A square is divided into four congruent rectangles and a smaller square, as shown. (The diagram is not to scale.)



The area of the small square is 1/4 of the area of the whole square. What is the ratio of the length of a short side of one of the rectangles to the length of a long side?
 
If you liked this problem, here is an NRICH task which challenges you to use similar mathematical ideas.  

This problem is taken from the UKMT Mathematical Challenges.

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