# Rectangle Inscribed in Semicircle

• January 22nd 2007, 05:37 PM
symmetry
Rectangle Inscribed in Semicircle
A rectangle is Inscribed in a semicircle of radius 2.
Let P = (x, y) be the point in quadrant 1 that is a vertex of the rectangle and is on the circle.

(a) Express the area A of the rectangle as a function of x.

(b) Express the perimeter p of the rectangle as a function of x.
• January 22nd 2007, 10:06 PM
earboth
Quote:

Originally Posted by symmetry
A rectangle is Inscribed in a semicircle of radius 2.
Let P = (x, y) be the point in quadrant 1 that is a vertex of the rectangle and is on the circle.

(a) Express the area A of the rectangle as a function of x.

(b) Express the perimeter p of the rectangle as a function of x.

Hello,

to (a)

The area of the rectangle is calculated in general by:

$A=length \times width$

According to your problem the area is:

$A=2x \cdot y$. Now use Pythagoran theorem:

$x^2+y^2=r^2 \Longleftrightarrow y=\sqrt{r^2-x^2}$. Thus:

$A=2x \cdot \sqrt{r^2-x^2}$. That means with r = 2:

$A=2x \cdot \sqrt{4-x^2}$

to (b):

The perimeter of a rectangle is calculated in general:

$p=2 \cdot {length} + 2 \cdot {width}$. Plug in the values you know:

$p=2 \cdot 2x + 2 \cdot \sqrt{4-x^2}= 4x+ 2 \cdot \sqrt{4-x^2}$
• January 23rd 2007, 02:33 AM
symmetry
ok
Another great reply. Tell me, how do you make those images?