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Question

A square and a rectangle have the same perimeter p and their areas differ by q units. What is the square of the difference between the length and breadth of the rectangle ?

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2026 Maths Question Paper (13-Sep-2026)
The correct answer is

4q

Square and Rectangle Perimeter Area Problem Explained

This solution explains how to find the square of the difference between the length and breadth of a rectangle, given its perimeter and area relationship with a square.

Define Variables and Perimeter Relationship

  • Let the side length of the square be \(s\).
  • Let the length and breadth of the rectangle be \(l\) and \(b\) respectively.
  • The perimeter is given as \(p\).
  • Perimeter of the square: \(P_s = 4s\).
  • Perimeter of the rectangle: \(P_r = 2(l+b)\).
  • Given \(P_s = P_r = p\).
  • Therefore, \(4s = p \implies s = \frac{p}{4}\).
  • And \(2(l+b) = p \implies l+b = \frac{p}{2}\).

Area Calculations and Difference

  • Area of the square: \(A_s = s^2 = (\frac{p}{4})^2 = \frac{p^2}{16}\).
  • Area of the rectangle: \(A_r = l \times b\).
  • The areas differ by \(q\). Since the square maximizes area for a given perimeter, \(A_s \ge A_r\).
  • So, \(A_s - A_r = q\).
  • Substituting the area of the square: \(\frac{p^2}{16} - A_r = q\).
  • This gives the area of the rectangle: \(A_r = lb = \frac{p^2}{16} - q\).

Finding the Square of the Length-Breadth Difference

  • We need to find the value of \((l-b)^2\).
  • Use the algebraic identity: \((l-b)^2 = (l+b)^2 - 4lb\).
  • Substitute the known values for \((l+b)\) and \(lb\): \((l-b)^2 = (\frac{p}{2})^2 - 4(\frac{p^2}{16} - q)\)
  • Simplify the expression: \((l-b)^2 = \frac{p^2}{4} - \frac{4p^2}{16} + 4q\) \((l-b)^2 = \frac{p^2}{4} - \frac{p^2}{4} + 4q\) \((l-b)^2 = 4q\)

The square of the difference between the length and breadth of the rectangle is \(4q\).

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Important Questions from 2-D Mensuration

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  3. The shorter side of a rectangle is 15 cm less than the longer side. The numerical value of its area is equal to 5 times the numerical value of its perimeter. What is the length (in cm) of its longer side?

  4. In a circle of radius 10.5 cm, if the angle of a sector is $\frac{2\pi}{3}$, then the perimeter of the sector is (in cm):
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  5. Find the circumference (in m) of the largest circle that can be inscribed in a rectangle whose dimensions are given as 114 m and 63 m.
    Take $\pi = \frac{22}{7}$
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