Here are three similar triangles, [math]ABG[/math], [math]ACF[/math] and [math]ADE[/math].

[math]ABCD[/math] and [math]AGFE[/math] are straight lines.
[math]AB : BC : CD = 1 : 2 : 3[/math]
Show that [math]\text{area of } ABG : \text{area of } BCFG : \text{area of } CDEF = 1 : 8 : 27[/math]
Since
[math]AB : BC : CD = 1 : 2 : 3[/math]
then along the whole side,
[math]AB = 1[/math]
[math]AC = 1+2= 3[/math]
[math]AD = 1+2+3 = 6[/math]
So the corresponding side lengths of the similar triangles are:
[math]ABG : ACF = 1 : 3[/math]
[math]ABG : ADE = 1 : 6[/math]
Using the fact that areas of similar triangles are proportional to the square of corresponding sides:
[math]\text{area of } ABG : \text{area of } ACF= 1^2 : 3^2 = 1 : 9[/math]
and
[math]\text{area of } ABG : \text{area of } ADE = 1^2 : 6^2 = 1 : 36[/math]
Therefore:
[math]\text{area of } ABG = 1[/math]
[math]\text{area of } ACF = 9[/math]
[math]\text{area of } ADE = 36[/math]
So:
[math]\text{area of } BCFG = Triangle ACF – Triangle ABG = 9-1 = 8[/math]
and
[math]\text{area of } CDEF = Triangle ADE – Triangle ACF = 36-9 = 27[/math]
Therefore,
[math]\text{area of } ABG : \text{area of } BCFG : \text{area of } CDEF = 1 : 8 : 27[/math]