Deltoid Geometry: Find Variable b When Area = 144 cm²

Kite Area Formula with Variable Diagonals

ABCD is a deltoid.

Side BM equals 4 cm.

The area of the deltoid is equal to 144 cm².

Calculate b.

2b2b2b4b4b4b444AAABBBCCCDDDMMMS=144

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find B
00:03 In a kite, the main diagonal intersects the secondary diagonal
00:07 The whole side equals the sum of its parts
00:13 Here too, the whole side equals the sum of its parts
00:17 We'll use the formula for calculating the area of a kite
00:22 (diagonal times diagonal) divided by 2
00:27 We'll substitute appropriate values according to the given data and solve for B
00:37 Divide 8 by 2
00:44 Isolate B
00:53 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

ABCD is a deltoid.

Side BM equals 4 cm.

The area of the deltoid is equal to 144 cm².

Calculate b.

2b2b2b4b4b4b444AAABBBCCCDDDMMMS=144

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem, we'll follow the steps outlined:

  • Step 1: Identify the given information.
  • Step 2: Apply the appropriate formula for the area of the deltoid.
  • Step 3: Solve for b b in terms of known values.

Let's break it down:

Step 1: We know the length of diagonal BM=4 BM = 4 cm and the area of the deltoid is 144 144 cm².

Step 2: The area of a deltoid is given by the formula:

Area=12×Diagonal1×Diagonal2 \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{Diagonal}_1 \times \text{Diagonal}_2

Here, the diagonals correspond to line segments of the form 2b 2b and 4b 4b as represented in the setup of the problem.

Step 3: Substituting the values into the area formula, we have:

12×(2b)×(4b)=144 \frac{1}{2} \times (2b) \times (4b) = 144

Simplifying this, we get:

4b2=144b2=1444=36 4b^2 = 144 \quad \Rightarrow \quad b^2 = \frac{144}{4} = 36

Therefore, solving for b b , we find:

b=36=6 b = \sqrt{36} = 6

Thus, the value of b b is 6 6 .

3

Final Answer

6 6

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: Deltoid area equals half the product of diagonal lengths
  • Technique: Set up 12×2b×4b=144 \frac{1}{2} \times 2b \times 4b = 144 and solve
  • Check: Verify 12×12×24=144 \frac{1}{2} \times 12 \times 24 = 144 cm² ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing diagonal segments with full diagonal lengths
    Don't use BM = 4 as a full diagonal length = wrong area calculation! The segment BM is just part of the horizontal diagonal. Always identify that the full diagonals are 2b (vertical) and 4b (horizontal) from the diagram labels.

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 exactly is a deltoid and how is it different from other quadrilaterals?

+

A deltoid (or kite) is a quadrilateral with two pairs of adjacent sides that are equal. Unlike rectangles or squares, its diagonals are perpendicular but not necessarily equal in length.

Why does the area formula use half the product of diagonals?

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The diagonals of a deltoid divide it into four right triangles. The area formula 12×d1×d2 \frac{1}{2} \times d_1 \times d_2 efficiently calculates the total area of all four triangles at once.

How do I know which measurements are the full diagonals?

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Look at the diagram labels carefully! The full diagonals are marked as 2b (vertical) and 4b (horizontal). BM = 4 is just a segment of the horizontal diagonal, not the entire length.

What if I get a negative value when solving for b?

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Since b represents a length measurement, it must be positive. If you get b2=36 b^2 = 36 , take only the positive square root: b=6 b = 6 cm.

Can I use this same method for other kite problems?

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Absolutely! This area formula works for any deltoid/kite. Just identify the two diagonal lengths (they're always perpendicular) and apply Area=12×d1×d2 \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times d_1 \times d_2 .

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