Difference between revisions of "2012 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 23"

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A hexagon contains six equilateral triangles. One of these triangles would be similar to the large equilateral triangle in the ratio <math> 1 : 4 </math>, since the sidelength of the small equilateral triangle is half the sidelength of the large one. Thus, the area of one of the small equilateral triangles is <math> 1 </math>. The area of the hexagon is then <math> 1 \times 6 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 6} </math>.
 
A hexagon contains six equilateral triangles. One of these triangles would be similar to the large equilateral triangle in the ratio <math> 1 : 4 </math>, since the sidelength of the small equilateral triangle is half the sidelength of the large one. Thus, the area of one of the small equilateral triangles is <math> 1 </math>. The area of the hexagon is then <math> 1 \times 6 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 6} </math>.
 
==Solution 2==
 
 
Let the side length of the equilateral triangle be <math>s</math> and the side length of the hexagon be <math>y</math>. Since the perimeters are equal, we must have <math>3s=6y</math> which reduces to <math>s=2y</math>. Substitute this value in to the area of an equilateral triangle to yield <math>\dfrac{(2y)^2\sqrt{3}}{4}=\dfrac{4y^2\sqrt{3}}{4}</math>.
 
 
Setting this equal to <math>4</math> gives us <math>\dfrac{4y^2\sqrt{3}}{4}=4\implies 4y^2\sqrt{3}=16\implies y^2\sqrt{3}=4</math>.
 
 
Substitute <math>y^2\sqrt{3}</math> into the area of a regular hexagon to yield <math>\dfrac{3(4)}{2}=6</math>.
 
 
Therefore, our answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 6}</math>.
 
 
==Solution 3==
 
 
Let the side length of the triangle be <math>s</math> and the side length of the hexagon be <math>t</math>. As explained in Solution 1, <math>s=2t</math>, or <math>t=\frac{s}{2}</math>. The area of the triangle is <math>\frac{s^2\sqrt3}{4}=4</math> and the area of the hexagon is <math>\frac{t^2\sqrt3}{4} \cdot 6=\frac{3t^2\sqrt3}{2}</math>. Substituting <math>\frac{s}{2}</math> in for <math>t</math>, we get
 
<cmath>\frac{\frac{3s^2\sqrt3}{4}}{2}=\frac{3s^2\sqrt3}{8}.</cmath>
 
<math>\frac{s^2\sqrt3}{4}=4 \implies \frac{s^2\sqrt3}{8}=2 \implies \frac{3s^2\sqrt3}{8}=\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 6}</math>.
 
 
== Notes ==
 
 
 
The area of an equilateral triangle with side length <math>s</math> is <math>\dfrac{s^2\sqrt{3}}{4}</math>.
 
 
 
 
The area of a regular hexagon with side length <math>s</math> is <math>\dfrac{3s^2\sqrt{3}}{2}</math>.
 
  
 
==Video Solution==
 
==Video Solution==

Latest revision as of 08:21, 16 July 2024

Problem

An equilateral triangle and a regular hexagon have equal perimeters. If the triangle's area is 4, what is the area of the hexagon?

$\textbf{(A)}\hspace{.05in}4\qquad\textbf{(B)}\hspace{.05in}5\qquad\textbf{(C)}\hspace{.05in}6\qquad\textbf{(D)}\hspace{.05in}4\sqrt3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\hspace{.05in}6\sqrt3$

Solution 1

Let the perimeter of the equilateral triangle be $3s$. The side length of the equilateral triangle would then be $s$ and the sidelength of the hexagon would be $\frac{s}{2}$.

A hexagon contains six equilateral triangles. One of these triangles would be similar to the large equilateral triangle in the ratio $1 : 4$, since the sidelength of the small equilateral triangle is half the sidelength of the large one. Thus, the area of one of the small equilateral triangles is $1$. The area of the hexagon is then $1 \times 6 = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 6}$.

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/SctoIY1cbss ~savannahsolver

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/j3QSD5eDpzU?t=2101

~ pi_is_3.14


See Also

2012 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 22
Followed by
Problem 24
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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