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Geometry Difficulty 2.8 Junior Find the answer

A rectangle is divided into four smaller rectangles, labelled W, X, Y, and Z. The perimeters of rectangles W, X, and Y are 2, 3, and 5, respectively. What is the perimeter of rectangle Z?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Label the lengths of the vertical and horizontal segments as a,b,c,da, b, c, d. Rectangle W is bb by cc, so its perimeter is 2b+2c2 b+2 c, which equals 2. Rectangle X is bb by dd, so its perimeter is 2b+2d2 b+2 d, which equals 3. Rectangle Y is aa by cc, so its perimeter is 2a+2c2 a+2 c, which equals 5. Rectangle Z is aa by dd, so its perimeter is 2a+2d2 a+2 d. Therefore, 2a+2d=(2a+2b+2c+2d)(2b+2c)=(2a+2c)+(2b+2d)(2b+2c)=5+32=62 a+2 d=(2 a+2 b+2 c+2 d)-(2 b+2 c)=(2 a+2 c)+(2 b+2 d)-(2 b+2 c)=5+3-2=6.

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