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CEMC Gauss (Grade 7), 2012

Geometry Difficulty 1.4 Junior Find the answer Canada

On the spinner shown, PQPQ passes through centre OO.

Figure 0

If areas labelled RR and SS are equal, then what percentage of the time will a spin stop on the shaded region?

Pick one

Solution

Since PQPQ passes through centre OO, then it is a diameter of the circle.

Figure 1

Since ∠QOT=90°\angle QOT=90\degree, then ∠POT=180°−90°=90°\angle POT=180\degree-90\degree=90\degree.

Thus, the area of sector POTPOT is 90°360°=14\frac{90\degree}{360\degree}=\frac{1}{4} or 25% of the area of the circle.

Since the areas labelled RR and SS are equal, then each is

25%÷2=12.5%25\%\div 2=12.5\% of the area of the circle.
Therefore, a spin will stop on the shaded region 12.5%12.5\% of the time.

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