Notes
two triangles in a circle and semi-circle solution

Solution to the Two Triangles in a Circle and Semi-Circle Puzzle

Two Triangles in a Circle and Semi-Circle

Which of the shaded triangles has the largest area?

Solution by Cyclic quadrilateral, Angles at a point on a straight line, and Crossed trapezium

Two triangles in a circle and semi-circle labelled

In the above diagram, quadrilateral ABCFA B C F is cyclic (in the semi-circle) and so angles AF^CA \hat{F} C and CB^AC \hat{B} A add up to 180 180^\circ (that is, are supplementary). For the same reason, angles CF^EC \hat{F} E and ED^CE \hat{D} C also add up to 180 180^\circ. Since angles at a point on a straight line add up to 180 180^\circ, angles AF^CA \hat{F} C and CF^EC \hat{F} E add up to 180 180^\circ. Putting all those together, angles ED^CE \hat{D} C and CB^AC \hat{B} A add up to 180 180^\circ. This establishes EDE D and ABA B as parallel and so quadrilateral ABDEA B D E is a trapezium.

As detailed at crossed trapezium, the two triangles therefore have the same area.