Chapter

Areas I

This module introduces triangle area as an olympiad tool: equal bases and heights, area ratios, medians, triangle partitions, and area chasing.
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Theory

Key Idea

Area often replaces long arguments with angles and similarity. If two triangles have a common height, their areas are in the ratio of their bases. If they have a common base, their areas are in the ratio of their heights.

In olympiad problems, area is useful as a “weight”: split a figure into parts, compare the parts, and add or subtract equal areas.

Basic Facts

The area of a triangle is \(S=\frac{1}{2}ah\), where \(a\) is the chosen base and \(h\) is the height to it.

If two triangles have equal bases and equal heights, then their areas are equal. If their heights are equal, their areas are in the ratio of their bases. If their bases are equal, their areas are in the ratio of their heights.

A median divides a triangle into two equal-area triangles, because the two bases on one side are equal and the height to that side is common.

If point \(D\) lies on side \(BC\) of triangle \(ABC\), then \(S_{ABD}:S_{ACD}=BD:DC\). This is one of the main patterns of the module.

In a parallelogram, a diagonal halves the area. In a trapezoid, diagonals and midlines are often studied through areas of triangles whose bases lie on parallel lines.

When to Use This Method

Try areas when a problem contains midpoints, medians, points on one side, parallel lines, ratios of segments, or asks to prove equality of segments without obvious similarity.

Areas are especially useful when several triangles have the same height, when vertices lie on a line parallel to the base, or when a figure is split by intersecting segments.

How to Recognise the Method

Look for a common base or a common height. If two vertices lie on a line parallel to the base, their heights to this base are equal. If a base is divided in the ratio \(m:n\), then the areas of triangles with the same opposite vertex are also in the ratio \(m:n\).

For area chasing, it is convenient to denote several small areas by letters and write the equalities produced by medians, parallel lines, or common heights.

Typical Mistakes

Do not compare areas just from the drawing. You must explicitly state that the bases are equal, the heights are equal, or the heights are in a known ratio.

Do not confuse area ratios with side ratios in similar triangles: if similarity is used, areas are in the square of the similarity ratio. If a common height is used, areas are in the ratio of the bases.

In area chasing, add and subtract areas of the same regions. Do not subtract equalities unless it is clear which regions each area contains.

Mini-Checklist

1. Which base should be chosen? 2. Is there a common height? 3. Are there equal bases or midpoints? 4. Can an area ratio be replaced by a segment ratio? 5. Which small regions should be named? 6. Should equal areas be added or subtracted?

Examples

Example 1. Area of a Triangle

Basic technique: choose a base and the height to it.

Problem. A triangle has base \(13\) and height to this base \(8\). Find its area.

Solution.

By the triangle area formula, \(S=\frac{1}{2}ah\). Therefore \(S=\frac{1}{2}\cdot13\cdot8=52\).

Example 2. One Height, Different Bases

If the opposite vertex is common and the bases lie on one line, the height is the same.

Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\) lies on side \(BC\), and \(BD:DC=2:5\). Find \(S_{ABD}:S_{ACD}\).

Solution.

Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ACD\) have a common height from point \(A\) to line \(BC\). Therefore their areas are in the ratio of their bases: \(S_{ABD}:S_{ACD}=BD:DC=2:5\).

Example 3. A Median Halves Area

A median is one of the most common sources of equal areas.

Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(M\) is the midpoint of \(BC\). Prove that \(S_{ABM}=S_{ACM}\).

Solution.

Triangles \(ABM\) and \(ACM\) have equal bases \(BM\) and \(CM\), and the height from point \(A\) to line \(BC\) is common. Hence their areas are equal.

Example 4. Equal Heights Between Parallel Lines

Parallel lines often give equal heights.

Problem. Points \(A\) and \(B\) lie on one line, and points \(C\) and \(D\) lie on a line parallel to \(AB\). Prove that \(S_{ABC}=S_{ABD}\).

Solution.

Triangles \(ABC\) and \(ABD\) have common base \(AB\). The heights from points \(C\) and \(D\) to line \(AB\) are equal because \(C\) and \(D\) lie on a line parallel to \(AB\). Therefore the areas are equal.

Example 5. A Point on a Median

Every point on a median gives equal areas with the two halves of the base.

Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), median \(AM\) is drawn to side \(BC\). Point \(P\) lies on \(AM\). Prove that \(S_{PAB}=S_{PAC}\).

Solution.

Since \(P\) lies on median \(AM\), line \(AP\) passes through the midpoint \(M\) of side \(BC\). Triangles \(PAB\) and \(PAC\) have common base \(AP\). Points \(B\) and \(C\) are equally distant from line \(AP\), because \(M\) is the midpoint of \(BC\). Hence the areas are equal.

Example 6. Diagonal of a Parallelogram

A parallelogram is conveniently cut by a diagonal into two equal-area triangles.

Problem. Prove that diagonal \(AC\) of parallelogram \(ABCD\) halves its area.

Solution.

Triangles \(ABC\) and \(ACD\) have common base \(AC\). Since \(AB\parallel CD\), the heights from points \(B\) and \(D\) to line \(AC\) are equal. Therefore \(S_{ABC}=S_{ACD}\), and the diagonal halves the area of the parallelogram.

Example 7. Area Division Inside a Triangle

If a point moves along a segment toward the base, its height to the base changes linearly.

Problem. Triangle \(ABC\) has area \(90\). Point \(D\) lies on \(BC\), and point \(E\) lies on \(AD\), with \(AE:ED=1:2\). Find \(S_{BCE}\).

Solution.

Triangles \(BCE\) and \(BCA\) have common base \(BC\). The height of point \(E\) to \(BC\) is \(\frac{2}{3}\) of the height of point \(A\), because \(AE:ED=1:2\). Therefore \(S_{BCE}=\frac{2}{3}S_{ABC}=60\).

Example 8. Six Equal Areas

The medians of a triangle divide it into six equal-area small triangles.

Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), the medians meet at point \(G\). Prove that the six small triangles around \(G\) have equal areas.

Solution.

The intersection point of the medians divides each median in the ratio \(2:1\). Consider two small regions on opposite sides of one median: they have equal bases on a side of the triangle and a common height from \(G\). This gives pairs of equal areas. Also, each median halves the whole triangle. Comparing the halves, we get that all six small areas are equal.

Example 9. Areas in a Trapezoid

In a trapezoid, it is useful to compare triangles with bases on parallel lines.

Problem. In trapezoid \(ABCD\), bases \(AD\parallel BC\), and the diagonals meet at point \(O\). Prove that \(S_{AOB}=S_{COD}\).

Solution.

Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ACD\) have common base \(AD\), and the heights from points \(B\) and \(C\) to \(AD\) are equal because \(BC\parallel AD\). Hence \(S_{ABD}=S_{ACD}\). Subtracting the common area \(S_{AOD}\), we obtain \(S_{AOB}=S_{COD}\).

Example 10. Area Chasing Through an Interior Point

If three small areas are equal, the point lies on the medians.

Problem. Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and \(S_{PAB}=S_{PAC}=S_{PBC}\). Prove that \(P\) is the intersection point of the medians.

Solution.

From \(S_{PAB}=S_{PAC}\), points \(B\) and \(C\) have equal distances to line \(AP\). Hence line \(AP\) passes through the midpoint of \(BC\), so it is a median. Similarly, from \(S_{PAB}=S_{PBC}\), line \(BP\) is a median. The intersection of two medians is the centroid, so \(P\) is the intersection point of the medians.

Problems

Problems

#6.1
#6.1

Area From Base and Height

Area method Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

The base of a triangle is \(18\), and the height to it is \(7\). Find the area of the triangle.

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P001
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.2
#6.2

The Same Height

Area method Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\) lies on side \(BC\). Prove that \(S_{ABD}:S_{ACD}=BD:DC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P002
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.3
#6.3

Median and Area

Median Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(M\) is the midpoint of side \(BC\). Prove that \(S_{ABM}=S_{ACM}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P003
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.4
#6.4

Vertices on a Parallel Line

Parallel lines Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

Points \(C\) and \(D\) lie on a line parallel to \(AB\). Prove that \(S_{ABC}=S_{ABD}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P004
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Parallel lines
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.5
#6.5

Diagonal of a Parallelogram

Parallelogram Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

Prove that a diagonal of a parallelogram halves its area.

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P005
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Parallelogram
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.6
#6.6

Ratio on a Side

Area ratio Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\) lies on \(BC\), and \(BD:DC=3:4\). Find \(S_{ABD}:S_{ABC}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P006
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.7
#6.7

Equal Areas on a Common Base

Parallel lines Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

Triangles \(ABC\) and \(ABD\) have common base \(AB\). Prove that if \(CD\parallel AB\), then \(S_{ABC}=S_{ABD}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P007
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Parallel lines
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.8
#6.8

Area of Half a Triangle

Median Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

The area of triangle \(ABC\) is \(84\). Median \(AM\) is drawn to side \(BC\). Find \(S_{ABM}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P008
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.9
#6.9

Two Midpoints

Midpoint Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), the area is \(64\). Points \(D\) and \(E\) are the midpoints of sides \(AB\) and \(BC\). Find \(S_{BDE}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P009
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Midpoint
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.10
#6.10

Diagonal of a Trapezoid

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

In trapezoid \(ABCD\), bases \(AD\parallel BC\), \(AD=15\), \(BC=9\). Diagonal \(AC\) divides the trapezoid into triangles \(ABC\) and \(ACD\). Find \(S_{ABC}:S_{ACD}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P010
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.11
#6.11

Recover the Segment Ratio

Area ratio Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\) lies on \(BC\). It is known that \(S_{ABD}=24\), \(S_{ACD}=40\). Find \(BD:DC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P011
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#6.12
#6.12

Equal Areas and the Same Base

Area method Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Triangles \(ABC\) and \(ABD\) have common base \(AB\), and points \(C\) and \(D\) lie on the same side of \(AB\). It is known that \(S_{ABC}=S_{ABD}\). Prove that \(CD\parallel AB\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P012
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.13
#6.13

Six Equal Triangles

Median Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), medians \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) meet at point \(G\). Prove that the six triangles \(AGF\), \(BGF\), \(BGD\), \(CGD\), \(CGE\), \(AGE\) have equal areas.

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P013
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.14
#6.14

A Parallel Side Inside a Triangle

Parallel lines Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in AB\), \(E\in AC\), and \(DE\parallel BC\). It is known that \(AD:DB=2:3\). Find \(S_{ADE}:S_{ABC}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P014
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Parallel lines
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.15
#6.15

Three Equal Parts of the Base

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

On side \(BC\) of triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\) and \(E\) are marked so that \(BD=DE=EC\). Prove that \(S_{ABD}=S_{ADE}=S_{AEC}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P015
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.16
#6.16

A Point on a Diagonal of a Parallelogram

Parallelogram Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In parallelogram \(ABCD\), point \(P\) lies on diagonal \(AC\). Prove that \(S_{ABP}=S_{ADP}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P016
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Parallelogram
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.17
#6.17

A Parallel Line and Area

Parallel lines Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), through point \(D\) on side \(BC\), a line parallel to \(AC\) meets \(AB\) at point \(E\). It is known that \(BD:DC=2:3\). Find \(S_{BDE}:S_{ABC}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P017
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Parallel lines
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.18
#6.18

A Point on a Median

Median Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), median \(AM\) is drawn to side \(BC\). Point \(P\) lies on \(AM\). Prove that \(S_{PAB}=S_{PAC}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P018
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.19
#6.19

Equal Areas Give a Median

Area chasing Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). It is known that \(S_{PAB}=S_{PAC}\). Prove that line \(AP\) passes through the midpoint of \(BC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P019
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area chasing
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.20
#6.20

A Point on a Cevian

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

The area of triangle \(ABC\) is \(90\). Point \(D\) lies on \(BC\), and point \(E\) lies on \(AD\), with \(AE:ED=1:2\). Find \(S_{BCE}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P020
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.21
#6.21

Three Equal Areas

Median Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). It is known that \(S_{PAB}=S_{PBC}=S_{PCA}\). Prove that \(P\) is the intersection point of the medians of the triangle.

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P021
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.22
#6.22

Height Along a Cevian

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

Triangle \(ABC\) has area \(120\). Point \(D\) lies on \(BC\). Point \(E\) lies on \(AD\), with \(AE:ED=3:2\). Find \(S_{BCE}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P022
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.23
#6.23

Product of Areas With Intersecting Diagonals

Quadrilateral Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

In convex quadrilateral \(ABCD\), the diagonals meet at point \(O\). Prove that \(S_{AOB}\cdot S_{COD}=S_{BOC}\cdot S_{DOA}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P023
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Quadrilateral
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.24
#6.24

Equal Areas at the Diagonals of a Trapezoid

Trapezoid Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

In trapezoid \(ABCD\), bases \(AD\parallel BC\), and the diagonals meet at point \(O\). Prove that \(S_{AOB}=S_{COD}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P024
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Trapezoid
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.25
#6.25

Small Area With a Parallel Line

Parallel lines Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\) lies on \(BC\), with \(BD:DC=2:3\). Through \(D\), a line parallel to \(AC\) meets \(AB\) at point \(E\). Prove that \(S_{BDE}:S_{ADEC}=4:21\), where \(ADEC\) is the remaining part of the triangle.

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P025
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Parallel lines
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.26
#6.26

A Point Inside a Parallelogram

Parallelogram Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

Point \(P\) lies inside parallelogram \(ABCD\). Prove that \(S_{PAB}+S_{PCD}=\frac{1}{2}S_{ABCD}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P026
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Parallelogram
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.27
#6.27

Area Form of Ceva's Theorem

Area Ceva Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★★

In triangle \(ABC\), lines \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) meet at one point \(P\), where \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(F\in AB\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}\cdot\frac{CE}{EA}\cdot\frac{AF}{FB}=1\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P027
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Area Ceva
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.28
#6.28

Find the Third Ratio

Ratios Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★★

In triangle \(ABC\), lines \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) meet at one point, where \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(F\in AB\). It is known that \(BD:DC=2:3\), \(CE:EA=3:4\). Find \(AF:FB\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P028
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.29
#6.29

The Third Median Through Areas

Median Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★★

In triangle \(ABC\), the medians from \(A\) and \(B\) meet at point \(G\). Line \(CG\) meets \(AB\) at point \(F\). Prove that \(AF=FB\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P029
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.30
#6.30

Concurrence From Ratios

Area Ceva Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★★

In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(F\in AB\). It is known that \(BD:DC=2:3\), \(CE:EA=3:5\), \(AF:FB=5:2\). Prove that lines \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) meet at one point.

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P030
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Area Ceva
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#6.31
#6.31

Different Strips and a Square

Tiling Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★★

There is one grid rectangle of each size \(1\times1,1\times2,1\times3,\ldots,1\times N\), where \(N\ge2\). Can one choose some of them and tile a grid square of area greater than \(1\) without overlaps?

Details
Problem: GEO-B1-M06-P031
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Tiling
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
Source: Inspired by regional olympiad method · 2024 · Grade 9 · Problem 1

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