PSAT Math : Rectangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Rectangles

What is the length of the diagonal of a rectangle that is 3 feet long and 4 feet wide?

Possible Answers:

5\ feet

7\ feet

8\ feet

6\ feet

4\ feet

Correct answer:

5\ feet

Explanation:

The diagonal of the rectangle is equivalent to finding the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides 3 and 4. Using the Pythagorean Theorem:

3^{2}+4^{2} = hypotenuse^{2}

25 = hypotenuse^{2}

hypotenuse = 5

Therefore the diagonal of the rectangle is 5 feet.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Rectangle

The length and width of a rectangle are in the ratio of 3:4. If the rectangle has an area of 108 square centimeters, what is the length of the diagonal?

Possible Answers:

18 centimeters

12 centimeters

9 centimeters

15 centimeters

24 centimeters

Correct answer:

15 centimeters

Explanation:

The length and width of the rectangle are in a ratio of 3:4, so the sides can be written as 3x and 4x.

We also know the area, so we write an equation and solve for x:

(3x)(4x) = 12x= 108.

x2 = 9

x = 3

Now we can recalculate the length and the width:

length = 3x = 3(3) = 9 centimeters

width = 4x = 4(3) = 12 centimeters

Using the Pythagorean Theorem we can find the diagonal, c:

length2 + width2 = c2

92 + 12= c2 

81 + 144 = c2

225 = c2

= 15 centimeters

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Rectangle

 

 

 

The two rectangles shown below are similar. What is the length of EF?

 Sat_mah_166_02

Possible Answers:

5

6

8

10

Correct answer:

10

Explanation:

When two polygons are similar, the lengths of their corresponding sides are proportional to each other.  In this diagram, AC and EG are corresponding sides and AB and EF are corresponding sides. 

To solve this question, you can therefore write a proportion:

AC/EG = AB/EF ≥ 3/6 = 5/EF

From this proportion, we know that side EF is equal to 10.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Rectangle

A rectangle is x inches long and 3x inches wide.  If the area of the rectangle is 108, what is the value of x?

Possible Answers:

12

8

3

4

6

Correct answer:

6

Explanation:

Solve for x

Area of a rectangle A = lw = x(3x) = 3x2 = 108

x2 = 36

x = 6

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Rectangle

If the area of rectangle is 52 meters squared and the perimeter of the same rectangle is 34 meters. What is the length of the larger side of the rectangle if the sides are integers?

Possible Answers:

13 meters

15 meters

12 meters

16 meters

14 meters

Correct answer:

13 meters

Explanation:

Area of a rectangle is = lw

Perimeter = 2(l+w)

We are given 34 = 2(l+w) or 17 = (l+w)

possible combinations of l + w

are 1+16, 2+15, 3+14, 4+13... ect

We are also given the area of the rectangle is 52 meters squared.

Do any of the above combinations when multiplied together= 52 meters squared? yes 4x13 = 52

Therefore the longest side of the rectangle is 13 meters

 

Example Question #1 : How To Find If Rectangles Are Similar

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

In the above figure,

.

.

Give the perimeter of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find :

The similarity ratio of  to  is 

so  multiplied by the length of a side of  is the length of the corresponding side of . We can subsequently multiply the perimeter of the former by  to get that of the latter:

Example Question #2 : How To Find If Rectangles Are Similar

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

In the above figure,

.

.

Give the area of .

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to determine the area.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Corresponding sidelengths of similar polygons are in proportion, so

, so

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find :

The area of  is 

 

Example Question #1 : How To Find If Rectangles Are Similar

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

In the above figure,

.

.

Give the area of Polygon .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Polygon  can be seen as a composite of right  and , so we calculate the individual areas and add them.

The area of  is half the product of legs  and :

 

Now we find the area of . We can do this by first finding  using the Pythagorean Theorem:

The similarity of  to  implies

so

The area of  is the product of  and :

 

Now add: , the correct response.

Example Question #1 : How To Find If Rectangles Are Similar

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure. 

 and .

What percent of  has been shaded brown ?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer the problem.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 and , so the similarity ratio of  to  is 10 to 7. The ratio of the areas is the square of this, or 

or 

Therefore,  comprises  of , and the remainder of the rectangle - the brown region - is 51% of .

Example Question #313 : Plane Geometry

Rectangles

Note: figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure. 

.

Give the area of .

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, so the sides are in proportion - that is,

Set 

 and solve for :

 has area 

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