Problem:
Suppose a square piece of paper is folded in half vertically. The folded paper is then cut in half along the dashed line. Three rectangles are formed-a large one and two small ones. What is the ratio of the perimeter of one of the small rectangles to the perimeter of the large rectangle?
Answer Choices:
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Solution:
If we let the side of the original square be units, then the large rectangle and one of the small rectangles formed have the dimensions shown. Therefore the ratio of the perimeters is
Answer: .
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions