2004 AMC 10B Problem 18

The area of $\triangle ACE$ is $\tfrac12(12)(16) = 96.$ Each corner triangle $\triangle ABF,$ $\triangle BCD,$ and $\triangle DEF$ has a base and an altitude that are $\tfrac34$ and $\tfrac14$ of a corresponding base and altitude of $\triangle ACE.$ So each has area $\tfrac14 \cdot \tfrac34 = \tfrac{3}{16}$ of $\triangle ACE.$ Hence $$\begin{aligned} \dfrac{[BDF]}{[ACE]} &= 1 - 3 \cdot \dfrac{3}{16} \\ &= 1 - \dfrac{9}{16} = \dfrac{7}{16}. \end{aligned}$$ Thus, the correct answer is E.