Subject: General Aptitude · Chapter: Area · Exam: · Marks: · Difficulty:
The adjoining figure contains three squares with areas of 100, 16 and 49 lying side by side as shown. By how much should the area of the middle square be reduced in order that the total length $P Q$ of the resulting three squares $\sqrt{2}$
(b)2
(c)4
(d)12
Answer
Answer (as printed): D
Explanation
$\mathrm{PQ}=\sqrt{100}+\sqrt{16}+\sqrt{49}=(10+4+7)=21$. Side of middle square $=\sqrt{16}=4$. Reduction in $P Q=(21-19)=2$. New side of middle square $=(4-2)=2$. ∴ Reduction in area of middle square $=\left(4^{2}-2^{2}\right)=12$.
Explanation as extracted from the printed page; notation may be imperfect.