Question

A regular octagon $ABCDEFGH$ has an area of one square unit. What is the area of the rectangle $ABEF?$

$1 - \dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$

$\dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{4}$

$\sqrt{2} - 1$

$\dfrac{1}{2}$

$\dfrac{1 + \sqrt{2}}{4}$

Solution:

Let $O$ be the center of the octagon. Joining $O$ to the vertices splits the octagon into $8$ congruent triangles, so $\triangle AOB$ has area $\dfrac{1}{8}.$

Since $O$ is the midpoint of $\overline{AE},$ triangles $AOB$ and $BOE$ have equal areas, so $\triangle ABE$ has area $\dfrac{1}{4}.$

The rectangle $ABEF$ is split by diagonal $\overline{BE}$ into two congruent triangles, so $\triangle ABE$ is half of it. Hence $ABEF$ has area $\dfrac{1}{2}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2003 AMC 12B Problem 15

Solution:

Problem 15 in Other Years