Optimizing Crease Length for a Folded Sheet of Paper

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves optimizing the length of a crease formed by folding a sheet of paper that measures 6 units in width and 25 units in length. The original poster seeks to find the minimum length of the crease created when folding the lower right corner to touch the left side.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use proportions and the Pythagorean theorem to derive the crease length. Some participants question the assumption that the crease must go through the top right corner to achieve minimum length.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, particularly regarding the placement of the crease. Suggestions have been made to consider alternative points for the crease and to improve the accuracy of the diagram used in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the geometric relationships involved in the problem, with some participants noting the importance of maintaining the correct length ratio of the paper dimensions (6:25) in their sketches.

fadi_nzr
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You have a sheet of paper that is 6 units wide and 25 units long placed
so that the short side is facing you. Fold the lower right hand corner
over to touch the left side. Your task is to fold the paper in such a way
that the length of the crease is minimized. What is the length of the
crease?

this what I have attempted so far

15ckqqx.jpg


by proportions we get:

b/20 = a/sqrt(12a-36)

Solving for b. Use Pythagorean theorem to determine the length of c:

c^2 = a^2 + (36a^2)/(12a-36)

I am not sure if I am in the right track or not

any ideas or corrections
 
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Your diagram seems to assume the crease will go through the top right hand corner. Why should that produce the minimum length?
 
so how it should be
 
Let it go through some arbitrary other point. And try to make the sketch a bit more realistic in terms of the length ratio (6:25).
 

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