Minimum cost of building wall around rectangular region

XAT 2026 · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · Hard · Geometry

A triangular plot is such that two of its sides, of lengths 90m90\text{m} and 60m60\text{m}, are perpendicular to each other. There is a housing complex in a rectangular region within the plot. The area of the rectangular region is 4/9th4/9^{\text{th}} of the area of the triangular plot. Additionally, two sides of the rectangular region lie on the two perpendicular sides of the triangle, and one vertex is on the hypotenuse. The members of the housing complex want to construct a wall along the perimeter of the rectangular region.

If the cost of construction is Rs. 5000/m\text{Rs. } 5000/\text{m}, what is the MINIMUM possible cost of building the wall?

  1. A.

    Rs. 777,777

  2. B.

    Rs. 700,000

  3. C.

    Rs. 666,667

  4. D.

    Rs. 766,667

  5. E.

    Rs. 433,333

Answer

B

Explanation

Let perpendicular sides be along x-axis (9090) and y-axis (6060). The hypotenuse equation is x90+y60=1\frac{x}{90} + \frac{y}{60} = 1. A vertex of the rectangle on hypotenuse has coordinates (x,y)=(x,60(1−x/90))(x, y) = (x, 60(1 - x/90)). Area of rectangle =xy=60x(1−x90)=60x−2x23= xy = 60x\left(1 - \frac{x}{90}\right) = 60x - \frac{2x^2}{3}. Area of triangle =12×90×60=2700= \frac{1}{2} \times 90 \times 60 = 2700. Area of rectangle =49×2700=1200= \frac{4}{9} \times 2700 = 1200.

So 60x−2x23=1200  ⟹  2x2−180x+3600=0  ⟹  x2−90x+1800=060x - \frac{2x^2}{3} = 1200 \implies 2x^2 - 180x + 3600 = 0 \implies x^2 - 90x + 1800 = 0. (x−30)(x−60)=0  ⟹  x=30 or 60(x - 30)(x - 60) = 0 \implies x = 30\text{ or } 60.

  • If x=30x = 30, y=60(1−30/90)=40y = 60(1 - 30/90) = 40. Perimeter =2(30+40)=140 m= 2(30 + 40) = 140\text{ m}.
  • If x=60x = 60, y=60(1−60/90)=20y = 60(1 - 60/90) = 20. Perimeter =2(60+20)=160 m= 2(60 + 20) = 160\text{ m}.

Minimum perimeter =140 m= 140\text{ m}. Minimum cost =140×5000=Rs. 700,000= 140 \times 5000 = \text{Rs. } 700,000.

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