[SOLVED] Square Problem

• May 7th 2009, 02:29 AM
learnmath
[SOLVED] Square Problem
• May 7th 2009, 06:10 AM
Sodapop
Quote:

Originally Posted by learnmath

You know that:

BC² + CD² = BD²
1² + 1² = BD²
2 = BD²
BD = √2

Since BE = BC, and BC =1, then BE = 1, per transitivity.

Have you arrived this far?
• May 7th 2009, 08:50 PM
learnmath
• May 8th 2009, 01:32 AM
running-gag
Hi

Consider triangle BPE. PR is one height of this triangle. The area of BPE is $A(BPE) = \frac12\:PR \times BE$

The same for triangle BPC : $A(BPC) = \frac12\:PQ\times BC$

The area of triangle BCE is the sum of the areas above : $A(BCE) = A(BPE) + A(BPC) = \frac12\:PR\times BE + \frac12\:PQ\times BC$

Since BE = BC, $A(BCE) = \frac12\:(PQ + PR)\times BC$

On the other hand the area of triangle BCE can be calculated using the projection of E on [BC], say H

$A(BCE) = \frac12\:EH\times BC$

Since ABCDE is a square, angle CBE is 45 degrees. Therefore $EH = BE\times \sin(45) = BC \:\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$

$A(BCE) = \frac12\:\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\times BC^2$

Hence $A(BCE) = \frac12\:(PQ + PR)\times BC = \frac12\:\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\times BC^2$

And finally $PQ + PR = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\times BC$
• May 10th 2009, 07:27 PM
learnmath
Thank you!