Chapter

Area Method II

This module develops the area method for olympiad problems: area and segment ratios, cevians, reconstruction of small areas, and a mass-points preview.
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Theory

Key Idea

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.

Basic Facts

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.

When to Use This Method

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.

How to Recognise the Method

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".

Typical Mistakes

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.

Mini-Checklist

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

Example 1. Common Base or Common Altitude

The first example fixes the main translation: side segments become areas.

Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(BD:DC=3:5\). Find \([ABD]:[ADC]\).

Solution.

Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) have a common altitude from \(A\) to line \(BC\). Therefore their areas are in the ratio of their bases: \([ABD]:[ADC]=BD:DC=3:5\).

Example 2. From Area to Segment

The method also works in the reverse direction.

Problem. In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), and \([ABD]:[ADC]=7:4\). Find \(BD:DC\).

Solution.

Triangles \(ABD\) and \(ADC\) again have a common altitude from \(A\). Hence the ratio of areas equals the ratio of bases, so \(BD:DC=7:4\).

Example 3. An Interior Point and a Cevian

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 \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}\).

Solution.

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 \(\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}=\frac{BD}{DC}\).

Example 4. Three Small Areas

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 \(BD:DC\), \(CE:EA\), \(AF:FB\).

Solution.

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, \(\frac{AF}{FB}=\frac{[PCA]}{[PBC]}=\frac{12}{8}=3:2\).

Example 5. Ceva from Areas

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 \(\frac{BD}{DC}\cdot\frac{CE}{EA}\cdot\frac{AF}{FB}=1\).

Solution.

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 \(1\).

Example 6. Ratio on a Cevian

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 \(AP:PD\).

Solution.

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 \(AP:PD=(AD-PD):PD=5:2\).

Example 7. Finding Areas Around a Point

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 \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\).

Solution.

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 \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]=10:8:15\).

Example 8. Without Trigonometry

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 \(BC\).

Solution.

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

Problems

#7.1
#7.1

Area and Base

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(BD:DC=4:7\). Find \([ABD]:[ADC]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P001
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.2
#7.2

From Area to Segment

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), and \([ABD]:[ADC]=5:2\). Find \(BD:DC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P002
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.3
#7.3

Median and Areas

Median Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(M\) is the midpoint of \(BC\). Prove that \([ABM]=[ACM]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P003
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.4
#7.4

Common Base

Ratios Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

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 \([ABP]:[ABQ]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P004
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.5
#7.5

A Cevian and Area

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}=\frac{[ABP]}{[ACP]}\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P005
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.6
#7.6

Area Determines a Point

Ratios Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). It is known that \([ABP]:[ACP]=6:5\). Find \(BD:DC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P006
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.7
#7.7

Three Ratios from Three Areas

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

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 \(BD:DC\), \(CE:EA\), \(AF:FB\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P007
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.8
#7.8

Ratio on a Cevian

Area method Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(P\in AD\). It is known that \([PBC]:[ABC]=3:8\). Find \(AP:PD\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P008
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#7.9
#7.9

Point on a Median

Median Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), median \(AM\) passes through an interior point \(P\). Prove that \([PAB]=[PAC]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P009
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Median
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.10
#7.10

Midpoint from Equal Areas

Ratios Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and line \(AP\) meets \(BC\) at \(D\). If \([PAB]=[PAC]\), prove that \(D\) is the midpoint of \(BC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P010
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.11
#7.11

Ceva Through Areas

Area method Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

Point \(P\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). Lines \(AP\), \(BP\), \(CP\) meet the sides at \(D,E,F\). Prove that \(\frac{BD}{DC}\cdot\frac{CE}{EA}\cdot\frac{AF}{FB}=1\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P011
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.12
#7.12

Finding Three Small Areas

Area ratio Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

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 \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P012
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Area ratio
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.13
#7.13

Area Fraction and Cevian Division

Ratios Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

In triangle \(ABC\), point \(D\in BC\), \(P\in AD\). If \(AP:PD=4:3\), find \([PBC]:[ABC]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P013
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.14
#7.14

Intersection of Two Cevians

Ratios Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

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 \([PAB]:[PBC]:[PCA]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P014
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.15
#7.15

Finding the Third Cevian

Ratios Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

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 \(AF:FB\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P015
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.16
#7.16

Position on a Cevian

Area method Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

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 \(AP:PD\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P016
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.17
#7.17

Division of the Second Cevian

Ratios Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

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 \(BP:PE\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P017
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.18
#7.18

Proving Concurrence by Areas

Area method Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

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.

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P018
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.19
#7.19

A Parallel Line and Areas

Auxiliary line Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

In triangle \(ABC\), through point \(P\in AC\), a line parallel to \(BC\) is drawn, meeting \(AB\) at \(Q\). Prove that \(\frac{[APQ]}{[ABC]}=\left(\frac{AP}{AC}\right)^2\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P019
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Auxiliary line
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.20
#7.20

Square of a Ratio

Ratios Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

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 \(AP:PC\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P020
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.21
#7.21

Two Cevians and Both Divisions

Area method Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

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 \(BP:PE\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P021
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.22
#7.22

Recovering the Intersection Point

Ratios Grade 9 Grade 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.

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P022
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Ratios
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.23
#7.23

Two Parallel Sections

Auxiliary line Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

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 \([APP_1]:[AQQ_1]\).

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P023
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Auxiliary line
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#7.24
#7.24

Areas Determine All Three Cevians

Area method Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

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.

Details
Problem: GEO-B2-M07-P024
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Area method
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10

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