Convex Quadrilateral Problem - POTW #440 October 26th, 2020

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In summary, a convex quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon with all interior angles measuring less than 180 degrees. The Convex Quadrilateral Problem is a mathematical problem that involves finding the maximum possible area of a convex quadrilateral given the lengths of its four sides, and it has real-world applications in various fields. This problem can be solved using different methods, such as the Brahmagupta Formula, and there are variations of the problem that add additional challenges to finding the solution.
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anemone
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Here is this week's POTW:

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In a convex quadrilateral $PQRS$, $PQ=RS$, $(\sqrt{3}+1)QR=SP$ and $\angle RSP-\angle SPQ=30^{\circ}$. Prove that $\angle PQR-\angle QRS=90^{\circ}$.

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  • #2
Hello all!(Smile)

I am going to give the members another week's time to take a stab at last week's POTW. (Nod) I am looking forward with hope to receive an answer soon. (Blush)
 
  • #3
No one answered last two week's POTW.(Sadface) However, for those who are interested, you can check the suggested solution by other as follows:
[TIKZ]
\coordinate[label=above: P] (P) at (2,3);
\coordinate[label=above:Q] (Q) at (4,6);
\coordinate[label=right:R] (R) at (12, 0);
\coordinate[label=below: S] (S) at (7.333333,0);
\draw (P) -- (S)-- (R)-- (Q)--(P);
\draw (P) -- (R);
\draw (Q) -- (S);
[/TIKZ]

Let $[\text{figure}]$ denote the area of figure. We have

$[PQRS]=[PQR]+[RSP]=[QRS]+[SPQ]$

Let $PQ=p,\,QR=q,\,RS=r,\,SP=s$. The above relations reduce to

$pq\sin\angle PQR+rs\sin \angle RSP=qr\sin\angle QRS+sp\sin \angle SPQ$

Using $p=r$ and $(\sqrt{3}+1)q=s$ and dividing by $pq$, we get

$\sin \angle PQR+(\sqrt{3}+1)\sin \angle RSP=\sin \angle QRS+(\sqrt{3}+1)\sin \angle SPQ$

Therefore, $\sin \angle PQR-\sin \angle QRS=(\sqrt{3}+1)(\sin \angle SPQ-\sin \angle RSP)$

This can be written in the form

$2\sin \dfrac{\angle PQR+\angle QRS}{2}\cos \dfrac{\angle PQR+\angle QRS}{2}=(\sqrt{3}+1)2\sin \dfrac{\angle SPQ-\angle RSP}{2}\cos \dfrac{\angle SPQ+\angle RSP}{2}$

Using the relations

$\cos \dfrac{\angle PQR+\angle QRS}{2}=-\cos \dfrac{\angle SPQ+\angle RSP}{2}$

and

$\cos \dfrac{\angle SPQ-\angle RSP}{2}=-\sin 15^{\circ}=- \dfrac{\sqrt{3}-1}{2\sqrt{2}}$

we obtain
$\sin \dfrac{\angle PQR-\angle QRS}{2}=(\sqrt{3}-1)\left(-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}-1}{2\sqrt{2}}\right)=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$

This shows that

$\dfrac{\angle PQR-\angle QRS}{2}=\dfrac{\pi}{4}$ or $\dfrac{3\pi}{4}$

Using the convexity of $PQRS$, we can rule out the latter alternative. We obtain

$\angle PQR-\angle QRS=\dfrac{\pi}{2}$
 

1. What is a convex quadrilateral?

A convex quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon where all interior angles are less than 180 degrees. This means that all of the vertices of the quadrilateral point outwards, away from the center of the shape.

2. What is the Convex Quadrilateral Problem?

The Convex Quadrilateral Problem is a mathematical problem that involves finding the maximum possible area of a convex quadrilateral given the lengths of its sides. It is also known as the Maximum Quadrilateral Area Problem or the Brahmagupta Problem.

3. What is the significance of the Convex Quadrilateral Problem?

The Convex Quadrilateral Problem has practical applications in fields such as architecture, engineering, and computer graphics. It also has a rich history in mathematics, with various mathematicians and scientists studying and proposing solutions to the problem over the centuries.

4. What is the current status of the Convex Quadrilateral Problem?

The Convex Quadrilateral Problem is still an open problem in mathematics, meaning that a definitive solution has not yet been found. However, there have been many proposed solutions and conjectures, and the problem continues to be studied by mathematicians around the world.

5. How can the Convex Quadrilateral Problem be solved?

There is no one definitive way to solve the Convex Quadrilateral Problem, and different mathematicians have proposed different approaches. Some methods involve using algebraic equations, while others use geometric constructions. The problem remains an active area of research and there is still much to be discovered about it.

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