AreaMethod Intermediate

Problem - 3938

In trapezoid $ABCD$, $AD\parallel BC$ and $AD:BC=1:2$. Point $F$ lies on $AB$ and point $E$ is on $CF$. If $S_{\triangle{AOF}}:S_{\triangle{DOE}}=1:3$ and $S_{\triangle{BEF}}=24$, find the area of $\triangle{AOF}$.


As shown, draw lines passing $E$ and $F$, respectively, which are parallel to $AD$ and $BC$. Let the distance between them be $h$.

Firstly, we have $$S_{\triangle{ADE}}-S_{\triangle{ADF}}=S_{\triangle{ODE}}-S_{\triangle{OAF}}=2S_{\triangle{OAF}}$$ and $$S_{\triangle{ADE}}-S_{\triangle{ADF}} = \frac{1}{2}\cdot h\cdot AD$$ Therefore, we have $$S_{\triangle{AOF}}=\frac{1}{4}\cdot h\cdot AD$$ Meanwhile, we have $$S_{\triangle{BEF}}=S_{\triangle{BCF}}-S_{\triangle{BCE}}=\frac{1}{2}\cdot h\cdot BC$$ Consequently, we have $$S_{\triangle{AOF}}=S_{\triangle{BEF}}\cdot \frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{AD}{BC}=S_{\triangle{BEF}}\cdot \frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{1}{2}=\boxed{4}$$

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