MathDB
2017 G8: Parabola-Triangle Interaction

Source:

January 29, 2017
2017geometry

Problem Statement

In triangle ABCABC with AB=23AB=23, AC=27AC=27, and BC=20BC=20, let DD be the foot of the AA altitude. Let P\mathcal{P} be the parabola with focus AA passing through BB and CC, and denote by TT the intersection point of ADAD with the directrix of P\mathcal P. Determine the value of DT2DA2DT^2-DA^2. (Recall that a parabola P\mathcal P is the set of points which are equidistant from a point, called the <spanclass=latexitalic>focus</span><span class='latex-italic'>focus</span> of P\mathcal P, and a line, called the <spanclass=latexitalic>directrix</span><span class='latex-italic'>directrix</span> of P\mathcal P.)