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#1 2012-03-14 14:27:29

TARAJS
Member
Registered: 2011-12-01
Posts: 19

equilateral triangle in a square

(I tried posting a link to a picture but it wouldn't let me. For the most part its an equilateral triangle in a square. the triangle is slanted and is as large as possible. If you type equilateral triangle in a square into google search, its the first website and halfway down the website is the triangle/square picture.

a 2inch x 2inch square has an equilateral triangle inside. what are the sides of the triangle. Picture is identical to the one given to me.

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#2 2012-03-14 21:19:35

Bob
Administrator
Registered: 2010-06-20
Posts: 10,052

Re: equilateral triangle in a square

hi TARAJS,

There's a restriction on posting pictures until you've become a member (automatic at post 10).  This can be a nuisance for genuine posters but it is there to help prevent unsuitable posts from people who aren't really interested in math.  Hope you understand.

I've put my diagram below with the triangle starting in the corner and another position shown dotted.   

I'll try to justify why the 'solid' line triangle is the maximum.

To get the biggest area you would want the sides to be as long as possible.  The triangle GHI must have shorter sides than ACE.  You get the longest sides by moving the top vertex into a corner of the square and then stretching down towards the opposite sides as far as you can (AC and AE)

As both shapes are symmetrical the triangle must 'sit' equally either side of the diagonal AD.

ABD = 90 and CAE = 60, so the symmetry property means BAC = 15.

So you can calculate AC by using trig.

Hope that helps,

Bob


Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob smile

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#3 2012-03-15 02:50:51

TARAJS
Member
Registered: 2011-12-01
Posts: 19

Re: equilateral triangle in a square

Thank you again for the help

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#4 2012-03-17 00:44:56

hammana
Member
Registered: 2012-03-02
Posts: 48

Re: equilateral triangle in a square

I tried to calculate the side of an equilateral triangle inscribed in a square in the general case. I refer to your figure, assume BD=a,  BG=d, BH=x and DI=y.  Pythagore theorem applied to GH, GI and HI as hypothenuses gives the two equations :
x^2+d^2 = (a-d)^2+y^2       (1)
x^2+d^2 = a^2+(y-x)^2       (2)
from which I should calculate x and y when GHI is equilateral. I thought that was imposssible, which explains why I found no refernce to this problem on Internet. Later I took a different approach to the problem and found very easily the solution
x= (2*a-d)/sqr(3) and y= (a+d)/sqr(3)
I wonder how we can get these values directly from equations (1) and (2)

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#5 2012-03-17 00:48:37

hammana
Member
Registered: 2012-03-02
Posts: 48

Re: equilateral triangle in a square

I can't understand how "=(" has been replaced by a smiley

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#6 2012-03-17 00:50:54

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: equilateral triangle in a square

Hi;

I have fixed it for you.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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