Area Ratio in Square with Intersecting Angles

CAT 2008 Slot 1 · Quantitative Ability · Hard · Geometry

Consider a square ABCDABCD with midpoints E,F,G,HE, F, G, H of AB,BC,CDAB, BC, CD and DADA respectively. Let LL denote the line passing through FF and HH. Consider points PP and QQ, on LL and inside ABCDABCD, such that the angles ∠APD\angle APD and ∠BQC\angle BQC both equal 120∘120^\circ. What is the ratio of the area of ABQCDPABQCDP to the remaining area inside ABCDABCD?

  1. A.

    423\frac{4\sqrt{2}}{3}

  2. B.

    2+32 + \sqrt{3}

  3. C.

    10−339\frac{10 - 3\sqrt{3}}{9}

  4. D.

    1+131 + \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}

  5. E.

    23−12\sqrt{3} - 1

Answer

E

Explanation

Let the side of square ABCDABCD be aa. Area of square =a2= a^2.

In △APD\triangle APD, AP=PD=xAP = PD = x. ∠APD=120∘\angle APD = 120^\circ. Using Sine Rule in △APD\triangle APD: asin⁡120∘=xsin⁡30∘  ⟹  x=a3\frac{a}{\sin 120^\circ} = \frac{x}{\sin 30^\circ} \implies x = \frac{a}{\sqrt{3}}

Area(△APD)=12x2sin⁡120∘=12(a23)32=a243\text{Area}(\triangle APD) = \frac{1}{2} x^2 \sin 120^\circ = \frac{1}{2} \left(\frac{a^2}{3}\right) \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} = \frac{a^2}{4\sqrt{3}}

By symmetry, Area(△BQC)=Area(△APD)=a243\text{Area}(\triangle BQC) = \text{Area}(\triangle APD) = \frac{a^2}{4\sqrt{3}}.

Area of region ABQCDP=a2−2×Area(△APD)=a2−a223=a2(1−123)ABQCDP = a^2 - 2 \times \text{Area}(\triangle APD) = a^2 - \frac{a^2}{2\sqrt{3}} = a^2\left(1 - \frac{1}{2\sqrt{3}}\right).

Remaining area inside ABCD=2×Area(△APD)=a223ABCD = 2 \times \text{Area}(\triangle APD) = \frac{a^2}{2\sqrt{3}}.

Ratio=a2(1−123)a223=23−1\text{Ratio} = \frac{a^2\left(1 - \frac{1}{2\sqrt{3}}\right)}{\frac{a^2}{2\sqrt{3}}} = 2\sqrt{3} - 1.

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