Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2013

Geometry Difficulty 4.8 AIME Find the answer Canada

In the right-angled triangle PQRPQR, PQ=QRPQ=QR. The segments QS,TUQS, TU and VWVW are perpendicular to PRPR, and the segments STST and UVUV are perpendicular to QRQR, as shown.

What fraction of PQR\triangle PQR is shaded?

Pick one

Solution

Since PQR\triangle PQR is isosceles with PQ=QRPQ=QR and PQR=90°\angle PQR=90\degree, then QPR=QRS=45°\angle QPR=\angle QRS=45\degree.

Also in PQR\triangle PQR, altitude QSQS bisects PRPR (PS=SRPS=SR) forming two identical triangles, SQPSQP and SQRSQR.
Since these two triangles are identical, each has 12\frac{1}{2} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

In SQR\triangle SQR, QSR=90°\angle QSR=90\degree, QRS=45°\angle QRS=45\degree, and so SQR=45°\angle SQR=45\degree.

Thus, SQR\triangle SQR is also isosceles with SQ=SRSQ=SR.

Then similarly, altitude STST bisects QRQR (QT=TRQT=TR) forming two identical triangles, SQTSQT and SRTSRT.
Since these two triangles are identical, each has 12\frac{1}{2} of the area of SQR\triangle SQR or 14\frac{1}{4} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Continuing in this way, altitude TUTU divides STR\triangle STR into two identical triangles, STUSTU and RTURTU.

Each of these two triangles has 12\frac{1}{2} of 14\frac{1}{4} or 18\frac{1}{8} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Continuing, altitude UVUV divides RTU\triangle RTU into two identical triangles, RUVRUV and TUVTUV.

Each of these two triangles has 12\frac{1}{2} of 18\frac{1}{8} or 116\frac{1}{16} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.

Finally, altitude VWVW divides RUV\triangle RUV into two identical triangles, UVWUVW and RVWRVW.

Each of these two triangles has 12\frac{1}{2} of 116\frac{1}{16} or 132\frac{1}{32} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR.
Since the area of STU\triangle STU is 18\frac{1}{8} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR, and the area of UVW\triangle UVW is 132\frac{1}{32} of the area of PQR\triangle PQR, then the total fraction of PQR\triangle PQR that is shaded is 18+132=4+132\frac{1}{8}+\frac{1}{32}=\frac{4+1}{32} or 532\frac{5}{32}.

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Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.