So, I haven't posted in a while...but now I am stummped! Only question I can't get today!

A team of students seeks to make a flag representing their commitment to the earth. They will be using a green triangle inscribed in a yellow semi-circle. Find the maximum area of the triangle inscribed in a semi-circle of radius r.

So I know you somewhere have to use 1/2pir^2...but then what?

THANKS!

2 answers

Sounds like a common sense kind of problem
The largest area is obtained with a largest possible base and a largest possible height.
Clearly the diameter is as large as you could make a base, and the height cannot be any larger than the radius at from the centre of the semi-circle
so the largest area would be 1/2(2r)(r) = r^2
You could try putting that if the base is = r and the height is r^2 and the triangle is isosceles, you will get the largest area. I think!