Triangle Problem

yaourt · July 7th, 2009, 10:19 am

found this interesting problem on the net ... There is an equal-sided triangle (isosceles) in the first quadrant. the corners of the basis are the point of origin (0,0) and point (b,0) with b>0. the third corner lies on the function y=27-x^2. What is the maximum surface area this triangle can have?

daveangel · July 7th, 2009, 11:08 am

two equal sides ?

yaourt · July 7th, 2009, 11:37 am

two equal sides, one basis

jurowilmott1 · July 7th, 2009, 1:18 pm

S=81*sqrt(27)/16 (b=sqrt(27))... modulo arithmetic errors, what is so interesting about this problem anyway?

yaourt · July 7th, 2009, 1:57 pm

QuoteOriginally posted by: jurowilmott1S=81*sqrt(27)/16 (b=sqrt(27))... modulo arithmetic errors, what is so interesting about this problem anyway?no sorry, thats the wrong answer

jurowilmott1 · July 7th, 2009, 2:36 pm

S=54, b=6 (errors in the previous one...), anyway, this a simple calculus question, not a real teaser

EscapeArtist999 · July 7th, 2009, 2:37 pm

Sorry arith error, same answer as below...

alphaquantum · July 7th, 2009, 2:58 pm

b=36, S = 54where's the catch?

daveangel · July 7th, 2009, 3:06 pm

b = 6, A = 54

alphaquantum · July 7th, 2009, 3:18 pm

Right, b=6, S=54. My answer, b=36, S=54 is for triangle on (0,0) and (0,b)