Challenge question: In the above figure, the small circle...
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In the above figure, the small circle and big circle have diameters of 3 and 6 respectively. If AB||CD, and both circles share the same center, what is the area of the shaded region?
A) 9/2 + 2Ï€
B) 9/2 + 3Ï€
C) 3√3 + 3π
D) 6√3 + 2π
E) (9/2)√3 + 3π
Answer: E
Difficulty level: 700+
Source: www.gmatprepnow.com
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
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- GMAT Score:770
If we recognize that the hypotenuse of the blue right triangle below is twice the length of one side, we can see that this is a 30-60-90 SPECIAL TRIANGLEBrent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
In the above figure, the small circle and big circle have diameters of 3 and 6 respectively. If AB||CD, and both circles share the same center, what is the area of the shaded region?
A) 9/2 + 2Ï€
B) 9/2 + 3Ï€
C) 3√3 + 3π
D) 6√3 + 2π
E) (9/2)√3 + 3π
In the base triangle (on the right), the side opposite the 30° has length 1.
So, the magnification factor of the triangle in the question is 3/2 (i.e., the triangle in the diagram is 3/2 times the size of the base triangle)
So, the length of the 3rd side = (3/2)(√3) = (3√3)/2
Let's add this to our diagram...
From here, we can calculate the area of the shaded triangle.
The length of the base = (3√3)/2 + (3√3)/2 = 3√3
Area = (base)(height)/2
= (3√3)(3/2)/2
= (9√3)/4
Let's add this to our diagram...
Important: we earlier learned that the triangle in the first image is a 30-60-90 special triangle.
In fact, there are four such special triangles in the diagram.
So, let's add the 30° angles
Let's now find the area EACH sector.
Area of sector = (central angle/360°)(π)(radius²)
= (60°/360°)(π)(3²)
= (1/6)(Ï€)(9)
= 3Ï€/2
So, the area of the shaded region = (9√3)/4 + (9√3)/4 + 3π/2 + 3π/2
= (9√3)/2 + 3π
Answer: E
Cheers,
Brent