LFP, that thread is too long. Let's start over.

[Ptah]

What is the diameter of the largest two circle that can be cut from a 48 inch square?



We know some things about a right triangle.

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Ptah, what is confusing me is...

I could not figure out even one variable (ie: one of the sides). I do a lot of construction, so I'm usually pretty good with the P.T. and the 3-4-5 triangle to square things up.

Am I just looking at this too hard?

Thanks a lot for this by the way...I love stuff like this, even if I can't figure it out.

[Ptah]

2. This is why I never became a teacher.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Ptah....

trust me, it is not you. I have a horrible infection with a fever today, and I just had to drive 3 hours for those 2 dogs.

You did excellent, and your drawings are perfect. Let me take another look at it when I am fresher.

:pals:

[Ptah]

4. Focus

[LeftyFingerPop]

5. OK! I think I have it....I'll put it in my own words... ***SEE EDIT***

This was the formula you used in conjunction with your drawings:

48 = R + R + {(2 * R) / squareroot(2) }

There are 2 circles, the left circle and the right circle.

You are solving for the radius (to get the diameter) of one of the circles, and I think the answer was 28 1/8 after solving your above formula. My problem was, I could not understand your formula. I think I can now....does this make sense?

48 = R + R + {(2 * R) / squareroot(2) }

48 is the length of the side of the square.

The first R in your formula is the horizontal radius of the left circle as shown in your drawing.

The second R in your formula is the horizontal radius of the right circle in your drawing.

The remaining distance to cover the 48 inches in your drawing is the base of the triangle where the hypotenuse as shown in your drawing is 2 times the radius of each circle, or 2R. (EDIT: 2 TIMES THE RADIUS OF ONE CIRCLE)

Using 2R for the hypotenuse in Pythagoras, the base of that triangle is represented as 2R/sq rt of 2.

Then you solved for R and multipled by 2 to get the diameter of one circle, or just over 28 inches.

This is how I envision this...am I close?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. How can it be more than half of the original square?

:freak:

[LeftyFingerPop]

9. Because the 2 circles take advantage of the diagonal of the square,

which is longer than the sides. :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. ah -yes

nesting.

is the term we used in pattern making.

I think your answer could be right then.

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. Yes, it is Ptah's formula, and I couldn't figure it out. n/t

[Dr. Strange]

12. That's it.

R = 48/(2+sqrt(2))

For extra credit, try it in three-dimensions.

[LeftyFingerPop]

13. No can do...

The most math that I ever took in high school was Algebra and Geometry.

The only math that I took in college was Pre-calc, Business Calc, and Statistics.

Business Calc, while good for practical applications, would probably be considered really basic Calculus for a math head.

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. Freaks.

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[Capn Sunshine]

7. ...