Area Ratio in Square with Intersecting Angles

CAT 2008 Slot 1 · Quantitative Ability · Hard · Geometry

This is a hard Quantitative Ability question from the CAT 2008 Slot 1 paper. It tests Geometry. The full answer key and a step-by-step explanation are below — try it yourself first, then reveal the solution.

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 120120^\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.

    10339\frac{10 - 3\sqrt{3}}{9}

  4. D.

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

  5. E.

    2312\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: asin120=xsin30    x=a3\frac{a}{\sin 120^\circ} = \frac{x}{\sin 30^\circ} \implies x = \frac{a}{\sqrt{3}}

Area(APD)=12x2sin120=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=a22×Area(APD)=a2a223=a2(1123)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(1123)a223=231\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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