Quadrilateral Area between Parallel Lines

XAT 2017 · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · Hard · Geometry

AB, CD and EF are three parallel lines, in that order. Let d1 and d2 be the distances from CD to AB and EF respectively. d1 and d2 are integers, where d1 : d2 = 2 : 1. P is a point on AB, Q and S are points on CD and R is a point on EF. If the area of the quadrilateral PQRS is 30 square units, what is the value of QR when value of SR is the least?

  1. A.

    slightly less than 10 units

  2. B.

    10 units

  3. C.

    slightly greater than 10 units

  4. D.

    slightly less than 20 units

  5. E.

    slightly greater than 20 units

Answer

E

Explanation

SR is minimum when SR is perpendicular to the parallel lines, so SR=d2=xSR = d2 = x. Quadrilateral PQRS consists of △PQS\triangle PQS and △SRQ\triangle SRQ on common base QS=bQS = b. Height of △PQS=d1=2x\triangle PQS = d1 = 2x, height of △SRQ=d2=x\triangle SRQ = d2 = x. Total Area =12b(2x)+12bx=32bx=30  ⟹  bx=20  ⟹  b=20x= \frac{1}{2} b (2x) + \frac{1}{2} b x = \frac{3}{2} b x = 30 \implies b x = 20 \implies b = \frac{20}{x}. Since d1,d2d1, d2 are integers, x≥1x \ge 1. To minimize xx, set x=1  ⟹  b=20x = 1 \implies b = 20. Since SR=1SR = 1 is perpendicular to CDCD, in right △SRQ\triangle SRQ, QR=QS2+SR2=202+12=401≈20.025QR = \sqrt{QS^2 + SR^2} = \sqrt{20^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{401} \approx 20.025. Thus, QRQR is slightly greater than 20 units.

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