Two paths

Which of these two paths made of semicircles is shorter?

Problem



 

Image
Two Paths



In the diagram, AE is divided into four equal parts.

Semicircles have been drawn with AE,

AD and DE as diameters.

This has created two new paths from A to E, an upper path and a lower path.

Which path is shorter?

 

 

This problem is taken from the UKMT Mathematical Challenges.