2D shapes and their properties

  • Area I'n It
    problem

    Area i'n it

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Triangle ABC has altitudes h1, h2 and h3. The radius of the inscribed circle is r, while the radii of the escribed circles are r1, r2 and r3 respectively. Prove: 1/r = 1/h1 + 1/h2 + 1/h3 = 1/r1 + 1/r2 + 1/r3 .
  • Lawnmower
    problem

    Lawnmower

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A kite shaped lawn consists of an equilateral triangle ABC of side 130 feet and an isosceles triangle BCD in which BD and CD are of length 169 feet. A gardener has a motor mower which cuts strips of grass exactly one foot wide and wishes to cut the entire lawn in parallel strips. What is the minimum number of strips the gardener must mow?
  • 2D-3D
    problem

    2D-3D

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Two circles of equal size intersect and the centre of each circle is on the circumference of the other. What is the area of the intersection? Now imagine that the diagram represents two spheres of equal volume with the centre of each sphere on the surface of the other. What is the volume of intersection?

  • Fitting In
    problem

    Fitting in

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    The largest square which fits into a circle is ABCD and EFGH is a square with G and H on the line CD and E and F on the circumference of the circle. Show that AB = 5EF. Similarly the largest equilateral triangle which fits into a circle is LMN and PQR is an equilateral triangle with P and Q on the line LM and R on the circumference of the circle. Show that LM = 3PQ
  • Darts and Kites
    problem

    Darts and kites

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Explore the geometry of these dart and kite shapes!
  • Retracircles
    problem

    Retracircles

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Four circles all touch each other and a circumscribing circle. Find the ratios of the radii and prove that joining 3 centres gives a 3-4-5 triangle.
  • Escriptions
    problem

    Escriptions

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    For any right-angled triangle find the radii of the three escribed circles touching the sides of the triangle externally.
  • Dividing the Field
    problem

    Dividing the field

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A farmer has a field which is the shape of a trapezium as illustrated below. To increase his profits he wishes to grow two different crops. To do this he would like to divide the field into two trapeziums each of equal area. How could he do this?
  • Roaming Rhombus
    problem

    Roaming rhombus

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    We have four rods of equal lengths hinged at their endpoints to form a rhombus ABCD. Keeping AB fixed we allow CD to take all possible positions in the plane. What is the locus (or path) of the point D?
  • Not so little x
    problem

    Not so little x

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Two circles are enclosed by a rectangle 12 units by x units. The distance between the centres of the two circles is x/3 units. How big is x?