What is the area of a triangle created by the intersections

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by GMATGuruNY » Tue Aug 27, 2013 3:44 am
guerrero wrote:What is the area of a triangle created by the intersections of the lines x=4, y=5 and y=−3/4x+20?

A)42

B)54

C)66

D)72

E)96

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DRAW the figure:
Image

Vertex A is the intersection of x=4 and y=5:
(4, 5).

Vertex B is the intersection of x=4 and y=(-3/4)x + 20.
Plugging x=4 into y=(-3/4)x + 20, we get:
y = (-3/4)4 + 20
y = 17.
Thus, the coordinates of vertex B are (4, 17).

Vertex C is the intersection of y=5 and y=(-3/4)x + 20.
Plugging y=5 into y=(-3/4)x + 20, we get:
5 = (-3/4)x + 20
-15 = (-3/4)x
-60 = -3x
x = 20.
Thus, the coordinates of vertex C are (20, 5).

In triangle ABC, AC=16 and AB=12.
Thus, the area of triangle ABC = (1/2)(16)(12) = 96.

The correct answer is E.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by [email protected] » Tue Aug 27, 2013 11:27 am
Hi guerrero,

Mitch provides the step-by-step math needed to solve this problem (and it's exactly how I would have done it). As you continue to practice, be ready to DRAW pictures when appropriate. Graphing questions, geometry questions and many "story" problems are almost always made easier to solve IF you have something visual to work with.

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