Problem:
The -intercepts, and , of two perpendicular lines intersecting at the point have a sum of zero. What is the area of ?
Answer Choices:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Solution:
Let the -intercepts of lines and be . Then their slopes are . Setting the product of the slopes to and solving yields . Therefore has base and altitude , for an area of .
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions