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Problem 152

Geometry Difficulty 1.3 Find the answer CEMC Pascal · Canada · 2012

According to the ruler shown, what is the length of PQPQ?

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

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Official solution

Solution 1

The segment of the ruler between each integer marking is divided into 4 equal pieces (that is, is divided into quarters).

Therefore, the point QQ is at 2+34=2342 + \frac{3}{4}=2\frac{3}{4}, and PP is at 24=12\frac{2}{4}=\frac{1}{2}.

Thus, the length of PQPQ is 23412=11424=94=2142\frac{3}{4} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{11}{4} - \frac{2}{4} = \frac{9}{4}=2\frac{1}{4}.

Writing this as a decimal, we obtain 2.25.

Solution 2

The segment of the ruler between each integer marking is divided into 4 equal pieces (that is, is divided into quarters).

There are 9 of these pieces between PP and QQ.

Therefore, the length of PQPQ is 9×14=94=2.259 \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{9}{4}=2.25.

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