MATHEMATICAL CHALLENGE FOR FILIPINO KIDS TRAINING PROGRAM

SPECIAL GROUP QUIZ # 1 (Answer Key)

A
x

3x

E
4x

C 1.

In ABC, E, F are on AB, AC respectively,

1
1
AB, AF AC.
2
4
Expand FE, CB and let them intersect at G. Find the ratio of the areas of EGB
and AEF.
Traditional Solution: area method
Let AEF = x,
EFC FC 3

.
AEF AF 1
EFC = 3x, BEC = AEC = 4x.
Let AEG = y, AEG = EGB = y.
S EGB
GEC y 4 x 3
2.

y 2 x,
S
AGE
y
1

AEF
hence
AE

A
F

E
3N
G

C
B
6N
4N N
2N
3N
Solve geometry problems by applying Law of the lever
(1) Consider the system AFC whose fulcrum is at point F.
Because AC = 4AF, so 3AF = FC, therefore if we add a
weight N on point C and a weight 3N on point A, the force
on point F will become 4N. This system is now in
equilibrium.
(2) Consider the system AEB whose fulcrum is at point E.
Because AE = EB, the weight 3N on point A can be balanced
by another weight 3N on point B. The force on point E is
now 6N.
(3) Consider the system GBC whose fulcrum is at point B. Because the weight on point C is N and the
weight on point B is 3N, in order for the system to reach equilibrium, the force on point G should be 3N
N = 2N.
(4) Consider the system GEF whose fulcrum is at point E. The force component on point G is 2N and the
other force component at point F is 4N, so the net force on point E is 6N, which tells us FE = FG + FF, so
S
GE EB
EF 1
AEF GEB, EGB
.
.
S
EF

EA
EG
2
AEF
this system is in equilibrium and
Since
And

EB EA,

S EGB
EG
2.
2,
EF
hence S AEF

CM 1
.
MA
2
2. In ABC, D, E are points on BC such that BD : DE : EC = 3 : 2 : 1. M is a point on AC such that
BM intersects AD, AE at H, G respectively. Find BH : HG : GM.
Traditional Solution: area method

A
4.8x
G 2x

10.2x
H
B

C
D
E
Let GMC = x, then AGM = 2x.
ABG BE 5

, ABG 15 x.
Since AGC EC 1
ABG 2
15
BGC x
BGC 1
2
15
BDG x.
2
GEC : GDE : BDE = 1: 2 : 3
ABG AH 15 x
ADG 2

4.
ADG 6 x.
BDG HD 15 x
AGC 1
4
Hence
We have AHG = 4.8x, so ABH = AGB AHG = 15x 4.8x = 10.2x.
Thus BH : HG : GM = 10.2x : 4.8x : 2x = 51 : 24 : 10.

Solve geometry problems by applying Law of the lever

(1) First, suppose the segment AE is removed.
A
N
H
B

4N

5N

(3)

(4)

(5)

2N
3N Consider the system
AM
2,
AMC whose fulcrum is at point M, because CM
if we
add a weight N on point A and 2N on point C, the force on
point M will become 3N. This system is now in equilibrium.
Consider the system BDC whose fulcrum is at point D.
BD
3

1,
Because DC 2 1
so BD = CD, and the weight 2N on
point C can be balanced by another weight 2N on point B.
The force on point D is now 4N.
Consider the system BHM whose fulcrum is at point H. Because the force on point B is 2N and the force
on point M is 3N, in order for the system to reach equilibrium, the force on point H should be 5N. This
tells us 5N = FH = FA + FD = 4N + N, which means the system AHD is also in equilibrium. By the law
BH 3
.
HM
2
of the lever we get
Next, suppose we put back segment AE but remove segment AD. Consider the system BEC whose
BE 3 2

5,
EC
1
fulcrum is at point E. Because
we add a weight 2N on point B and 10N on point C, and
the force on point E is now 12N.
AM
2,
Consider the system AMC whose fulcrum is at point M. Because CM
the 10N weight on point C
can be balanced by another 5N weight on point A. The system is now in equilibrium, and the force on
point M is 15N.
2N

(2)

(6) Consider the system AGE whose fulcrum is at point G. When this system is in equilibrium, the force on
point G is 17N, which tells us 17N = FG = FB + FM = 2N + 15N, so the system BGM is also in
BG 15
.
equilibrium. By the law of the lever we get GM 2
Assume that BH = x, HG = y, GM = z, we have:
3
x
51

y z 2
x 10 z

12
x

y
15

y z

z
5

2
BH : HG : GM = x : y : z = 51 : 24 : 10.

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NOTE: All publications are protected by copyright. It is unlawful to make copies without the prior written
permission of the Mathematics Trainers Guild, Philippines.

MATHEMATICAL CHALLENGE FOR FILIPINO KIDS TRAINING PROGRAM

SPECIAL GROUP QUIZ # 1
Name: ____________________________________ Grade Level: _________________ Score: _____________
School: ____________________________________ MTG Center: ________________ Date: ______________

1
1
AB, AF AC.
2
4
1. In ABC, E, F are on AB, AC respectively,
Expand FE, CB and let them intersect
at G. Find the ratio of the areas of EGB and AEF.
AE

CM 1
.
2. In ABC, D, E are points on BC such that BD : DE : EC = 3 : 2 : 1. M is a point on AC such that MA 2
BM intersects AD, AE at H, G respectively. Find BH : HG : GM.

Prepared by:
NOTE: All publications are protected by copyright. It is unlawful to make copies without the prior written
permission of the Mathematics Trainers Guild, Philippines.