GMAT Math : Quadrilaterals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Rectangles

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure. \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD \sim \textup{Rect }WXYZ\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{AD}{WZ} = \frac{7}{5}\).

Give the ratio of the area of the shaded region to the area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7:5\)

\(\displaystyle 1:1\)

\(\displaystyle 25:24\)

\(\displaystyle 5:7\)

\(\displaystyle 24:25\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 24:25\)

Explanation:

The ratio of the areas of similar rectangles is the square of the similarity ratio, so the ratio of the area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD\) to that of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\) is 

\(\displaystyle \left ( \frac{7}{5} \right )^{2} = \frac{49}{25}\).

So if the area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\) is \(\displaystyle N\), the area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD\) is \(\displaystyle \frac{49}{25} N\)

The area of the shaded region is the difference between the areas of the rectangles, making this area

\(\displaystyle \frac{49}{25} N - N = \frac{24}{25} N\).

The desired ratio is 24 to 25.

Example Question #2 : Quadrilaterals

\(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD \sim \textup{Rect }WXYZ\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{AB}{WX} = 3\).

Which of the following must be equal to \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)?

Possible Answers:

The perimeter of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD\) divided by the perimeter of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\)

None of the other choices gives a correct answer.

\(\displaystyle \frac{WZ}{AB}\)

The area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\) divided by the area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{WY}{BD}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{WY}{BD}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{AB}{WX} = 3\), so \(\displaystyle \frac{WX}{AB} = \frac{1}{3}\); this is the similarity ratio of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\) to \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD\).

\(\displaystyle \overline{WZ}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\) are not corresponding sides, nor are they congruent to corresponding sides, so it may or may not be true that \(\displaystyle \frac{WZ}{AB} = \frac{1}{3}\).

 

The ratio of the perimeters of similar rectangles is the same as their actual similarity ratio, but the choice gives the rectangles in the original order; the quotient of the perimeters as given is 3, not \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\).

 

 

The ratio of the areas of similar rectangles is the square of the similarity ratio, so the quotient in the given choice is \(\displaystyle \left (\frac{1}{3} \right )^{2} = \frac{1}{9}\).

 

However, by similarity, and the fact that opposite sides \(\displaystyle \overline{BD }\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{AC}\) are congruent,

\(\displaystyle \frac{WY}{BD} = \frac{WY}{AC} = \frac{WX}{AB} = \frac{1}{3}\).

The correct choice is \(\displaystyle \frac{WY}{BD}\).

Example Question #2 : Rectangles

Rectangles

In the above diagram, 

\(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCF \sim \textup{Rect }CDEF\).

\(\displaystyle CF = 24\) and \(\displaystyle EF = 12\). Give the area of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABDE\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1,440\)

\(\displaystyle 288\)

\(\displaystyle 1,152\)

\(\displaystyle 576\)

\(\displaystyle 720\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1,440\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCF \sim \textup{Rect }CDEF\), so

\(\displaystyle \frac{AF}{CF} = \frac{CF}{EF}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{AF}{24} = \frac{24}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle AF = \frac{24}{12} \cdot 24 = 48\)

The area of the rectangle is 

\(\displaystyle AE \cdot DE\)

\(\displaystyle = \left (AF + EF \right ) \cdot CF\)

\(\displaystyle = \left (48+12 \right ) \cdot 24\)

\(\displaystyle = 60 \cdot 24\)

\(\displaystyle = 1,440\)

 

 

Example Question #1 : Quadrilaterals

\(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD \sim \textup{Rect }WXYZ\), and \(\displaystyle \frac{AB}{WX} = 2\).

All the following quantities MUST be equal to 2 except for __________.

Possible Answers:

All of the quantities in the other choices must be equal to \(\displaystyle 2\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{BC}{WZ}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{CD}{YX}\)

The perimeter of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }ABCD\) divided by the perimeter of \(\displaystyle \textup{Rect }WXYZ\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{AC}{WY}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{CD}{YX}\)

Explanation:

The two rectangles are similar with similarity ratio 2.

Corresponding sides of similar rectangles are in proportion, so

\(\displaystyle \frac{BC}{XY} = \frac{AB}{WX} = 2\).

Since opposite sides of a rectangle are congruent, \(\displaystyle XY = WZ\), so

\(\displaystyle \frac{BC}{WZ}= 2\).

\(\displaystyle \overline{AC}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{WY}\) are diagonals of the rectangle. If they are constructed, then, since \(\displaystyle \frac{AB}{WX} = \frac{BC}{XY}\) and \(\displaystyle \angle B \cong \angle X\) (both are right angles), by the Side-Angle-Side Similarity Theorem, \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC \cong \bigtriangleup WXY\). By similarity, \(\displaystyle \frac{AC}{WY} = \frac{AB}{WX} =2\).

 

The ratio of the perimeters of the rectangles is

\(\displaystyle \frac{2 \cdot AB + 2 \cdot BC }{2\cdot WX + 2 \cdot XY}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{ AB + BC }{ WX + XY}\),

It follows from \(\displaystyle \frac{AB}{WX} =\frac{BC}{XY} = 2\) and a property of proportions that this ratio is equal to \(\displaystyle 2\).

 

However, 

\(\displaystyle \frac{CD}{YX}\)

is not a ratio of corresponding sides of the rectangle, so it does not have any restrictions on it. This is the correct choice.

Example Question #2 : Quadrilaterals

A certain rectangle has a length of \(\displaystyle 15\) and a width of \(\displaystyle 6\).  Which of the following dimensions would another rectangle need in order for it to be similar?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle L=12,W=5\)

\(\displaystyle L=18,W=7\)

\(\displaystyle L=24,W=10\)

\(\displaystyle L=32,W=12\)

\(\displaystyle L=20,W=8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle L=20,W=8\)

Explanation:

In order for two rectangles to be similar, the ratio of their dimensions must be equal. We can first check the ratio of the length to the width for the given rectangle, and then see which option has the same ratio, which will tell us whether or not the rectangle is similar:

\(\displaystyle Given:\frac{L}{W}=\frac{15}{6}=\frac{5}{2}\)

So in order for a rectangle to be similar, the ratio of its length to its width must be the same. All we must do then is check the answer options, in no particular order, for the rectangle with the same ratio:

\(\displaystyle Option1:\frac{L}{W}=\frac{18}{7}\) 

\(\displaystyle Option2:\frac{L}{W}=\frac{12}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle Option3:\frac{L}{W}=\frac{24}{10}=\frac{12}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle Option4:\frac{L}{W}=\frac{32}{12}=\frac{8}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle Option5:\frac{L}{W}=\frac{20}{8}=\frac{5}{2}\)

A rectangle with a length of \(\displaystyle 20\) and a width of \(\displaystyle 8\) has the same ratio of dimensions as a rectangle with a length of \(\displaystyle 15\) and a width of \(\displaystyle 6\), so these two rectangles are similar.

Example Question #3 : Rectangles

An engineer is making a scale model of a building. The real building needs to have a width of \(\displaystyle 54m\) and a length of \(\displaystyle 164m\). If the engineer's scale model has a width of \(\displaystyle 0.05m\), what does the length of the model need to be?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.15m\)

\(\displaystyle 15.18m\)

\(\displaystyle 0.35m\)

\(\displaystyle 0.92m\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.15m\)

Explanation:

An engineer is making a scale model of a building. The real building needs to have a width of \(\displaystyle 54m\) and a length of \(\displaystyle 164m\). If the engineer's scale model has a width of \(\displaystyle 0.05m\), what does the length of the model need to be?

To begin, we need to know what a scale model is. A scale model is a smaller version of something that is "to scale." In other words, it is similar but not congruent. 

So, we find a length that will make the model accurate, we need a ratio. Try the following:

\(\displaystyle \frac{0.05}{54}=\frac{l_m}{164}\)

\(\displaystyle l_m=\frac{.05}{54}*164=0.15m\)

Example Question #1 : Rectangles

A rectangle has a length of \(\displaystyle 10\) and width of \(\displaystyle 5\). Solve for the perimeter.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 50\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 0.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 30\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle P=2l+2w\)

\(\displaystyle P=2(10)+2(5)\)

\(\displaystyle P=20+10\)

\(\displaystyle P=30\)

Example Question #2 : Quadrilaterals

A farmer decides to build a fence two feet around his rectangular field. The field is \(\displaystyle 21\) feet long and \(\displaystyle 16\) feet wide. How long should the fencing be in order to build the fence around the field?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 90ft\)

\(\displaystyle 82ft\)

\(\displaystyle 92ft\)

\(\displaystyle 74ft\)

\(\displaystyle 100ft\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 90ft\)

Explanation:

The fence is 2 feet around the field. Therefore the area actually enclosed by the fence is 4 feet longer and 4 feet wider than the field.

Rectangular_fence

The length of fencing needed is the perimeter of the area enclosed which is calculated as follows:

\(\displaystyle 2\times((21+4)+(16+4))=2\times(25+20)=2\times45=90\)

The fencing should be 90 feet.

Example Question #6 : Rectangles

If a rectangle has an area of \(\displaystyle 63\) and a length of \(\displaystyle 9\), what is its perimeter?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 28\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 32\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 32\)

Explanation:

To find the perimeter, we need the length and the width. We are only given the length, so first we must find the width using the given area:

\(\displaystyle A=LW\)

\(\displaystyle 63=9W\rightarrow W=7\)

The perimeter is simply two times the length plus two times the width, so we can now use the known length and width to calculate the perimeter:

\(\displaystyle P=2L+2W\)

\(\displaystyle P=2(9)+2(7)=32\)

Example Question #4 : Calculating The Perimeter Of A Rectangle

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The diagonal \(\displaystyle AD\) of the rectangle \(\displaystyle ABDC\) is \(\displaystyle 15\) cm long and \(\displaystyle BD\) is \(\displaystyle 9\) cm long. What is the perimeter of the rectangle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 51\)

\(\displaystyle 42\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 45\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 42\)

Explanation:

We can see that the hypotenuse AD of triangle ABD is 15 cm. We should check whether ABD is a Pythagorean Triple, whose sides are in the ratio \(\displaystyle 3n,4n,5n\), where \(\displaystyle n\) is a constant. Since AD is 15 and BD is 9, the triangle must be a Pythagorean Triple with \(\displaystyle n=3\), therefore AB must be 12 cm long. Now we know all the lengths of the sides of our triangle, we can find the perimeter which will be given by \(\displaystyle 2\cdot (AB+BD)\), which gives us 42, our final answer.

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