sana.noor wrote:Right triangle PQR is to be constructed in the xy-plane so that the right angle is at P and PR is parallel to the x-axis. The x and y coordinates of P, Q and R are to be integers that satisfy the inequalities -4 ≤ x ≤ 5 and 6 ≤ y ≤ 16. How many different triangles with these properties can be constructed?
(A) 110
(B) 1100
(C) 9900
(D) 10000
(E) 12100
C
Take the task of building triangles and break it into stages.
Stage 1: Select any point where the right angle will be (point P).
The point can be selected from a 10x11 grid. So, there 110 points to choose from.
This means that stage 1 can be completed in
110 ways.
Stage 2: Select a point that is on the same horizontal line as the first point. This point will be point R.
The 2 legs of the right triangle are parallel to the x- and y-axes.
The first point we select (in stage 1) dictates the y-coordinate of point R.
In how many ways can we select the x-coordinate of point R?
Well, we can choose any of the 10 coordinates from -4 to 5 inclusive EXCEPT for the x-coordinate we chose for point P (in stage 1).
So, there are 9 coordinates to choose from.
This means that stage 2 can be completed in
9 ways.
Stage 3: Select a point that is on the same vertical line as the first point. This point will be point Q.
The 2 legs of the right triangle are parallel to the x- and y-axes.
The first point we select (in stage 1) dictates the x-coordinate of point Q.
In how many ways can we select the y-coordinate of point Q?
Well, we can choose any of the 11 coordinates from 6 to 16 inclusive EXCEPT for the y-coordinate we chose for point P (in stage 1).
So, there are 10 coordinates to choose from.
This means that stage 3 can be completed in
10 ways.
So, by the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), the total number of triangles = (
110)(
9)(
10) = [spoiler]9900 = C[/spoiler]
Cheers,
Brent
Aside: For more information about the FCP, we have a free video on the subject:
https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-counting?id=775
