In right triangle ABC, the hypotenuse AB is 13 units long and leg AC is 5 units long. Point D lies on side AB so that AD = 10 units. What is the area of triangle BCD?
Using coordinates, the area of triangle BCD is 120/7.
5-12-13 right triangle
A
10
5 D
3
C 12 B
sin ABC = 5/13
Area of BCD = (1/2) ( BC * DB sin (ABC) =
(1/2) (12) (3) ( 5/13) =
180 / 26 =
90 / 13 units^2