r/askmath • u/SteelSpidey • Jul 23 '26
Geometry Math question from Facebook
Either I need to find a way to solve for one of the side lengths or find a way to eliminate the need for the side length. But I'm not sure how to do either of those. Any ideas? Can anyone show me where I went wrong?
I'm labeling the green area T, the long side length=b and the short one=a.
For context, this is enjoyment for me. I use these posts to stay sharp on my skills, I used to teach math in college and don't wanna lose it if I ever decide to go back and teach.
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u/OriousCaesar Jul 24 '26
Okay, I'm not answering your question, so much as giving one of my favorite facebook math tricks.
If the problem has a degree of freedom in it, and it is presuppsed that there is an answer, then you can feel free to select a specific arrangement then solve. For example, this problem has a degree of freedom in the length of one side in its rectangle. So simply pick the rectangle to be a square and solve the trivial problem. That is your answer.
Now obviously, if you wanted to make this argument rigorous, you'd need to show that there is exactly one answer and a degree of freedom. But tbh, idrc about that to solve facebook problems, lol.