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MAT Shape/Geometry Practice

Section A

Find the proportion of the following shapes shaded. (Note that all triangles are either equilateral
or isosceles)
Some tips:

 Since you’re finding the proportion, you can choose any length you like for one of
the sides in the diagram – usually 1 makes your life the easiest! (unless you’re going
to split something in half, in which case use 2)
 See the Riemann Zeta Club Geometry slides!
 The diagonal of a square is √ 2 times longer than its side. Similarly the side is √ 2
times smaller than the diagonal. This saves you having to use Pythagoras when
dealing with a right-angled isosceles triangle.

a b c

d e f

g h i

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 j

Section B

1. The circumference of a circle is the same as its area. What is its radius?
2. A circle is inscribed in a square. What is the ratio of the perimeter of the square to the
circumference of the circle?
3. [MAT] A circle is inscribed in a regular hexagon which is in turn inscribed inside another
larger circle. Which of the following is the ratio of the two circles?
a. 4 :3
b. 6 :5
c. 7 :5
d. √ 3 :2

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 ANSWERS

Section A

2+ π
a.
2π
1 π
b. −
4 16
π π 3
c. = √
3 √3 9

3 √3
d.
4π

π
e. −1
2
π
f.
3+2 √ 2
1
g.
2
2 π √3
−
h. 3 2 4 π−3 √ 3
=
6 36
i. Let the radius of the big circle be say 1. Then the distance from the centre of this circle
to the corner of the square is √ 2. Let the radius of the smaller circle be r . Then the
distance from the centre of the big circle to the corner can be expressed in terms of r as

1+r +r √ 2. So if √ 2=1+r (1+ √ 2), then r =

√ 2−1 . Thus the proportion of the shape
1+ √ 2
2
π r 2 ( √ 2−1 )
shaded is = 2 (since the square has area 4).
4 4 ( 1+ √ x )

4
j.
3+2 √ 2

Section B

1. 2
2. 4 :π
3. 4 :3. If we let the radius of the inner circle by 1, then by splitting the hexagon into 6 right-
angled triangles (with other angles 30 ° and 60 ° ), we can use trigonometry to determine
that the hypotenuse is 2/ √ 3. This is also the radius of the outer circle. So the ratio of areas is
2 2 4
π 12: π ( )
√3
→ 1: → 3 :4 .
3

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