GMAT Math : Rectangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #4 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Rectangle

Farmer Jeff Jenkins is making a new rectangular field for his goats and needs to know how much fencing he needs to buy.

I) The goats will need at least  square yards to roam.

II) One edge of the field will be  yards long and will be made up of a river.

Possible Answers:

Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Explanation:

To find perimeter, we need the lengths of both sides.

I) Gives us the area, which gives us one equation and two unknowns. Alone this statement is not sufficient.

II) Gives us one side length of the field.

We can use this with I) to find the other side length.

Once we have both sides, we can find perimeter easily.

Thus the perimeter is,

.

Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Rectangle

What is the perimeter of the rectangle?

  1. The area is .
  2. The width measures .
Possible Answers:

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Explanation:

Statement 1: Although the area is given, we need more information in order to answer the question.

  but this can means our dimenions are  or 

Statement 2: We're told the width measures  which means our dimensions are 

Using BOTH statements, we can find the perimeter: 

Example Question #6 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Rectangle

True or false: 

Statement 1: A rectangle with length  and width  has area greater than 100.

Statement 2: A rectangle with length  and width  has perimeter greater than 100.

Possible Answers:

STATEMENT 2 ALONE provides sufficient information to answer the question, but STATEMENT 1 ALONE does NOT provide sufficient information to answer the question.

STATEMENT 1 ALONE provides sufficient information to answer the question, but STATEMENT 2 ALONE does NOT provide sufficient information to answer the question.

BOTH STATEMENTS TOGETHER do NOT provide sufficient information to answer the question.

EITHER STATEMENT ALONE provides sufficient information to answer the question.

BOTH STATEMENTS TOGETHER provide sufficient information to answer the question, but NEITHER STATEMENT ALONE provides sufficient information to answer the question.

Correct answer:

STATEMENT 2 ALONE provides sufficient information to answer the question, but STATEMENT 1 ALONE does NOT provide sufficient information to answer the question.

Explanation:

Statement 1 alone provides insufficient information. For example:

Case 1: 

The area of a rectangle with these dimensions is their product, which is 120; this exceeds 100. 

Case 2: 

The area of a rectangle with these dimensions is their product, which is 480; this exceeds 100. 

Assume Statement 2 alone. The perimeter of a rectangle is twice the sum of their dimensions, so

, answering the question in the affirmative.

Example Question #1 : Dsq: Calculating Whether Rectangles Are Similar

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure, which shows a rectangle divided into two smaller rectangles.

True or false:.

Statement 1:  

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

Correct answer:

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

The statements are actually equivalent. Since , Statement 2 can be rewritten as , or  - and, since all quantities are positive, . The question is therefore whether either statement alone answers the question or both together do not.

Each statement is equivalent to

.

Divide both sides by  to yield a proportion statement:

The sides of the rectangles are in proportion; subsequently, the rectangles are similar.

Example Question #2 : Dsq: Calculating Whether Rectangles Are Similar

You are given two rectangles,  and 

True or false: .

Statement 1:  

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Assume Statement 1 alone. Divide both sides by ,

This proportion statement asserts that sides of the two rectangles are in proportion. This is a necessary and sufficient condition for the rectangles to be similar. 

Now examine Statement 2.

By the congruence of opposite sides of a rectangle, 

and, regardless of whether the rectangles are similar or not, 

.

Therefore, Statement 2 provides superfluous and unhelpful information.

Example Question #3 : Dsq: Calculating Whether Rectangles Are Similar

You are given two rectangles,  and .

Let the perimeter of  be , and let the perimeter of  be .

True or false: .

Statement 1: 

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

The perimeter of  is the sum of its sidelengths, and opposite sides are congruent, so

Similarly,

Therefore, 

,

and, reducing,

Assume Statement 1 alone. Then 

, or , and by a property of proportions,

Therefore, 

,

thereby proving the sides of the rectangles to be in proportion. As a consequence, .

By a similar argument, Statement 2 also proves .

Example Question #4 : Dsq: Calculating Whether Rectangles Are Similar

You are given two rectangles,  and .

Let the perimeter of  be , and let the perimeter of  be .

Let the area of  be  and the area  be .

True or false: .

Statement 1: 

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Assume Statement 1 alone. 

Examine these three rectangles. The one of the left is ; the other two have the same dimensions, and both are called , except that the names of the vertices are differently arranged:

Rectangles

Regardless of which  is chosen, the ratio of the perimeters is  and the ratio of the areas is . The conditions of the problem are met for both pairings, but in one case,  and in the other,  (that is, the rectangles are similar, but the given similarity statement may or may not be true).

Assume Statement 2 alone. 

The perimeter of  is the sum of its sidelengths, and opposite sides are congruent, so

Similarly,

Therefore, 

,

and, reducing,

From Statement 2,

, or , and by a property of proportions,

Therefore, 

,

thereby proving the sides of the rectangles to be in proportion. As a consequence, .

Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating Whether Rectangles Are Similar

You are given two rectangles,  and 

True or false: .

Statement 1: 

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Statement 1 compares the lengths of the diagonals of the two rectangles. Since the diagonals of any rectangle are congruent, , and, as a consequence,  regardless of whether the rectangles are similar or not. Statement 1 is a superfluous statement and is therefore unhelpful.

Statement 2 asserts that sides of the two rectangles are in proportion. This is a necessary and sufficient condition for the rectangles to be similar. 

Example Question #6 : Dsq: Calculating Whether Rectangles Are Similar

You are given two rectangles,  and .

Let the perimeter of  be , and let the perimeter of  be .

Let the area of  be  and the area  be .

True or false: .

Statement 1: 

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

Correct answer:

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

Explanation:

Assume both statements to be true.

Examine these three rectangles. The one of the left is ; the other two have the same dimensions, and both are called , except that the names of the vertices are differently arranged:

Rectangles

Regardless of which  is chosen:

The ratio of the perimeters is ;

The ratio of the areas is ; and,

The ratio .

The conditions of the problem are met for both pairings, but in one case,  and in the other,  (that is, the rectangles are similar but the similarity statement given may be true or false).

The two statements together provide insufficient information.

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