Area and Base
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(BD:DC=4:7\). Find \([ABD]:[ADC]\).
Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) have a common altitude from \(A\).
The areas are in the ratio of the bases on line \(BC\). Therefore \([ABD]:[ADC]=BD:DC=4:7\).
Chapter
Theory
The area method turns ratios of segments into ratios of areas. If two triangles have a common altitude, their areas are in the ratio of their bases. If they have a common base, their areas are in the ratio of their altitudes.
In Book 2, the area method becomes a tool for working with cevians: through the areas of the small triangles around an interior point, one can quickly find ratios on the sides and prove concurrence.
If \(D\in BC\), then \(\frac{[ABD]}{[ADC]}=\frac{BD}{DC}\), because triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) have a common altitude from \(A\).
Let point \(P\) lie inside triangle \(ABC\). Denote \(S_A=[PBC]\), \(S_B=[PCA]\), \(S_C=[PAB]\). If \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet \(BC\), \(CA\), \(AB\) at \(D,E,F\), then
\[\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{S_C}{S_B},\qquad \frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{S_A}{S_C},\qquad \frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{S_B}{S_A}.\]
Also, if \(P\in AD\), where \(D\in BC\), then \(\frac{[PBC]}{[ABC]}=\frac{PD}{AD}\). This is the first step toward mass points: areas show how a point divides a cevian.
The area method is useful when a problem contains ratios on sides, cevians, medians, intersection points inside a triangle, or when one needs to prove equality of ratios without trigonometry.
It is especially powerful after Ceva and Menelaus: sometimes instead of searching for similarity, it is enough to express three ratios through three small areas.
Look for triangles with a common altitude or a common base. If a point lies inside a triangle and cevians are drawn through it, you can almost always denote three areas \(S_A\), \(S_B\), \(S_C\).
Signals include: "Find the ratio", "Prove equality of ratios", "intersection point of cevians", "median", and "without trigonometry".
Do not compare areas of triangles unless they have a common altitude or a common base. First explicitly name which altitude is common.
Do not confuse the areas around point \(P\): \(S_A=[PBC]\) lies opposite vertex \(A\), not near it. In cevian formulas, the order of vertices matters.
1. Find pairs of triangles with a common altitude or a common base.
2. If there is an interior point \(P\), denote \(S_A=[PBC]\), \(S_B=[PCA]\), \(S_C=[PAB]\).
3. Translate side ratios into area ratios.
4. Use Ceva if you need to prove concurrence.
5. For a ratio on a cevian, compare the area of the triangle with base on the side and the area of the whole triangle.
Examples
The first example fixes the main translation: side segments become areas.
Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(BD:DC=3:5\). Find \([ABD]:[ADC]\).
Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) have a common altitude from \(A\) to line \(BC\). Therefore their areas are in the ratio of their bases: \([ABD]:[ADC]=BD:DC=3:5\).
The method also works in the reverse direction.
Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), and \([ABD]:[ADC]=7:4\). Find \(BD:DC\).
Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) again have a common altitude from \(A\). Hence the ratio of areas equals the ratio of bases, so \(BD:DC=7:4\).
This shows how an area around point \(P\) gives a ratio on a side.
Problem. Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). Line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}\).
Triangles \(ABP\) and \(ACP\) have common base \(AP\). Their altitudes to \(AP\), drawn from \(B\) and \(C\), are in the ratio \(BD:DC\), because points \(B,D,C\) are collinear. Therefore \(\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}=\frac{BD}{DC}\).
From the three areas around a point, one can read the three ratios on the sides immediately.
Problem. Inside triangle \(ABC\), point \(P\) is given. Let \([PBC]=8\), \([PCA]=12\), \([PAB]=18\). Lines \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet \(BC\), \(CA\), \(AB\) at \(D,E,F\). Find \(BD:DC\), \(CE:EA\), \(AF:FB\).
Use the formulas: \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[PAB]}{[PCA]}=\frac{18}{12}=3:2\). Next, \(\frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{[PBC]}{[PAB]}=\frac{8}{18}=4:9\). Finally, \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{[PCA]}{[PBC]}=\frac{12}{8}=3:2\).
Areas explain why the product in Ceva equals \(1\).
Problem. Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet the sides at \(D,E,F\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}\cdot\frac{CE}{EA}\cdot\frac{AF}{FB}=1\).
Denote \(S_A=[PBC]\), \(S_B=[PCA]\), \(S_C=[PAB]\). Then \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{S_C}{S_B}\), \(\frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{S_A}{S_C}\), \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{S_B}{S_A}\). The product is \(1\).
Here the first meaning of mass points appears: a point divides a cevian according to areas.
Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(P\in AD\). It is known that \([PBC]:[ABC]=2:7\). Find \(AP:PD\).
Triangles \(PBC\) and \(ABC\) have common base \(BC\), so their areas are in the ratio of the altitudes to \(BC\). On segment \(AD\), the altitude from \(P\) to \(BC\) equals \(\frac{PD}{AD}\) times the altitude from \(A\). Hence \(\frac{PD}{AD}=\frac{2}{7}\). Therefore \(AP:PD=(AD-PD):PD=5:2\).
Two cevians determine the ratios of the three small areas.
Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(BD:DC=2:3\), \(CE:EA=4:5\). Lines \(AD\) and \(BE\) meet at \(P\). Find \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\).
Let \(x=[PAB]\), \(y=[PBC]\), \(z=[PCA]\). From \(BD:DC=2:3\), we get \(x:z=2:3\). From \(CE:EA=4:5\), we get \(y:x=4:5\). Take \(x=10\); then \(z=15\), \(y=8\). Therefore \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]=10:8:15\).
Sometimes areas replace heavier computations.
Problem. Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and \([PAB]=[PAC]\). Line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). Prove that \(D\) is the midpoint of \(BC\).
By the cevian formula, \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[PAB]}{[PAC]}\). The areas are equal by the condition, so \(\frac{BD}{DC}=1\). Hence \(BD=DC\), that is, \(D\) is the midpoint of \(BC\).
Problems
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(BD:DC=4:7\). Find \([ABD]:[ADC]\).
Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) have a common altitude from \(A\).
The areas are in the ratio of the bases on line \(BC\). Therefore \([ABD]:[ADC]=BD:DC=4:7\).
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), and \([ABD]:[ADC]=5:2\). Find \(BD:DC\).
Again use the common altitude from \(A\).
Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) have a common altitude, so the ratio of areas equals the ratio of bases. Hence \(BD:DC=5:2\).
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(M\) is the midpoint of \(BC\). Prove that \([ABM]=[ACM]\).
Compare bases \(BM\) and \(CM\).
Triangles \(ABM\) and \(ACM\) have a common altitude from \(A\) to \(BC\). Bases \(BM\) and \(CM\) are equal, so the areas are equal.
Points \(P\) and \(Q\) lie on the same side of line \(AB\). The distance from \(P\) to \(AB\) is \(3\) times the distance from \(Q\) to \(AB\). Find \([ABP]:[ABQ]\).
The triangles have common base \(AB\).
Triangles \(ABP\) and \(ABQ\) have common base \(AB\). Their areas are in the ratio of the altitudes to this base, hence \([ABP]:[ABQ]=3:1\).
Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}\).
Compare triangles with common base \(AP\).
Triangles \(ABP\) and \(ACP\) have common base \(AP\). Their altitudes from \(B\) and \(C\) to \(AP\) are in the ratio \(BD:DC\). Therefore \(\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}=\frac{BD}{DC}\).
Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). It is known that \([ABP]:[ACP]=6:5\). Find \(BD:DC\).
Use the formula from the previous problem.
By the formula, \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}=\frac{6}{5}\). Hence \(BD:DC=6:5\).
Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). Given \([PBC]=9\), \([PCA]=6\), \([PAB]=12\). Lines \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet sides \(BC\), \(CA\), \(AB\) at \(D,E,F\). Find \(BD:DC\), \(CE:EA\), \(AF:FB\).
Use \(S_A=[PBC]\), \(S_B=[PCA]\), \(S_C=[PAB]\).
We have \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[PAB]}{[PCA]}=\frac{12}{6}=2:1\). Next, \(\frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{[PBC]}{[PAB]}=\frac{9}{12}=3:4\). Finally, \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{[PCA]}{[PBC]}=\frac{6}{9}=2:3\).
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(P\in AD\). It is known that \([PBC]:[ABC]=3:8\). Find \(AP:PD\).
Compare the altitudes from \(P\) and \(A\) to base \(BC\).
Triangles \(PBC\) and \(ABC\) have common base \(BC\). Hence \(\frac{[PBC]}{[ABC]}=\frac{PD}{AD}=\frac{3}{8}\). Then \(AP=AD-PD\), so \(AP:PD=5:3\).
In triangle \(ABC\), median \(AM\) passes through an interior point \(P\). Prove that \([PAB]=[PAC]\).
Line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at midpoint \(M\).
By the formula, \(\frac{[PAB]}{[PAC]}=\frac{BM}{MC}\). Since \(M\) is the midpoint of \(BC\), \(BM=MC\). Therefore \([PAB]=[PAC]\).
Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). If \([PAB]=[PAC]\), prove that \(D\) is the midpoint of \(BC\).
Translate the equality of areas into the ratio \(BD:DC\).
We have \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[PAB]}{[PAC]}=1\). Therefore \(BD=DC\), so \(D\) is the midpoint of \(BC\).
Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). Lines \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet the sides at \(D,E,F\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}\cdot\frac{CE}{EA}\cdot\frac{AF}{FB}=1\).
Denote the three small areas around point \(P\).
Let \(S_A=[PBC]\), \(S_B=[PCA]\), \(S_C=[PAB]\). Then \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{S_C}{S_B}\), \(\frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{S_A}{S_C}\), \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{S_B}{S_A}\). Multiplying cancels everything and gives \(1\).
In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(BD:DC=2:3\), \(CE:EA=3:4\). Lines \(AD\) and \(BE\) meet at \(P\). Find \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\).
Let \([PAB]=x\), \([PBC]=y\), \([PCA]=z\).
From \(BD:DC=2:3\), we get \(x:z=2:3\). From \(CE:EA=3:4\), we get \(y:x=3:4\). Take \(x=8\). Then \(z=12\), \(y=6\). Hence \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]=8:6:12=4:3:6\).
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(P\in AD\). If \(AP:PD=4:3\), find \([PBC]:[ABC]\).
Area \(PBC\) is to \(ABC\) as the distance from \(P\) to \(BC\) is to the distance from \(A\) to \(BC\).
Since \(AP:PD=4:3\), we have \(PD:AD=3:7\). Triangles \(PBC\) and \(ABC\) have common base \(BC\), so \([PBC]:[ABC]=PD:AD=3:7\).
In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(BD:DC=3:5\), \(CE:EA=2:3\). Lines \(AD\) and \(BE\) meet at \(P\). Find \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\).
Use \( [PAB]:[PCA]=BD:DC\) and \( [PBC]:[PAB]=CE:EA\).
Let \([PAB]=x\), \([PBC]=y\), \([PCA]=z\). Then \(x:z=3:5\), and \(y:x=2:3\). Take \(x=9\). Then \(z=15\), \(y=6\). Answer: \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]=9:6:15=3:2:5\).
Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). Lines \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet the sides at \(D,E,F\). It is known that \(BD:DC=5:4\) and \(CE:EA=3:5\). Find \(AF:FB\).
You can use Ceva or the areas around \(P\).
Since the cevians pass through one point, by Ceva \(\frac{5}{4}\cdot\frac{3}{5}\cdot\frac{AF}{FB}=1\). The first factors give \(\frac{3}{4}\), so \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{4}{3}\). Answer: \(AF:FB=4:3\).
In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(BD:DC=2:3\), \(CE:EA=3:2\). Lines \(AD\) and \(BE\) meet at \(P\). Find \(AP:PD\).
First find the three areas \([PAB]\), \([PBC]\), \([PCA]\).
Let \([PAB]=x\), \([PBC]=y\), \([PCA]=z\). From \(BD:DC=2:3\), \(x:z=2:3\). From \(CE:EA=3:2\), \(y:x=3:2\). Take \(x=2\); then \(z=3\), \(y=3\). The total area is \(8\) units, and \([PBC]=3\). Since \(P\in AD\), \(\frac{PD}{AD}=\frac{[PBC]}{[ABC]}=\frac{3}{8}\). Hence \(AP:PD=5:3\).
In the same type of configuration: \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(BD:DC=3:4\), \(CE:EA=2:5\), and \(AD\cap BE=P\). Find \(BP:PE\).
Find the areas around \(P\), then compare \([PCA]\) with the total area.
Let \([PAB]=x\), \([PBC]=y\), \([PCA]=z\). From \(BD:DC=3:4\), \(x:z=3:4\). From \(CE:EA=2:5\), \(y:x=2:5\). Take \(x=15\); then \(z=20\), \(y=6\), total \(41\). Since \(P\in BE\), \(\frac{PE}{BE}=\frac{[PCA]}{[ABC]}=\frac{20}{41}\). Thus \(BP:PE=21:20\).
In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D,E,F\) lie on \(BC,CA,AB\). It is known that there exist positive numbers \(x,y,z\) such that \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{z}{y}\), \(\frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{x}{z}\), \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{y}{x}\). Prove that \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) are concurrent.
Multiply the three ratios.
The product is \(\frac{z}{y}\cdot\frac{x}{z}\cdot\frac{y}{x}=1\). By Ceva's theorem, lines \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) are concurrent. The numbers \(x,y,z\) may be interpreted as the areas of the three small triangles around the intersection point.
In triangle \(ABC\), through point \(P\in AC\), a line parallel to \(BC\) is drawn, meeting \(AB\) at \(Q\). Prove that \(\frac{[APQ]}{[ABC]}=\left(\frac{AP}{AC}\right)^2\).
Triangles \(APQ\) and \(ABC\) are similar.
Since \(PQ\parallel BC\), triangles \(APQ\) and \(ABC\) are similar with ratio \(\frac{AP}{AC}\). Areas of similar triangles are in the ratio of the squares of similarity ratios, hence \(\frac{[APQ]}{[ABC]}=\left(\frac{AP}{AC}\right)^2\).
In triangle \(ABC\), point \(P\in AC\), and line \(PQ\parallel BC\) is drawn through \(P\), with \(Q\in AB\). If \([APQ]:[ABC]=9:25\), find \(AP:PC\).
The ratio of areas of similar triangles is the square of the ratio of sides.
From similarity \(APQ\sim ABC\), \(\left(\frac{AP}{AC}\right)^2=\frac{9}{25}\), hence \(\frac{AP}{AC}=\frac{3}{5}\). Then \(PC=\frac{2}{5}AC\), so \(AP:PC=3:2\).
In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D\in BC\), \(E\in CA\), \(BD:DC=2:5\), \(CE:EA=3:4\). Lines \(AD\) and \(BE\) meet at \(P\). Find \(AP:PD\) and \(BP:PE\).
First recover the three areas around \(P\).
Let \([PAB]=x\), \([PBC]=y\), \([PCA]=z\). From \(BD:DC=2:5\), \(x:z=2:5\). From \(CE:EA=3:4\), \(y:x=3:4\). Take \(x=8\); then \(z=20\), \(y=6\), total \(34\). On cevian \(AD\): \(\frac{PD}{AD}=\frac{[PBC]}{[ABC]}=\frac{6}{34}=\frac{3}{17}\), so \(AP:PD=14:3\). On cevian \(BE\): \(\frac{PE}{BE}=\frac{[PCA]}{[ABC]}=\frac{20}{34}=\frac{10}{17}\), so \(BP:PE=7:10\).
In triangle \(ABC\), points \(D,E,F\) are chosen on the sides so that \(BD:DC=3:4\), \(CE:EA=2:3\), \(AF:FB=2:1\). Prove that cevians \(AD\), \(BE\), \(CF\) are concurrent, and find \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\), where \(P\) is the intersection point.
First check Ceva, then recover the areas.
The product \(\frac{3}{4}\cdot\frac{2}{3}\cdot 2=1\), so by Ceva the cevians are concurrent. Let \(x=[PAB]\), \(y=[PBC]\), \(z=[PCA]\). From \(BD:DC=3:4\), \(x:z=3:4\). From \(CE:EA=2:3\), \(y:x=2:3\). Take \(x=9\); then \(z=12\), \(y=6\). Answer: \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]=9:6:12=3:2:4\).
In triangle \(ABC\), through points \(P,Q\in AC\), lines parallel to \(BC\) are drawn, meeting \(AB\) at \(P_1,Q_1\). It is known that \(AP:PC=1:2\), \(AQ:QC=2:1\). Find \([APP_1]:[AQQ_1]\).
Each small triangle is similar to \(ABC\), and areas are in the ratio of squares of similarity ratios.
We have \(\frac{AP}{AC}=\frac{1}{3}\), \(\frac{AQ}{AC}=\frac{2}{3}\). Therefore \([APP_1]:[ABC]=\frac{1}{9}\), while \([AQQ_1]:[ABC]=\frac{4}{9}\). Hence \([APP_1]:[AQQ_1]=1:4\).
Inside triangle \(ABC\), point \(P\) is to be chosen so that \([PBC]:[PCA]:[PAB]=6:10:15\). If \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet the sides at \(D,E,F\), find \(BD:DC\), \(CE:EA\), \(AF:FB\), and check that these ratios agree with Ceva.
Use \(S_A=6\), \(S_B=10\), \(S_C=15\).
By the formulas, \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{S_C}{S_B}=\frac{15}{10}=3:2\). Next, \(\frac{CE}{EA}=\frac{S_A}{S_C}=\frac{6}{15}=2:5\). Finally, \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{S_B}{S_A}=\frac{10}{6}=5:3\). Ceva check: \(\frac{3}{2}\cdot\frac{2}{5}\cdot\frac{5}{3}=1\), so the ratios are consistent with concurrence of the cevians.
Ladders