2000 PMWC Problems/Problem T3

Problem

In the figure, $ABCD$ is a square, $P$ , $Q$ , $R$ , and $S$ are midpoints of the sides $AB$ , $BC$ , $CD$ and $DA$ respectively. Find the ratio of the shaded area to the area of the square $ABCD$ .

$[asy] fill(buildcycle((0,2)--(1,0),(2,2)--(0,1),(2,0)--(1,2),(0,0)--(2,1)),gray); draw((0,0)--(2,0)--(2,2)--(0,2)--cycle); draw((0,2)--(1,0)); draw((2,2)--(0,1)); draw((2,0)--(1,2)); draw((0,0)--(2,1)); label("A",(0,2),NW); label("B",(2,2),NE); label("C",(2,0),SE); label("D",(0,0),SW); label("P",(1,2),N); label("Q",(2,1),E); label("R",(1,0),S); label("S",(0,1),W); //Credit to chezbgone2 for the diagram[/asy]$

Solution

Rotate the four smallest triangles around their corresponding midpoints, so that there will be $5$ squares, which $1$ is shaded. Since the area didn't change, the ratio of the shaded area to the area of square ABCD is $\boxed{\frac{1}{5}}$ .

~megaboy6679

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2000 PMWC Problems/Problem T3

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