MHB Build an expression for the remaining area & show that....

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves calculating the area of a rectangular glass sheet after removing an isosceles triangle. The remaining area of the sheet is given as 5 cm², leading to the equation x(x+2) = 10 when equating the area of the rectangle minus the triangle. After simplifying, the expression becomes x² + 2x - 10 = 0. The calculations confirm that the expression for the remaining area is correct. The discussion focuses on deriving the quadratic equation from the area calculations.
mathlearn
Messages
331
Reaction score
0
Data

From the rectangular glass sheet ABCD the isosceles triangular part ADE is cut away (See figure)

The length of CE is 1m.

View attachment 5978

Problem

i. Take the length of DE as x meters, write an expression in terms of x , for the area of the remaining part of the sheet.

The area of the remaining part ABCE is $5cm^2$

ii.Show that $x^2+2x-10=0$ Workings:

Area of the remaining part = area of the rectangle - area of the isosceles triangle = $ [(x+1) x ]- \frac{1}{2} x^2 = x^2 + x- \frac{1}{2} x^2 $

Where do I need help

I think my expression for the remaining area is correct but how can i show that it is
$x^2+2x-10=0$ when the area of the remaining part is $5cm^2$
 

Attachments

  • figure.png
    figure.png
    2.2 KB · Views: 102
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Let's first treat $ABCE$ as a trapezoid, hence:

$$A=\frac{h}{2}(B+b)=\frac{x}{2}((x+1)+1)=\frac{x}{2}(x+2)$$

Now, let's treat is as a rectangle less the right isosceles triangle:

$$A=x(x+1)-\frac{1}{2}x^2=\frac{x}{2}(2x+2-x)=\frac{x}{2}(x+2)$$

Now, if we equate this area to 5 (assuming all measures are in cm), we obtain:

$$\frac{x}{2}(x+2)=5$$

Multiply through by 2:

$$x(x+2)=10$$

Distribute on the left:

$$x^2+2x=10$$

Subtract through by 10:

$$x^2+2x-10=0$$
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
Is it possible to arrange six pencils such that each one touches the other five? If so, how? This is an adaption of a Martin Gardner puzzle only I changed it from cigarettes to pencils and left out the clues because PF folks don’t need clues. From the book “My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles”. Dover, 1994.
Back
Top