Triangle A has an area of #5 # and two sides of lengths #6 # and #3 #. Triangle B is similar to triangle A and has a side with a length of #9 #. What are the maximum and minimum possible areas of triangle B?

1 Answer
Oct 20, 2017

Maximum area of triangle B = 45

Minimum area of triangle B = 11.25

Explanation:

Triangle A sides 6,3 & area 5.

Triangle B side 9

For maximum area of triangle B : side 9 will be proportional to side 3 of triangle A.
Then the side ratio is 9:3. Therefore, areas will be in the ratio of
#9^2 : 3^3 = 81/9 = 9#
#:. # Maximum Area of triangle #B = 5 * 9 = 45#

Similarly, for minimum area of triangle B,
side 9 of triangle B will correspond to side 6 of triangle A.
Sides ratio #= 9 : 6 #and areas ratio #= 9^2:6^2 = 9:4 = 2.25#
#:.# Minimum area of triangle #B = 5*2.25 = 11.25#