GMAT Math : Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Squares

Squares

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale

Refer to the above figure, which shows Square \displaystyle ABCD and Square \displaystyle WXYZ.  The ratio of \displaystyle BX to \displaystyle XC is 7 to 1.

Which of these responses comes closest to what percent the area of Square \displaystyle WXYZ is of that of Square \displaystyle ABCD?

 

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 85 \%

\displaystyle 70 \%

\displaystyle 90 \%

\displaystyle 80 \%

\displaystyle 75 \%

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 80 \%

Explanation:

To make this easier, assume that \displaystyle BX = 7 and \displaystyle BW = XC = 1; the results generalize. 

Each side of Square \displaystyle ABCD has length 8, so the area of Square \displaystyle ABCD is 64. 

Each of the four right triangles has legs 7 and 1, so each has area \displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \cdot 1 \cdot 7 = 3\frac{1}{2}; Square \displaystyle WXYZ has area four times this subtracted from the area of Square \displaystyle ABCD, or

\displaystyle 64 - 4 \cdot 3 \frac{1}{2} = 50.

The area of Square \displaystyle WXYZ is

\displaystyle \frac{50}{64} \times 100 \% = 78 \frac{1}{8} \%

of that of Square \displaystyle ABCD.

Of the five choices, 80% comes closest.

Example Question #12 : Squares

The perimeter of a square is the same as the circumference of a circle with area 100. What is the area of the square?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{200 \sqrt{\pi}}{\pi}

\displaystyle \frac{100 }{\pi}

\displaystyle \frac{25 \pi^{2}}{4}

\displaystyle 25 \pi

\displaystyle 50 \sqrt{\pi}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 25 \pi

Explanation:

The formula for the area of a circle is

\displaystyle A = \pi r^{2}.

If the area is 100, the radius is as follows:

\displaystyle \pi r^{2} = 100

\displaystyle r^{2} = \frac{100}{\pi}

\displaystyle r = \sqrt{\frac{100}{\pi}}= \frac{10}{\sqrt{\pi}}

The circle has circumference \displaystyle 2 \pi times its radius, or

\displaystyle C= \frac{10}{\sqrt{\pi}} \cdot 2 \pi = 20 \sqrt{\pi}

This is also the perimeter of the square, so the sidelength of the square is one-fourth this, or

\displaystyle S = \frac{1}{4} \cdot 20 \sqrt{\pi} = 5 \sqrt{\pi}

The area of the square is the square of this, or 

\displaystyle A'= \left (5 \sqrt{\pi} \right )^{2}= 25 \pi

Example Question #61 : Quadrilaterals

The perimeter of a square is the same as the circumference of a circle with radius 8. What is the area of the square?

Possible Answers:

The correct answer is not among the other choices.

\displaystyle 4 \pi^{2}

\displaystyle 16 \pi^{2}

\displaystyle 16 \pi

\displaystyle 4 \pi

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 16 \pi^{2}

Explanation:

A circle with radius 8 has as its circumference \displaystyle 2 \pi times this, or 

\displaystyle 2 \pi \cdot 8 = 16 \pi.

This is also the perimeter of the square, so the sidelength is one fourth of this, or 

\displaystyle \frac{1}{4} \cdot 16 \pi = 4 \pi.

The area is the square of this, or

\displaystyle \left ( 4 \pi \right )^{2} = 16 \pi^{2}.

Example Question #62 : Quadrilaterals

The perimeter of a square is the same as the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 8 and 12. What is the area of the square?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 52

\displaystyle 13

\displaystyle 208

The correct answer is not among the other responses.

\displaystyle 26

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 13

Explanation:

The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 8 and 12 can be determined using the Pythagorean Theorem:

\displaystyle \sqrt{8^{2}+12^{2}} = \sqrt{64+144}= \sqrt{208} = \sqrt{16} \cdot \sqrt{13} = 4\sqrt{13}

Since this is also the perimeter of the square, its sidelength is one fourth of this, or

\displaystyle \frac{ 4\sqrt{13} }{4} =\sqrt{13}

The area of the square is the square of this sidelength, or 

\displaystyle \left ( \sqrt{13} \right )^{2}= 13

Example Question #63 : Quadrilaterals

If the perimeter of a square is \displaystyle 108, what is its area?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 820

\displaystyle 27

\displaystyle 1008

\displaystyle 729

\displaystyle 10.4

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 729

Explanation:

The perimeter of a square, and any shape for that matter, is found by adding up all the exterior sides. Since all sides are equal in a square, we can say: \displaystyle P=x + x + x + x=4x

where \displaystyle x represents the length of a side

We can solve for the side length using the information provided:

\displaystyle 4x=108

\displaystyle x=27

The area of a square is found by squaring the side length: 

\displaystyle A=x^2=27^2=729

Example Question #64 : Quadrilaterals

The perimeter of a square is \displaystyle 4 ^{d}. Give its area.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 4 ^{2d- 2 }

\displaystyle 4 ^{2d- 1}

\displaystyle 4 ^{d-2}

\displaystyle 4 ^{d+3}

\displaystyle 4 ^{d+1}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 4 ^{2d- 2 }

Explanation:

The length of one side of a square is the perimeter divided by 4:

\displaystyle \frac{4 ^{d} }{4} = \frac{4 ^{d} }{4 ^{1}} = 4 ^{d-1}

Square this to get the area:

\displaystyle ( 4 ^{d-1} )^{2} = 4 ^{(d-1) \cdot 2 } = 4 ^{2d- 2 }

Example Question #1 : Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square

A square plot of land has area 256 square yards. Give its perimeter in inches.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 1,296 \textrm{ in}

\displaystyle 4,608 \textrm{ in}

\displaystyle 1,152 \textrm{ in}

\displaystyle 2,304 \textrm{ in}

\displaystyle 2,592\textrm{ in}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2,304 \textrm{ in}

Explanation:

The sidelength of a square is the square root of its area - in this case, \displaystyle \sqrt{256} = 16 yards. Its perimeter is therefore four times that, or  \displaystyle 16 \times 4 = 64 yards. Multiply by 36 to convert to inches:

\displaystyle 64 \times36 = 2,304 inches.

Example Question #411 : Problem Solving Questions

Five squares have sidelengths 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 meters. What is the mean of their perimeters?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 10 \textrm{ m}

\displaystyle 16 \textrm{ m}

\displaystyle 27 \textrm{ m}

\displaystyle 25 \textrm{ m}

\displaystyle 20 \textrm{ m}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 20 \textrm{ m}

Explanation:

Multiply each sidelength by four to get the perimeters - they will be 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 meters, respectively. The mean will be

\displaystyle \left (12+ 16 + 20 + 24 + 28 \right ) \div 5 = 100 \div 5 = 20 meters

Example Question #417 : Problem Solving Questions

Given Square \displaystyle FGHI, answer the following questions.

Square1

Square \displaystyle FGHI represents a small field for a farmer's sheep. How many meters of fence will the farmer require to completely enclose the field?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 120\:m

\displaystyle 45\:m

\displaystyle 60\:m

\displaystyle 225\:m

\displaystyle 30\:m

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 60\:m

Explanation:

This question is a thinly veiled perimeter of a square question. To find the total amount of fencing needed, use the following formula:

\displaystyle P=4*s

Where \displaystyle P is the perimeter of a square, and \displaystyle s is the length of one side.

\displaystyle P=4*15\:meters=60 \:meters

Example Question #418 : Problem Solving Questions

A given square has a side length of \displaystyle 7cm. What is its perimeter?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 28cm

Not enough information provided

\displaystyle 49cm^{2}

\displaystyle 49cm

\displaystyle 28cm^{2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 28cm

Explanation:

In order to find the perimeter \displaystyle P of a given square with side length \displaystyle s, we use the equation \displaystyle P=4s. Given \displaystyle s=7cm, we can therefore conclude that \displaystyle P=4(7cm)=28cm

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