2005 PMWC Problems/Problem T8
Problem
An isosceles right triangle is removed from each corner of a square piece of paper so that a rectangle of unequal sides remains. If the sum of the areas of the cut-off pieces is and the lengths of the legs of the triangles cut off are integers, find the area of the rectangle.
Solution
Since the figure in the middle is a rectangle, the isosceles triangles on opposite vertices are congruent. Let be the leg of the smaller triangles, and be the leg of the other two. The sum of the areas of the triangle is then . (Remember that the sides are of unequal lengths, so we exclude ). Since squares , we can reduce our search to even integers, and a short bit of trial and error yield works.
Using subtraction of areas or triangles, we find that the area of the rectangle is ; so the area of the rectangle is .
See also
2005 PMWC (Problems) | ||
Preceded by Problem T7 |
Followed by Problem T9 | |
I: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 T: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 |