GRE Overlapping Figures

Question 1
In the figure above, a semicircle is inscribed in a rectangle with a width of s. In terms of s, what is the
perimeter of the semicircle?
2s2
2πs Your Answer
s(2 + π) Correct Answer
Answer: C
Plug in for s. If s = 3, then the radius of the semicircle is also 3, because the width of the rectangle is
equal to the height of the semicircle. The formula for the circumference of a circle is C = 2πr. However,
since the perimeter of the semicircle includes half of a circle, divide the circumference formula by 2 to
get the curved portion of the figure’s perimeter: πr = 3π. However, the perimeter of the figure also
includes the bottom length of the rectangle. This equals twice the radius: 2 × 3 = 6. Now, the entire
perimeter equals 3π + 6. Plug s = 3 into all of the answer choices to see which choice matches the target
answer of 3π + 6. Choice (A) does not even contain π, so that cannot be the correct answer. Choice (B)
equals 2π(3) = 6π, which is incorrect. Eliminate choice (B). Choice (C) is 3(2 + π) = 6 + 3π, so keep
choice (C). Choice (D) is . This does not match the target answer, so choice (D) is not the
correct answer. Choice (E) is , which is also incorrect. The correct answer is choice
(C).
Question 2
If the area of an isosceles right triangle is equal to the perimeter of a square with an area of 4, what is
the ratio of one leg of the triangle to the side of the square?
1:1
1:2 Your Answer
2:1 Correct Answer
2:
4:
Answer: C
Start with the easiest piece of information first; if the square's area is 4, then a side must be equal to 2.
Adding up the four sides gives us the perimeter of the square: 8. This must equal the area of our
triangle, so try out some possibilities. Plugging in 2 for the leg of the triangle means the base is also 2
(isosceles triangle). The formula for area of a triangle is A = bh, so the area of the triangle is (2)(2)
= 2: too small. Try 4. If the leg of the triangle is 4, then the base will also be 4. (4)(4) = 8. Therefore,
the ratio of the leg of the triangle to one of the sides of the square is 4:2, which you can simplify to 2:1.
The correct answer is choice (C).
Question 3
Note: Figure not drawn to scale.

D, E, F, and G bisect AB, GB, AG, and CB, respectively. What fraction of the area of triangle ABC is
the area of rectangle FDEG?
Your Answer
Correct Answer
Answer: D
Rather than writing equations that relate various areas, plug-in values to AG and CB, and calculate the
areas of triangle ABC and rectangle FDEG. The area of a triangle is × base × height. If you plug in
AG = 4 for the height and CB = 4 for the base, the area of ABC = × 4 × 4 = 8. Segment EG is one-
quarter the length of CB, since GB is half of CB and GE is half of GB. Line FG is one-half the length
of AG. So the area of rectangle FDEG = base × height = 1 × 2 = 2. Rectangle FDEG is , or , the
area of triangle ABC, and choice (D) is the correct answer.
Question 4
In the figure above, triangle ACE is inscribed in square ABDE. What is the value of y in terms of x ?
35 + x Correct Answer
125 − x
145 − x
215 − x Your Answer
55 + 2x
Answer: A
Draw the figure and fill in the information: ABDE is a square, so each of its angles is 90°. There are
variables in the answer choices, so Plug In for one variable and solve for the other. Since the angles in a
triangle add to 180°, if x = 40, then ∠BCA = 180 − (90 + 40) = 180 − 130 = 50°. That angle is in a line
with 55° and y, and angles in a line add to 180°, so 50 + 55 + y = 180; 105 + y = 180; y = 75. The
question asks for the value of y, so circle 75 as the target. Now use x = 40 in each of the answer choices
to see which one yields the target. Choice (A) is 35 + 40 = 75, so keep choice (A). Choice (B) yields
125 − 40 = 85, so eliminate choice (B). Choice (C) yields 145 − 40 = 105, so eliminate choice (C).
Choice (D) yields 215 − 40 = 175, so eliminate choice (D). Choice (E) yields 55 + 2(40) = 135, so
eliminate choice (E). The correct answer is choice (A).
Question 5
In parallelogram PQRS, shown above, if PT = QT and x = 50, then y =

50
65
105
115 Correct Answer
130 Your Answer
Answer: D
Start by drawing the figure and mark the equal sides of the triangle and their corresponding equal
angles. Extend the lines on the parallelogram to distinguish between big and small angles. If x = 50,
then the other two angles in the triangle have to evenly split the remaining 130° since it is an isosceles
triangle with two equal sides and two equal angles. Therefore, each one is 65°. As a result, the small
angles of the parallelogram are 65°, and the big angles are 180° − 65° = 115°. The angle with a measure
of y is a big angle, so choice (D) is the correct answer.
As shown in the figure above, equilateral triangle DEF is inscribed in a circle. If the area of the circle is
inches, what is the length, in inches, of minor arc DE, divided by ?
(Blank)
Your Answer
6
Correct Answe
Answer: 6
Arc length is a fractional part of circumference, so first use the given area of the circle to find its
circumference. Area = = , so r = 9. Circumference = = . Next, recognize that the
equilateral triangle divides the circumference into three equal parts, so each minor arc length is one-
third of the circumference: ÷3= . Finally, divide this by to get 6. The correct answer is 6.

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Question 1

Note: Figure not drawn to scale.

In parallelogram PQRS, shown above, if PT = QT and x = 50, then y =

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