document.write( "Question 1209518: (36) PQRS is a rhombus, W is the midpoint of PQ, T is the midpoint of PS and V is the intersection point of QT and SW. What fraction of rhombus PQRS is quadrilateral PWVT?\r
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document.write( "Link to diagram: https://ibb.co/PsrxgPwG \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #849560 by greenestamps(13198)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "From the statement of the problem, the result is independent of the shape of the rhombus. So choose the \"nice\" case where it is composed of two equilateral triangles. \n" ); document.write( "In each triangle, the three medians divide the triangle into 6 congruent 30-60-90 right triangles, so quadrilateral PWVT has area 2/6 = 1/3 of the area of that equilateral triangle. \n" ); document.write( "And since the two equilateral triangles are the same size, the area of quadrilateral PWVT is 1/6 of the area of the rhombus. \n" ); document.write( "ANSWER: 1/6 \n" ); document.write( "---------------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Comment to Edwin's comment.... \n" ); document.write( "If a geometry problem is stated generally so that the desired result is true in all cases, then it is a very powerful problem-solving strategy to solve the problem by selecting a specific case for which the desired result is easily obtained.... \n" ); document.write( "---------------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "... added later to pacify tutor @ikleyn, who doubts that problems like this can be solved by choosing a \"nice\" case.... \n" ); document.write( "Each diagonal of a rhombus divides the rhombus into two congruent triangles. \n" ); document.write( "In each of those triangles, the three medians divide the triangle into six triangles whose areas are equal; that means the area of quadrilateral PWVT (composed of 2 of the 6 smaller triangles in its triangle) is 2/6 = 1/3 the area of its triangle and thus 1/6 the area of the whole rhombus. \n" ); document.write( "In my original response above, I simply chose to use a rhombus composed of two equilateral triangles to make it easier to see the solution. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |