### A Sameness Surely

Triangle ABC has a right angle at C. ACRS and CBPQ are squares. ST and PU are perpendicular to AB produced. Show that ST + PU = AB

### Rati-o

Points P, Q, R and S each divide the sides AB, BC, CD and DA respectively in the ratio of 2 : 1. Join the points. What is the area of the parallelogram PQRS in relation to the original rectangle?

### Square in a Triangle

Weekly Problem 33 - 2006
A square is inscribed in an isoscles right angled triangle of area $x$. What is the area of the square?

# Same Length

##### Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level:

Below are two diagrams for you to construct.
Measure the lengths - there seem to be some that are equal!
But can you prove it?

Firstly:
Draw a square, and create an equilateral triangle on two adjacent sides of the square.

It looks like the two outside corners of the triangles, along with the opposite corner of the square, form another equilateral triangle... Can you prove it?

What if the equilateral triangles are drawn inside the square?

Secondly:

Watch the animation below.

Draw some equilateral triangles of your own. Are the two lines always the same length?
Can you prove it?

With thanks to Don Steward, whose ideas formed the basis of this problem.

The first problem is based on a theorem credited to French mathematician Victor Thebault.