Question #e6569

1 Answer
Jan 6, 2017

If the point C lies on the line y=2x then it will have the general coordinate (x,2x).

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We have all three coordinates of the triangle ABC, namely:

A(L,0), B(0,K) and C(x,2x)

The area of the triangle can then be calculated using the
shoelace formula:

A=1/2|(x_A−x_C)(y_B−y_A)−(x_A−x_B)(y_C−y_A)|

So we get:

\ \ \ \ \ a=1/2|(L-x)(K-0)-(L-0)(2x-K)|
:. a=1/2|(L-x)K-L(2x-K)|
:. a=1/2|LK-Kx-2Lx+LK|
:. a=1/2|-Kx-2Lx|
:. a=1/2|-1(Kx+2Lx)|
:. a=1/2|Kx+2Lx|

We are told that both K and L are positive so providing x is also positive (wlog) then:

\ \ \ \ \ a=1/2(Kx+2Lx)
:. a=1/2Kx+Lx

And differentiating wrt x gives the required result:

\ \ (da)/dx=1/2K+L " " QED