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Area of triangle DOA?

A hard-level "Area" problem.Find a ratio once, then use it again somewhere else in the same figure. That is the standard way through a two-step area-ratio problem.

GivenThe diagonals of quadrilateral ABCD meet at O. Triangle AOB = 6 cm², BOC = 9 cm², COD = 12 cm².

Area ★★★★★☆ Area of triangle DOA? 6cm² 9cm² 12cm² AB CD O

Hints

  1. There is no direct route to "?". Instead, find out what ratio O splits the diagonal AC into. That ratio will carry us all the way there.
  2. Look at the top pair, AOB and BOC. Both have apex B, and their bases AO and OC lie on one straight line — so they have the same height.
  3. Same height means area ratio = base ratio. So AO : OC = 6 : 9 = 2 : 3.
  4. This is the turning point: the ratio AO : OC works just as well on the bottom pair. Triangles DOA and COD both have apex D, with the same bases AO and OC — same height again.
  5. So ? : 12 = 2 : 3. Since 12 is 3 parts, one part is 4, and "?" is 2 of them.
  6. Looking back, the products of the facing pairs are equal: 6×12 = 9×8. It holds for any quadrilateral.

Answer 8cm²

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