Deltoid Area Problem: Finding AC Length When Area is 27 cm²

Deltoid Area Formula with Diagonal Variables

The deltoid ABCD is shown below.

AC = X

DB = 3X

The area of the deltoid is 27 cm².

Calculate the length of AC.

S=27S=27S=27XXX3X3X3XAAABBBCCCDDD

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Calculate AC
00:03 We'll use the formula for calculating the area of a kite
00:07 (diagonal times diagonal) divided by 2
00:14 Let's substitute appropriate values according to the given data and find AC
00:17 Multiply by 2 to eliminate the fraction
00:25 Isolate X
00:39 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

The deltoid ABCD is shown below.

AC = X

DB = 3X

The area of the deltoid is 27 cm².

Calculate the length of AC.

S=27S=27S=27XXX3X3X3XAAABBBCCCDDD

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll use the formula relating the area of a deltoid to its diagonals:

  • Step 1: Identify the given details:
    • Diagonal AC = X X .
    • Diagonal DB = 3X 3X .
    • Area = 27 cm2^2.
  • Step 2: Write down the formula for the area:
  • The area of a deltoid is given by:

    Area=12×AC×DB \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times AC \times DB

  • Step 3: Substitute the values into the formula:
  • Substitute AC=X AC = X and DB=3X DB = 3X into the equation:

    12×X×3X=27 \frac{1}{2} \times X \times 3X = 27

  • Step 4: Simplify and solve for X X :
  • First, simplify the left side:

    12×3X2=32X2 \frac{1}{2} \times 3X^2 = \frac{3}{2}X^2

    Thus, the equation becomes:

    32X2=27 \frac{3}{2}X^2 = 27

    Multiply both sides by 2 to clear the fraction:

    3X2=54 3X^2 = 54

    Divide both sides by 3:

    X2=18 X^2 = 18

    Take the square root of both sides:

    X=18 X = \sqrt{18}

Therefore, the length of diagonal AC is 18 \sqrt{18} .

3

Final Answer

18 \sqrt{18}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: Area of deltoid equals half the product of diagonals
  • Technique: Substitute AC = X and DB = 3X into 12×X×3X=27 \frac{1}{2} \times X \times 3X = 27
  • Check: 12×18×318=12×54=27 \frac{1}{2} \times \sqrt{18} \times 3\sqrt{18} = \frac{1}{2} \times 54 = 27

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to multiply diagonals by 1/2
    Don't use Area = AC × DB directly = 54 instead of 27! This gives double the actual area because you missed the 1/2 factor. Always use the complete formula: Area = 12×d1×d2 \frac{1}{2} \times d_1 \times d_2 for any quadrilateral with perpendicular diagonals.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Indicate the correct answer

The next quadrilateral is:

AAABBBCCCDDD

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

What is a deltoid and how is it different from other shapes?

+

A deltoid is a quadrilateral (4-sided shape) with two pairs of adjacent sides that are equal. It's also called a kite! Its diagonals are perpendicular, which is why we can use the area formula 12×d1×d2 \frac{1}{2} \times d_1 \times d_2 .

Why do we get √18 as the answer instead of a whole number?

+

Square roots are exact answers! 18 \sqrt{18} is more precise than the decimal 4.24... You could simplify it to 32 3\sqrt{2} , but both forms are correct.

Can I use this formula for any quadrilateral?

+

No! This formula only works when the diagonals are perpendicular (meet at 90°). This applies to deltoids, squares, rhombuses, and kites, but not rectangles or parallelograms.

How do I know which diagonal is which?

+

It doesn't matter! The area formula 12×d1×d2 \frac{1}{2} \times d_1 \times d_2 works regardless of which diagonal you call d1 d_1 or d2 d_2 since multiplication is commutative.

What if I can't take the square root perfectly?

+

That's normal! Many geometry problems have irrational answers. Leave your answer as 18 \sqrt{18} or simplify to 32 3\sqrt{2} - both are exact and correct!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Deltoid questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations