink]

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22 Jul 2007, 21:30
This topic is locked. If you want to discuss this question please re-post it in the respective forum.

What is the greatest possible area of a triangular region with one vertex at the center of circle of radius 1 and the other two on the circle?

sqrt3/4, 1/2, pi/4, 1, sqrt2
_________________

Success is my only option, failure is not -- Eminem

Senior Manager
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 345
Re: Area of the triangular region [#permalink]

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22 Jul 2007, 21:47
bewakoof wrote:
What is the greatest possible area of a triangular region with one vertex at the center of circle of radius 1 and the other two on the circle?

sqrt3/4, 1/2, pi/4, 1, sqrt2

Triangle with largest area is an equilateral triangle. Since, one vertex is at the centre and the other 2 on the circle, side of the triangle is 1.

Hence, area = sqrt(3/4). A.
Director
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 774

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23 Jul 2007, 13:44
Should be '1/2'

The greatest area will be of right angle triangle, with base and height equal to radius.
Director
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 572
Location: NYC

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24 Jul 2007, 08:05
Its not 1/2..

and pls show some work..
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Success is my only option, failure is not -- Eminem

Manager
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 121

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24 Jul 2007, 11:13
"Triangle with largest area is an equilateral triangle."

Is this a theorem or smth? It makes sense, but how do you know?
Senior Manager
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 345

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24 Jul 2007, 11:24
Hayabusa wrote:
"Triangle with largest area is an equilateral triangle."

Is this a theorem or smth? It makes sense, but how do you know?

I remember reading it somewhere, but cannot recollect where. Of course, I may be wrong.
Senior Manager
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 282

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24 Jul 2007, 22:38
I agree it is 1/2

sqrt(3)/4 is less than 1/2
Manager
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 121

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25 Jul 2007, 15:38
Is the answer root of 2? If it is, I'll explain.
Director
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 774

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25 Jul 2007, 17:34
bewakoof wrote:
Its not 1/2..

and pls show some work..

It should be 1/2. I am 100% sure.
Manager
Joined: 27 May 2007
Posts: 128

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25 Jul 2007, 18:09
sumande wrote:
Hayabusa wrote:
"Triangle with largest area is an equilateral triangle."

Is this a theorem or smth? It makes sense, but how do you know?

I remember reading it somewhere, but cannot recollect where. Of course, I may be wrong.

Just guessing on this (based on sketches) - possibly the largest triangle that can be inscribed in a circle is equilateral, but if one vertex is the center of the circle, rather than on the circumference, then I agree it has to be a right triangle. So the area would be 1/2.
Manager
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 121

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25 Jul 2007, 18:22
By using Heron's formula, you can maximize the area of a triangle.

I asked a math wiz about it and he came up with root of 2.

I think he used differentiation.

Not sure if we are likely to see that on the GMAT.

Then again, I can be wrong....
Director
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 572
Location: NYC

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25 Jul 2007, 22:01
I have to dig my error log for the correct answer but I promise I'll do it tommorow.. I chose 1/2 and i got it wrong so i knew 1/2 wasnt the answer
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Success is my only option, failure is not -- Eminem

GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 5043
Location: Singapore

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25 Jul 2007, 22:05
Here you go. Largest area is an equilateral triangle as stated by Heron's formula.

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emt725/Heron/Heron.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heron's_formula
Director
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 899

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25 Jul 2007, 22:44
bewakoof wrote:
I have to dig my error log for the correct answer but I promise I'll do it tommorow.. I chose 1/2 and i got it wrong so i knew 1/2 wasnt the answer

but it should be 1/2. make sure you do not have incorrect answer.
Intern
Joined: 26 Aug 2006
Posts: 25

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26 Jul 2007, 10:43
Himalayan wrote:
bewakoof wrote:
I have to dig my error log for the correct answer but I promise I'll do it tommorow.. I chose 1/2 and i got it wrong so i knew 1/2 wasnt the answer

but it should be 1/2. make sure you do not have incorrect answer.

Equilateral Triangle has the largest area for a given PERIMETER>>>

Sunil
Manager
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 160
Schools: CBS, MIT, Kellogg, Wharton

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27 Jul 2007, 11:49
The perimeter is not set so the theorem doesn't hold. Could someone please explain why the answer is sqrt2?
Director
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 524

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29 Jul 2007, 01:00
Area = 1/2 * 1 * 1 * sin90 = 1/2
Value of sin is max at 90 (i.e. 1)...so max area should be 1/2.
29 Jul 2007, 01:00
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