Two squares, each of side lengths 1 unit and having their

thanku so much for the reply

This doesnt looks like a straight line i dont think i can be 0.5

It is the length of the perpendicular from the center of the square to its side AB. It has to be half the length of the side, hence 1/2.

Nice solution shrouded....It has to be perpendicular with half the length of square.

great solutions, all.. this helps a lot.

thanks

Basically, we have to find the area of the square and the eight triangles that border it.

We are told that measure AB = 43/99. Therefore, we know that measure XA +BZ (see attached diagram) = 56/99. We also know that each triangle formed is a right triangle so we can use the Pythagorean theorem: a^2 + b^2 = c^2 or in this case, a^2 + b^2 = (43/99)^2. Also, keep in mind that the lengths XA + BA are also the leg lengths of the two right triangles.

What we know:

a+b = 56/99
a^2 + b^2 = (43/99)^2

From the first equation, we could isolate a variable to get a=(56/99) - b then plug it into the Pythagorean theorem but that might get messy. Instead, we notice that in both equations we have an a + b: we can square a and b in the first equation to make it easier to substitute into the second equation.

a+b = 56/99
(a+b)^2 = (56/99)^2
a^2 + 2ab + b^2 = (56/99)^2
a^2 + b^2 + 2ab = (56/99)^2
Now we have an equation that can easily plug into the Pythagorean theorem

a^2 + b^2 = (43/99)^2 (substitute in a^2 + b^2 + 2ab = (56/99)^2)

(56/99)^2 - 2ab = (43/99)^2
(56/99)^2 = (43/99)^2 + 2ab
√(56/99)^2 = √(43/99)^2 + √2ab
(56/99) = (43/99) + √2ab
(56/99) - (43/99) = √2ab
13/99 = √2ab

Clearly I made a mistake here. If I were to square both sides I would get 169/9801 which is much smaller than 13/99. If I were to square (56/99)^2 and (43/99)^2 then reduce, I would get 13/99 but this is far too time consuming for the test. Where did I go wrong with my equation?

Furthermore, why would the area of this square be the square MINUS the area of the triangles? Wouldn't it be the area of the square PLUS the area of the triangles?

Thanks!

hi Banuel. I can't understand why I should subtract the four triangles when it seems that I should add them to the area of the square. Please explain. Thanks.

Look at the figure below...the area of octagon is the coloured portion which is 1 - area of 4 similar triangles


The drawing is not to scale but I hope you get the point

Cool method, but where do you get the 8 triangles from? I don't see them?

Could you please clarify?
Thanks!

Cheers
J

Here they are:

Hi Bunuel,

I don't understand why we subtract only 4 triangle?
Aren't we supposed to subtract 8 triangles?

The area of yellow octagon = the area of blue square - the area of 4 red triangles.

Hope it's clear.

Can anyone input if this method is correct?
I am also not sure that the line has to be straight.
If the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle was more that half of the side of the square than I could agree. but it's not...

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