BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

In a rectangular coordinate syste, what is the are of a...

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Moderator
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:08 pm
Followed by:2 members

In a rectangular coordinate syste, what is the are of a...

by AAPL » Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:21 pm
In a rectangular coordinate system, what is the area of a rectangle whose vertices have the coordinates (-4, 1), (1, 1), (1, -3) and (-4, -3)?

A. 16
B. 20
C. 24
D. 25
E. 30

The OA is B.

Experts, I need a suggestion about how can I solve this PS question. I have an idea but I think that it's the long way, it is the following,

I can take one vertex of the rectangle like reference and determinate the distance between it and 2 of the vertices that converge with it, then this two distances can be the long and width of the renctangle, right? and once with it I can determinate the rectangle's area.

Thanks!
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3008
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:19 am
Location: Grand Central / New York
Thanked: 470 times
Followed by:34 members

by Jay@ManhattanReview » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:08 pm
AAPL wrote:In a rectangular coordinate system, what is the area of a rectangle whose vertices have the coordinates (-4, 1), (1, 1), (1, -3) and (-4, -3)?

A. 16
B. 20
C. 24
D. 25
E. 30

The OA is B.

Experts, I need a suggestion about how can I solve this PS question. I have an idea but I think that it's the long way, it is the following,

I can take one vertex of the rectangle like reference and determinate the distance between it and 2 of the vertices that converge with it, then this two distances can be the long and width of the renctangle, right? and once with it I can determinate the rectangle's area.

Thanks!
Hi,

What you described would work. The rectangle would have a length of |-4| + 1 = 5 and the width of |-3| + 1 = 4. Thus, the area of the rectangle = 5*4 = 20 sq unit.

The correct answer: B

Hope this helps!

-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: New Haven | Doha | Stockholm | Pretoria | and many more...

Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 555
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 4:18 pm
Thanked: 180 times
Followed by:12 members

by EconomistGMATTutor » Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:22 am
In a rectangular coordinate system, what is the area of a rectangle whose vertices have the coordinates (-4, 1), (1, 1), (1, -3) and (-4, -3)?

A. 16
B. 20
C. 24
D. 25
E. 30

The OA is B.
Hi AAPL,
Let's take a look at your question.

The co-ordinates of the rectangle are given as
(-4, 1), (1, 1), (1, -3) and (-4, -3)
If we take the first two coordinates (-4, 1), (1, 1),
We can see that their y coordinate the the same it means that these two points will form a horizontal line, which will give us the length of the rectangle.
$$Length\ =\ \left|-4-1\right|=\left|-5\right|=5$$

Similarly, now choose any two points that have same x coordinate to find the width of the rectangle.
We can take (1, 1), (1, -3)
These two points represent a vertical line.
$$Width\ =\ \left|1-\left(-3\right)\right|=\left|1+3\right|=\left|4\right|=4$$
Now we can find the area of the rectangle.
$$Area=Length\times Width$$
$$Area=5\times4=20$$

Therefore, Option B is correct.

Hope it helps.
I am available if you'd like any follow up.
GMAT Prep From The Economist
We offer 70+ point score improvement money back guarantee.
Our average student improves 98 points.

Image
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1