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Geometry+ Arithmetic

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by haidgmat » Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:22 pm
Right triangle PQR is to be constructed in the xy-plane so that the right angle is at P and PR is parallel to the x-axis. The x- and y-coordinates of P, Q and R are to be integers that satisfy the inequalities -4≤x≤5 and 6≤x≤16. How many different triangles with these properties could be constructed?

A. 110
B. 1100
C. 9900
D. 10000
E. 12100
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by sumanr84 » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:02 pm
I think you mean : -4<=x<=5 & 6<=y<=16. ?

Already solved here : https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-many-tri ... 13159.html
I am on a break !!
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by haidgmat » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:49 pm
Thanks.
sumanr84 wrote:I think you mean : -4<=x<=5 & 6<=y<=16. ?

Already solved here : https://www.beatthegmat.com/how-many-tri ... 13159.html
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:28 am
haidgmat wrote:Right triangle PQR is to be constructed in the xy-plane so that the right angle is at P and PR is parallel to the x-axis. The x- and y-coordinates of P, Q and R are to be integers that satisfy the inequalities -4≤x≤5 and 6≤y≤16. How many different triangles with these properties could be constructed?

A. 110
B. 1100
C. 9900
D. 10000
E. 12100
When a question asks for the number of triangles that can be constructed, it's not a geometry question but a combinations question. Why? Because a triangle is a combination of 3 points.

We need to determine how many ways we can combine P, Q and R to form a triangle. For each point, we need to choose an x value and a y value.

Point P:
x value: -4≤x≤5, giving us 10 choices.

y value: 6≤y≤16, giving us 11 choices.

Now we have to combine the number of choices for x with the number of choices for y. It's as though we have 10 shirts and 11 ties, and we need to determine how many outfits can be made:

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=10*11=110 choices for P.

Point Q:
x value: In order to construct a right triangle, Q has to have the same x coordinate as P (so that Q is directly above P and we get a right angle). So we have only 1 choice for x: it must be the same integer that we chose for P's x value.

y value: If P and Q have the same x value, they can't have the same y value, or they will be the same point. We used 1 of our 11 choices for y when we chose P, so we have 11-1=10 choices for Q's y value.

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=1*10=10 choices for Q.

Point R:
y value: For PR to be parallel to the x axis, P and R have to share the same y value. So the number of choices for y is 1; it must be the same integer that we chose for P's y value.

x value: If P and R have the same y value, they can't have the same x value, or they will be the same point. We used 1 of our 10 choices for x when we chose P, so we have 10-1=9 choices for R's x value.

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=9*1=9 choices for R.

So we have 110 choices for P, 10 choices for Q, and 9 choices for R. We need to determine how many ways we can combine P, Q and R to make a triangle. It's as though we have 110 shirts, 10 ties, and 9 pairs of pants, and we need to determine the number of outfits that can be made:

(number of choices for P)*(number of choices for Q)*(number of choices for R) = 110*10*9 = 9900.

The correct answer is C.

Hope this helps!
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by haidgmat » Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:59 am
You're the man!!
GMATGuruNY wrote:
haidgmat wrote:Right triangle PQR is to be constructed in the xy-plane so that the right angle is at P and PR is parallel to the x-axis. The x- and y-coordinates of P, Q and R are to be integers that satisfy the inequalities -4≤x≤5 and 6≤y≤16. How many different triangles with these properties could be constructed?

A. 110
B. 1100
C. 9900
D. 10000
E. 12100
When a question asks for the number of triangles that can be constructed, it's not a geometry question but a combinations question. Why? Because a triangle is a combination of 3 points.

We need to determine how many ways we can combine P, Q and R to form a triangle. For each point, we need to choose an x value and a y value.

Point P:
x value: -4≤x≤5, giving us 10 choices.

y value: 6≤y≤16, giving us 11 choices.

Now we have to combine the number of choices for x with the number of choices for y. It's as though we have 10 shirts and 11 ties, and we need to determine how many outfits can be made:

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=10*11=110 choices for P.

Point Q:
x value: In order to construct a right triangle, Q has to have the same x coordinate as P (so that Q is directly above P and we get a right angle). So we have only 1 choice for x: it must be the same integer that we chose for P's x value.

y value: If P and Q have the same x value, they can't have the same y value, or they will be the same point. We used 1 of our 11 choices for y when we chose P, so we have 11-1=10 choices for Q's y value.

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=1*10=10 choices for Q.

Point R:
y value: For PR to be parallel to the x axis, P and R have to share the same y value. So the number of choices for y is 1; it must be the same integer that we chose for P's y value.

x value: If P and R have the same y value, they can't have the same x value, or they will be the same point. We used 1 of our 10 choices for x when we chose P, so we have 10-1=9 choices for R's x value.

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=9*1=9 choices for R.

So we have 110 choices for P, 10 choices for Q, and 9 choices for R. We need to determine how many ways we can combine P, Q and R to make a triangle. It's as though we have 110 shirts, 10 ties, and 9 pairs of pants, and we need to determine the number of outfits that can be made:

(number of choices for P)*(number of choices for Q)*(number of choices for R) = 110*10*9 = 9900.

The correct answer is C.

Hope this helps!
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by sumanr84 » Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:51 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
When a question asks for the number of triangles that can be constructed, it's not a geometry question but a combinations question. Why? Because a triangle is a combination of 3 points.

Hope this helps!
This is a superb explanation..I don't think there can be any simple way of explaining this question. Even dumbest will be able to understand it..;-)
I am on a break !!
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by him1985 » Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:48 am
Excellent Explaination indeed!!
Thanks a lot....i have problem when it comes to probability and Permutation & Combinations...:(
Any Suggestions????
GMATGuruNY wrote:
haidgmat wrote:Right triangle PQR is to be constructed in the xy-plane so that the right angle is at P and PR is parallel to the x-axis. The x- and y-coordinates of P, Q and R are to be integers that satisfy the inequalities -4≤x≤5 and 6≤y≤16. How many different triangles with these properties could be constructed?

A. 110
B. 1100
C. 9900
D. 10000
E. 12100
When a question asks for the number of triangles that can be constructed, it's not a geometry question but a combinations question. Why? Because a triangle is a combination of 3 points.

We need to determine how many ways we can combine P, Q and R to form a triangle. For each point, we need to choose an x value and a y value.

Point P:
x value: -4≤x≤5, giving us 10 choices.

y value: 6≤y≤16, giving us 11 choices.

Now we have to combine the number of choices for x with the number of choices for y. It's as though we have 10 shirts and 11 ties, and we need to determine how many outfits can be made:

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=10*11=110 choices for P.

Point Q:
x value: In order to construct a right triangle, Q has to have the same x coordinate as P (so that Q is directly above P and we get a right angle). So we have only 1 choice for x: it must be the same integer that we chose for P's x value.

y value: If P and Q have the same x value, they can't have the same y value, or they will be the same point. We used 1 of our 11 choices for y when we chose P, so we have 11-1=10 choices for Q's y value.

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=1*10=10 choices for Q.

Point R:
y value: For PR to be parallel to the x axis, P and R have to share the same y value. So the number of choices for y is 1; it must be the same integer that we chose for P's y value.

x value: If P and R have the same y value, they can't have the same x value, or they will be the same point. We used 1 of our 10 choices for x when we chose P, so we have 10-1=9 choices for R's x value.

(number of choices for x)*(number of choices for y)=9*1=9 choices for R.

So we have 110 choices for P, 10 choices for Q, and 9 choices for R. We need to determine how many ways we can combine P, Q and R to make a triangle. It's as though we have 110 shirts, 10 ties, and 9 pairs of pants, and we need to determine the number of outfits that can be made:

(number of choices for P)*(number of choices for Q)*(number of choices for R) = 110*10*9 = 9900.

The correct answer is C.

Hope this helps!
Himanshu Chauhan
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by rsubramanian06 » Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:53 am
the thing that i am getting confused is with that fact that this should be a right angles triangle with p in the center at 90 degrees. How can we ensure that the sum of the sides square will be equal to the hypotenuse squared or do we completely ignore that part. it yes why do we ignore that?
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