Cut the knot: learn to enjoy mathematics
A math books store at a unique math study site. Learn to enjoy mathematics.
Google
Web CTK
Best sites for teachers
Sites for teachers
Sites for parents
Terms of use
Awards

Interactive Activities
CTK Exchange
CTK Insights - a blog

Games & Puzzles
What Is What
Arithmetic/Algebra
Geometry
Probability
Outline Mathematics
Make an Identity
Book Reviews
Eye Opener
Analog Gadgets
Inventor's Paradox
Did you know?...
Proofs
Math as Language
Things Impossible
Visual Illusions
My Logo
Math Poll
Cut The Knot!
MSET99 Talk
Other Math sites
Front Page
Movie shortcuts
Personal info
Reciprocal links
Privacy Policy

Guest book
News sites

Recommend this site

Best sites for teachers
Sites for teachers
Sites for parents

Education & Parenting

Manifesto: what CTK is about Search CTK Buying a book is a commitment to learning Table of content Things you can find on CTK Chronology of updates Email to Cut The Knot Recommend this page

Two Rectangles in a Rectangle


This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.


Buy this applet

In the applet, ABCD, EFGH, and IFJH are all rectangles. Show that

  1. the total of red areas equals the blue area.

  2. the sum of the areas of EFGH and IFJH equals that of ABCD.

Explanation

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.


Buy this applet

Since the diagonals of a rectangle (and even those of a parallelogram) meet at the common midpoint and since the two internal rectangles share one diagonal FH, their diagonals are equal and centers coincide. This point O is also the center of ABCD. Indeed, being the midpoint of FH it lies on the horizontal axis of ABCD. Being the midpoint of, say, EG, it lies on the vertical axis of ABCD.

We found that EG = IG and both pass through the center of ABCD. Hence, triangle GOJ is isosceles and CG = DJ. But then

  CG = BI,

such that BCGI is another rectangle and AIGD ie yet another one.

Obviously, Area(IFG) = Area(BCGI)/2 and Area(IGH) = Area(AIGD)/2. It follows that the area of the quadrilateral IFGH is half that of ABCD. The same of course is true for the quadrilateral EFJH:

  Area(IFGH) = Area(EFJH) = Area(ABCD)/2.

We are in the framework of a variant of the Carpets Theorem. With IFGH = S1 and EFJH = T1 we get the first result: the total of the red areas (uncheck the Hint box) equals that of the blue.

The second result is an immediate consequence of the first.

References

  1. J. Konhauser, D. Velleman, S. Wagon, Which Way Did the Bicycle Go?, MAA, 1996, #52

The Carpets Theorem

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

28774121Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape


Search:
Keywords:


Latest on CTK Exchange
Math
Posted by Laura
2 messages
06:56 AM, Apr-15-08

Divisibility rules - Jargon buste ...
Posted by Carolyn
2 messages
08:35 AM, Apr-04-08

drawing puzzle
Posted by martin gran
31 messages
06:53 PM, May-09-08

conway's game of life
Posted by frequency
0 messages
11:52 PM, May-12-08

Mistake on the page (an aside, Be ...
Posted by Max
4 messages
10:28 AM, Feb-28-08

Need details on a part of Proof o ...
Posted by Manuel S.
2 messages
05:24 PM, May-16-08

Josephus Flavius (correction)
Posted by David Turner
1 messages
09:42 AM, May-14-08