Find max area of rectangle inside a right triangle.

[Brown Arrow]

Homework Statement

Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed in a right triangle with legs adjacent to the right angle of lengths 5cm and 12cm.
the two sides of the rectangle lie along the legs.

Homework Equations

N/a

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Brown Arrow!

(pleeeeeeease don't post such wide pictures! )

I don't get why he did the ratio …

he wanted an equation relating x and y, and he got it by comparing the two similar triangles

 

[Brown Arrow]

yea sorry about that could figure out how to shrink it

 

[SammyS]

Now solve the ratio equation for x or y & plug the result into the expression for area.