2023 AMC 8
Complete problem set with solutions and individual problem pages
An equilateral triangle is placed inside a larger equilateral triangle so that the region between them can be divided into three congruent trapezoids, as shown below. The side length of the inner triangle is the side length of the larger triangle. What is the ratio of the area of one trapezoid to the area of the inner triangle?
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- B.
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Solution 1
All equilateral triangles are similar. For the outer equilateral triangle to the inner equilateral triangle, since their side-length ratio is their area ratio is It follows that the area ratio of three trapezoids to the inner equilateral triangle is so the area ratio of one trapezoid to the inner equilateral triangle is
Solution 2
Subtracting the larger equilateral triangle from the smaller one yields the sum of the three trapezoids. Since the ratio of the side lengths of the larger to the smaller one is , we can set the side lengths as and , respectively. So, the sum of the trapezoids is . We are also told that the three trapezoids are congruent, thus the area of each of them is . Hence, the ratio is .
