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Hard SAT Geometry Problem with Solution

Today I would like to solve the SAT geometry problem I posted yesterday. You can see the original post here: Hard SAT Geometry Problem

Level 5 Geometry

Triangle inside square

ABCD shown above is a square, mDFE = 60°, EF = 3, and CF = 4. What is the area of square ABCD ?

Solution: DF is the hypotenuse of a 30, 60, 90 triangle (ΔDEF). Since EF = 3, we have DF = 6.

We can now use the Pythagorean Theorem to get

DC2 = DF CF= 6 42 = 36 16 = 20.

Notes: (1) The area of a square is As2, where s is the length of a side of the square.

(2) There is no need to find DC here because the area of the square is equal to DC2, and that’s what we found.

(3) The 30, 60, 90 triangle and the Pythagorean Theorem are both given to you at the beginning of each SAT math section.

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