Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 21:04 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 21:04
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
jlgdr
Joined: 06 Sep 2013
Last visit: 24 Jul 2015
Posts: 1,302
Own Kudos:
2,978
 [7]
Given Kudos: 355
Concentration: Finance
Posts: 1,302
Kudos: 2,978
 [7]
Kudos
Add Kudos
7
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,830
Own Kudos:
811,294
 [5]
Given Kudos: 105,886
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,830
Kudos: 811,294
 [5]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
anu1706
Joined: 15 Jul 2012
Last visit: 13 Jun 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
116
 [2]
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 34
Kudos: 116
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
PrepTap
Joined: 22 Apr 2015
Last visit: 13 Sep 2017
Posts: 60
Own Kudos:
497
 [3]
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 60
Kudos: 497
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anu1706
Bunuel
jlgdr
What is the maximum possible area of a parallelogram with one side of length 2 meters and a perimeter of 24 meters?

The perimeter = 2*2 + 2x = 24 --> x = 10.

The are is maximized if the parallelogram is a rectangle, thus the maximum area is 2*10 = 20.

Dear Bunuel:

In this question I have one query that as per the Theory learnt - Max. possible Area with a given perimeter is a SQUARE, so why here it is RECTANGLE?
Pls help with an explanation.

Hi anu1706

You are right in your understanding that the maximum possible area for a given perimeter is a square.
So for a give perimeter of 24, the sides should have been 24/4 = 6 units each.

But here we have an additional constraint that the length of one of the sides is 2.
Now, if the other sides are also 2 each, the perimeter will only be 8 and not 24.

So the only way to have a perimeter of 24 and length of one of the sides as 2 is to take the parallelogram as a rectangle, which will result in the answer explained in the posts above.
User avatar
anu1706
Joined: 15 Jul 2012
Last visit: 13 Jun 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
116
 [2]
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 34
Kudos: 116
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi anu1706

You are right in your understanding that the maximum possible area for a given perimeter is a square.
So for a give perimeter of 24, the sides should have been 24/4 = 6 units each.

But here we have an additional constraint that the length of one of the sides is 2.
Now, if the other sides are also 2 each, the perimeter will only be 8 and not 24.

So the only way to have a perimeter of 24 and length of one of the sides as 2 is to take the parallelogram as a rectangle, which will result in the answer explained in the posts above.[/quote]

Thanks!! I got it now..
avatar
Avraheem
Joined: 11 Jun 2018
Last visit: 31 Jul 2018
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 34
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:


Hi anu1706

You are right in your understanding that the maximum possible area for a given perimeter is a square.
So for a give perimeter of 24, the sides should have been 24/4 = 6 units each.

But here we have an additional constraint that the length of one of the sides is 2.
Now, if the other sides are also 2 each, the perimeter will only be 8 and not 24.

So the only way to have a perimeter of 24 and length of one of the sides as 2 is to take the parallelogram as a rectangle, which will result in the answer explained in the posts above.

Thank you so much. Can you give as the proof just to increase our understanding?
User avatar
librega
Joined: 11 Jul 2018
Last visit: 17 Apr 2019
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 11
Kudos: 10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Avraheem
Quote:


Hi anu1706

You are right in your understanding that the maximum possible area for a given perimeter is a square.
So for a give perimeter of 24, the sides should have been 24/4 = 6 units each.

But here we have an additional constraint that the length of one of the sides is 2.
Now, if the other sides are also 2 each, the perimeter will only be 8 and not 24.

So the only way to have a perimeter of 24 and length of one of the sides as 2 is to take the parallelogram as a rectangle, which will result in the answer explained in the posts above.

Thank you so much. Can you give as the proof just to increase our understanding?

I think you're asking why does a rectangle have the maximum area for a given set of sides, am I right?
One way is to see that the area of a parallelogram is ABsinQ (Q being the angle between them), so sin is max when Q=90, hence rectangle.

Another way not involving trigonometry would be, imagine a parallelogram with fixed side lengths and we will be varying angles (base and top = 6, and other sides=2)
For any parallelogram, it is true that area = base * perpendicular height from the base to the top

Now the base length is 6 and fixed, the height is the distance between the top and bottom lines (That is how far the two 6 sides are, perpendicular distance), right?
In which case do you get the max height (distance between the sides)?
When the height is equal to 2, ie when the side of length 2 is actually the height! Again giving you that Q must be 90, hence rectangle.

A way to check this is to take the polar opposite, Q=0/180 degrees, the figure collapses into a line and has area 0.

I hope I was able to get my point straight!
User avatar
Adarsh_24
Joined: 06 Jan 2024
Last visit: 03 Apr 2025
Posts: 240
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2,015
Posts: 240
Kudos: 65
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anu1706
Bunuel
jlgdr
What is the maximum possible area of a parallelogram with one side of length 2 meters and a perimeter of 24 meters?

The perimeter = 2*2 + 2x = 24 --> x = 10.

The are is maximized if the parallelogram is a rectangle, thus the maximum area is 2*10 = 20.

Dear Bunuel:

In this question I have one query that as per the Theory learnt - Max. possible Area with a given perimeter is a SQUARE, so why here it is RECTANGLE?
Pls help with an explanation.
I believe max possible area for given perimeter is a circle
Moderators:
Math Expert
109830 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts