Let ABCD be a square and X a point such that A and X are on opposite sides of CD. The lines AX and BX intersect CD in Y and Z respectively. If the area of ABCD is one and area XYZ=23 what is the length of YZ.
I worked the area of trapezium ABYZ to equal YZ:
Area of square not covered by triangle=(1−YZ)(1)
reason (area of rectangle=Length×Breadth)
Therefore area of trapezium=1−(Area of rectangle)=1−(1−YZ)=YZ.
Area of trapezium=(a+b2)h
Therefore: YZ=(1+YZ)2(h=1)
YZ=1.
Where did I go wrong.
EDIT please do not give the answer
Answer
Here is your mistake: You worked out the area of the trapezoid by the formula for the area of the rectangle. However, a trapezoid is not a rectangle, so the area of the trapezoid is not equal to YZ.
You were in the right direction though. One way to go about it would be to subtract from 1 the area of the triangles ADY and BCZ... Try it :)
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