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Triangle Area

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hitesh1983 Just gettin' started!
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Triangle Area Post Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:32 pm
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  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Perimeter of triangle is 12, One side 5 other side 3
    height perpendicular to third side is 3, need to find the area

    Please help in solving
    I was able to solve it using Hero's formula but was n't sure if thats the correct approach

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    hitesh1983 Just gettin' started!
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    Post Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:35 pm
    Please ignore i am able to solve it

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    Post Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:53 am
    hitesh1983 wrote:
    Perimeter of triangle is 12, One side 5 other side 3
    height perpendicular to third side is 3, need to find the area

    Please help in solving
    I was able to solve it using Hero's formula but was n't sure if thats the correct approach
    I think this question is a case of superfluous information.

    There is no need of either perimeter data or height data to calculate area.

    Soln.--If Ht. not given..

    Perimeter is 12, hence 3rd side= 12-5-3=4;

    Now, since semi-perimeter s= Perimeter/2=12/2=6.

    => So, Area=sqrt{(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}; Hero's Formula.

    => Area=sqrt{6.1.3.2)=6.

    Soln.--If Perimeter is not given..

    Say 3rd side=a;

    Then, Area=1/2.ht.3rd side=1/2.3.a=3a/2 ----------(1)

    Now, since semi-perimeter s= Sum of all sides/2

    => s=(5+3+a)/2=(8+a)/2;

    So, Area=sqrt{(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}-----------(2)

    equate eqn.1 & 2.

    => 3a/2=sqrt{(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}

    => 3a/2=sqrt{((8+a)/2((8+a)/2-a)((8+a)/2-5)((8+a)/2-3)}

    There is no need to solve this equation. Better approach is plug in value from Answer choice & see if LHS & RHS are equal.

    _________________
    Shalabh Jain,
    e-GMAT Instructor

    Thanked by: guerrero

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