August 2025
Problem of the Month

x - y = ?
Submitted by Ivy Joseph from her brother-in-law

Solution to the Problem:

Here is the solution:

x - y = 3.

The diagram represents a quarter of a circle with center A.

Draw segment AB which is a radius of the circle and the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 9 and 12.

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, AB = 15.

So, x + 9 = 15, and therefore x = 6.

Similarly, 12 + y = 15, so y = 3.

Therefore x - y = 6 - 3 = 3.

Correctly solved by:

1. Dr. Hari Kishan	D.N. College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. Colin (Yowie) Bowey	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
3. Seth Cohen	Concord, New Hampshire, USA
4. Davit Banana	Istanbul, Turkey
5. Kamal Lohia	Hisar, Haryana, India
6. Rosemary	Kochi, Kerala, India
5. Mrs. Painter's 2nd block honors precal class	Broome High School, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
6. Nova Collins	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
7. Riley Sack	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
8. Kelly Stubblefield	Mobile, Alabama, USA

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher