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An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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Updated on: 19 Jan 2018, 12:06
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Difficulty:
95% (hard)
Question Stats:
51% (02:53) correct 49% (03:05) wrong based on 292 sessions
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An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three right triangles: ADB, ACF and BEC. What is the ratio of the area of triangle BEC to that of triangle ADB?
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 15:58
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Since |AB|=|BC|,\(x^2 + 2xy + y^2 +x^2 = 2y^2, so 2x^2 +2xy =2x(x+y)= y^2\) The ratio of the area of triangle BEC to that of triangle ADB is \(y^2/x(x+y) =2\)
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 10:39
tarek99 wrote:
An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three right triangles: ADB, ACF and BEC. What is the ratio of the area of triangle BEC to that of triangle ADB?
a) 4/3 b) sqrt(s) c) 2 d) 5/2 e) sqrt(5)
I believe the size of these triangles can vary, meaning we can increase one to decrease the size of another. So, we can't come up with right answer unless they provide us pre-configured info. No? If not, I guess I would just press Next on this one
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Updated on: 17 Jul 2008, 10:44
if he makes 1 side, (the base) of BCE = a, it's a 45:45:90 triangle, so it has \(1:1:\sqrt{2}\) sides. Therefore, one side of the triangle makes that hypotnuse and you have \(a\sqrt{2}\)
See the picture I drew above. I have the sides of BCE = y and the hypotnuse = z. He labeled his \(a\) rather than y like I did.
tarek99 wrote:
durgesh79 wrote:
side of triangle BCE = a side of square = (a+b) two sides of triangle ACF are b and (a+b) side of equilatrel triangle = \(a*sqrt(2)\)
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 10:51
How are you guys taking wo sides as contant i am not getting it...........as how the triangle is alligned can vary and so is the ratio of the sides....like allen has taken BE and CE as same is there any rule or was it just an asuumption
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Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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Updated on: 17 Jul 2008, 11:02
jallenmorris wrote:
if he makes 1 side, (the base) of BCE = a, it's a 45:45:90 triangle, so it has \(1:1:\sqrt{2}\) sides. Therefore, one side of the triangle makes that hypotnuse and you have \(a\sqrt{2}\)
See the picture I drew above. I have the sides of BCE = y and the hypotnuse = z. He labeled his \(a\) rather than y like I did.
tarek99 wrote:
durgesh79 wrote:
side of triangle BCE = a side of square = (a+b) two sides of triangle ACF are b and (a+b) side of equilatrel triangle = \(a*sqrt(2)\)
b = (sqrt(3) - 1)/2 * a a+b = a * ( sqrt(3) + 1) / 2
area of BCE = 1/2 a^2 area of AFC = 1/2 * b * (a+b) = 1/2 * a^2 (3-1) / 4
ratio = 2: 1
answer C
would you please explain how you got the side of the equilateral triangle to be
time to solve : 7 minutes
would you please explain how you got the side of the equilateral triangle to be \(a*sqrt(2)\)?
but how can you decide that it's a 45:45:90 triangle? what if it's a 30:60:90 triangle? how can you be so sure which one it is? for example, if it were a 30:60:90 triangle, than the hypotenuse would be 2a, then what???
Originally posted by tarek99 on 17 Jul 2008, 10:54.
Last edited by tarek99 on 17 Jul 2008, 11:02, edited 3 times in total.
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 10:57
apurva1985 wrote:
How are you guys taking wo sides as contant i am not getting it...........as how the triangle is alligned can vary and so is the ratio of the sides....like allen has taken BE and CE as same is there any rule or was it just an asuumption
There's only one way the triangle can align if it's an equilateral triangle.
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 11:00
That is what i was trying to say is that the answer can vary from person to person..........Plz can somebody expalin it in detail.........
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Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 11:05
Because we know it is an equilateral triangle inscribe in a square and both the square and triangle share point A. So the sides coming from point A for the triangle towards the other sides fo the square are the same length.
Look at my post above with the drawing in it. I believe that to be a rather accurate picture of this problem (although not drawn to scale or perfect angles).
We know the inscribed triangle is an equialteral (also an iscoceles). In order for the 2 sides to extend out and hit the square, they must touch in the exact same spot (relative to the side) or one side of the triangle would be longer than the other and it would no longer be equilater (or iscoceles).
tarek99 wrote:
but how can you decide that it's a 45:45:90 triangle? what if it's a 30:60:90 triangle? how can you be so sure which one it is?
_________________
------------------------------------ J Allen Morris **I'm pretty sure I'm right, but then again, I'm just a guy with his head up his a$$.
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 11:17
Even i was feeling that as if you try to distribute the angles what will be the angles of the triangle..........either what i am decepting is wrong or the problem is wrong..........i am going by the figure given by allen
jallenmorris wrote:
Because we know it is an equilateral triangle inscribe in a square and both the square and triangle share point A. So the sides coming from point A for the triangle towards the other sides fo the square are the same length.
Look at my post above with the drawing in it. I believe that to be a rather accurate picture of this problem (although not drawn to scale or perfect angles).
We know the inscribed triangle is an equialteral (also an iscoceles). In order for the 2 sides to extend out and hit the square, they must touch in the exact same spot (relative to the side) or one side of the triangle would be longer than the other and it would no longer be equilater (or iscoceles).
tarek99 wrote:
but how can you decide that it's a 45:45:90 triangle? what if it's a 30:60:90 triangle? how can you be so sure which one it is?
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 11:24
jallenmorris wrote:
Because we know it is an equilateral triangle inscribe in a square and both the square and triangle share point A. So the sides coming from point A for the triangle towards the other sides fo the square are the same length.
Look at my post above with the drawing in it. I believe that to be a rather accurate picture of this problem (although not drawn to scale or perfect angles).
We know the inscribed triangle is an equialteral (also an iscoceles). In order for the 2 sides to extend out and hit the square, they must touch in the exact same spot (relative to the side) or one side of the triangle would be longer than the other and it would no longer be equilater (or iscoceles).
tarek99 wrote:
but how can you decide that it's a 45:45:90 triangle? what if it's a 30:60:90 triangle? how can you be so sure which one it is?
fine, but this only tells me that ADB and AFC are equal and that DB is the same as CF. I still can't see how we choose the triangle to be either 45:45:90 or 30:60:90. I'm really sorry for troubling you, but would you please explain this point? thanks
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 11:41
tarek99 wrote:
jallenmorris wrote:
Because we know it is an equilateral triangle inscribe in a square and both the square and triangle share point A. So the sides coming from point A for the triangle towards the other sides fo the square are the same length.
Look at my post above with the drawing in it. I believe that to be a rather accurate picture of this problem (although not drawn to scale or perfect angles).
We know the inscribed triangle is an equialteral (also an iscoceles). In order for the 2 sides to extend out and hit the square, they must touch in the exact same spot (relative to the side) or one side of the triangle would be longer than the other and it would no longer be equilater (or iscoceles).
tarek99 wrote:
but how can you decide that it's a 45:45:90 triangle? what if it's a 30:60:90 triangle? how can you be so sure which one it is?
fine, but this only tells me that ADB and AFC are equal and that DB is the same as CF. I still can't see how we choose the triangle to be either 45:45:90 or 30:60:90. I'm really sorry for troubling you, but would you please explain this point? thanks
I think i have got it in (triangle ABD) angle BAD((90-60)/2)=15,angle ADB=90,angle ABD=75, using these values in triangle BCE angle cbe will be(180-75-60=45) so from here we got it i suppose rest can be calculated with this
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Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 12:23
I really appreciate it. ok, what a brutal problem this has been! hehe....i managed to get to the correct answer. How about we all try to figure out whether there could be a faster way to solve this? I honestly don't believe that the GMAC guys actually expect us to use all these endless steps to arrive to our answer. There must be a much faster or more abstract way to solve this....hmm...
gmatclubot
Re: An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in square ADEF, forming three
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17 Jul 2008, 12:23
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51% (02:53) correct 
