My Math Forum Can anyone help me? (inscribed squares)
 User Name Remember Me? Password

 Geometry Geometry Math Forum

February 16th, 2015, 10:29 AM   #1
Newbie

Joined: Feb 2015
From: United States

Posts: 1
Thanks: 0

Can anyone help me? (inscribed squares)

Hi there! I am struggling with this problem, I am just not sure what to do!

I had an idea for what to do for letter a, but I'm not sure about it. And if you could help with b too, that would be great!
Attached Images
 Screenshot (87).jpg (18.4 KB, 9 views)

 February 16th, 2015, 10:57 AM #2 Global Moderator     Joined: Oct 2008 From: London, Ontario, Canada - The Forest City Posts: 7,958 Thanks: 1146 Math Focus: Elementary mathematics and beyond Each square (other than the first) has an area of 1/2 of the preceding square. See if you can figure out why.
 February 16th, 2015, 01:36 PM #3 Math Team   Joined: Dec 2013 From: Colombia Posts: 7,675 Thanks: 2655 Math Focus: Mainly analysis and algebra If you can't think of an algebraic way to show that, consider what happens when you fold a square along the edges of the next one. Count the thicknesses of paper that make up each square.
 February 16th, 2015, 06:38 PM #4 Global Moderator     Joined: Oct 2008 From: London, Ontario, Canada - The Forest City Posts: 7,958 Thanks: 1146 Math Focus: Elementary mathematics and beyond Let $\displaystyle M$ be the midpoints of the sides of the square with sides $\displaystyle S_n$. Then the vertices of the square with sides $\displaystyle S_{n-1}$ are at $\displaystyle M$. By the Pythagorean theorem, $\displaystyle \left(\frac12 S_n\right)^2+\left(\frac12 S_n\right)^2=S^2_{n-1}$ $\displaystyle \frac14 S^2_n+\frac14 S^2_n=S^2_{n-1}$ $\displaystyle \frac12 S^2_n=S^2_{n-1}$ Hence the general term is $\displaystyle \left(\frac12\right)^{n-1}$ and the first five terms are $\displaystyle 1,\frac12,\frac14,\frac18,\frac{1}{16}$. Last edited by greg1313; February 16th, 2015 at 07:40 PM.

 Tags inscribed, squares

 Thread Tools Display Modes Linear Mode

 Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Ionika Algebra 4 April 13th, 2014 03:05 PM Daro666 Algebra 0 October 24th, 2012 12:11 PM aleschio Algebra 0 September 21st, 2012 12:09 PM croatianboy Algebra 2 June 4th, 2012 08:45 PM Recipe Algebra 6 March 3rd, 2010 05:28 PM

 Contact - Home - Forums - Cryptocurrency Forum - Top