Angle in Equilateral Triangle and Square

CAT 2006 Slot 1 · QA · Medium · Quantitative Aptitude

An equilateral triangle BPCBPC is drawn inside a square ABCDABCD. What is the value of the angle APD\angle APD in degrees?

  1. A.

    75

  2. B.

    90

  3. C.

    120

  4. D.

    135

  5. E.

    150

Answer

150

Explanation

In square ABCDABCD, AB=BC=CD=DA=aAB = BC = CD = DA = a. Since BPCBPC is equilateral, BP=PC=BC=aBP = PC = BC = a. PBC=60    ABP=9060=30\angle PBC = 60^\circ \implies \angle ABP = 90^\circ - 60^\circ = 30^\circ. In ABP\triangle ABP, AB=BP=a    ABPAB = BP = a \implies \triangle ABP is isosceles. BAP=BPA=180302=75\angle BAP = \angle BPA = \frac{180^\circ - 30^\circ}{2} = 75^\circ. By symmetry, CPD=75\angle CPD = 75^\circ. At point PP, total angle =360=BPA+BPC+CPD+APD= 360^\circ = \angle BPA + \angle BPC + \angle CPD + \angle APD. 75+60+75+APD=360    210+APD=360    APD=15075^\circ + 60^\circ + 75^\circ + \angle APD = 360^\circ \implies 210^\circ + \angle APD = 360^\circ \implies \angle APD = 150^\circ.

Practise this under exam conditions

Sign in to solve it with a live timer, the on-screen CAT calculator, and streak and accuracy tracking across every question you attempt.

Solve in the workspace