Note on rectangles with vertices on prescribed circles (Q951275)
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English | Note on rectangles with vertices on prescribed circles |
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Note on rectangles with vertices on prescribed circles (English)
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23 October 2008
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Given three positive real numbers \(x\), \(y\), \(z\), one considers the family \(\Omega\) of rectangles \(ABCD\) having an interior point \(P\) with the property that \(PA=x\), \(PB=y\), \(PC=z\). We are asked in [Zahlreich Problems Group, Problem 11057, Am. Math. Mon. 111, 64 (2004); solution: ibid. 113, 82--83 (2006)] to find the maximum area that a rectangle in \(\Omega\) can have. The paper under review solves this problem and shows that the maximum and minimum areas are \(xz+yt\) and \(| xz-yt| \), where \(t = \sqrt{x^2+z^2-y^2}\). Although the proof is considerably shorter than the one given in [\textit{E. J. Ionascu} and \textit{P. Stanica}, Elem. Math. 62, No. 1, 30--39 (2007; Zbl 1120.51010)], the authors do not mention what advantages their proof has over the extremely short proof given in [Am. Math. Mon. 113, 82--83 (2006)].
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distance
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maximum area
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minimum area
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Pappus-Fagnano-Legendre formula
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rectangle
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