CAT 2023 Slot 2 QA Question 17

Multiple choice (+3 / −1) · Geometry · Triangles · Try it, then check the answer and solution below.

A triangle is drawn with its vertices on the circle C such that one of its sides is a diameter of C and the other two sides have their lengths in the ratio a:ba: b. If the radius of the circle is $r , then the area of the triangle is
Answer and solution

Answer: C) 2abr2a2+b2\frac{2abr^2}{a^2+b^2}

📌 Core Concept
When a triangle is inscribed in a circle with one side as the diameter, it is a right-angled triangle (Thales' theorem). The area of a right-angled triangle is given by 12\frac{1}{2}×base×height× \text{base} × \text{height}.
🔢 Step-by-Step Solution
1
Identify the Triangle Type:
The triangle is right-angled with the hypotenuse as the diameter of the circle.
Hypotenuse length = 2r$.
2
Assign Variables to Sides:
Let the other two sides be a⋅ka \cdot k and b⋅kb \cdot k where kk is a scaling factor.
3
Apply Pythagoras Theorem:
(a⋅k)2+(b⋅k)2=(2r)2(a \cdot k)^2 + (b \cdot k)^2 = (2r)^2 k2(a2+b2)=4r2k^2(a^2 + b^2) = 4r^2 k=2ra2+b2k = \frac{2r}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}
4
Calculate the Area:
Area=12×(a⋅k)×(b⋅k)\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times (a \cdot k) \times (b \cdot k) = 12\frac{1}{2} × a \cdot b \cdot \left(\frac{2r}{\
a2+b2\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}
}\right)^2=12×a⋅b⋅4r2a2+b2= \frac{1}{2} \times a \cdot b \cdot \frac{4r^2}{a^2 + b^2} = 2abr2a2+b2\frac{2abr^2}{a^2 + b^2}$
⚡ 30-Second Shortcut
Recognize the triangle is right-angled.
Use the area formula for right-angled triangles.
Substitute the sides using the given ratio and solve.
🎯 Final Answer
Correct Answer: Option C

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