November 2008
Problem of the Month

Area Problem

How many square inches are contained in the figure below?

Solution to the Problem:

The Area is three square inches.

Extend the horizontal line on the top and the vertical line on the right until they meet at point B.   This forms a large right triangle whose dimensions are 3", 4", and 5".

The area of the entire triangle is 1/2 x 3 x 4 = 6 square inches.

Note that if you subtract the three one-inch squares from this total, you get 6 - 3 = 3 square inches for the area of the figure you were given (shaded in red).

Correctly solved by:

1. John Funk	Ventura, California
2. Richard Johnson	La Jolla, California
3. Jacob Harmon	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
4. Les Walker	Ventura, California
5. David & Judy Dixon	Bennettsville, South Carolina
6. Jeremy Harmon	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
7. Tony Weaver	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
8. Jaci Egley	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
9. Halie Gardner	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
10. Megan Martin	John Handley High School, Winchester, Virginia
11. Lindsay Pilong	----------

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher