A trapezium has vertices marked as P, Q, R and S (in that order anticlockwise). The side PQ is parallel to side SR. Further, it is given that, PQ = 11 cm, QR = 4 cm, RS = 6 cm and SP = 3 cm. What is the shortest distance between PQ and SR (in cm)?
2.40
Trapezium Height: Shortest Distance Between Parallel Sides
This problem requires us to determine the shortest distance between the parallel sides of a trapezium (also known as a trapezoid). In any trapezium, this shortest distance is defined as its height. We are provided with the lengths of all four sides of a specific trapezium, labeled PQRS, where the side PQ is given to be parallel to the side SR.
Trapezium Data and Goal
A trapezium is a four-sided polygon (quadrilateral) with at least one pair of parallel sides. In this question, PQ and SR are the parallel sides.
The given side lengths are:
- Side PQ (parallel to SR) = 11 cm
- Side QR = 4 cm
- Side RS (parallel to PQ) = 6 cm
- Side SP = 3 cm
Our objective is to find the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides PQ and SR, which represents the height of the trapezium.
Constructing Auxiliary Lines to Find Distance
To find the shortest distance (height) between the parallel sides PQ and SR, we can draw perpendicular lines from the vertices of the shorter parallel side (SR) to the longer parallel side (PQ).
- Draw a perpendicular line segment from S to PQ, and let the point where it meets PQ be T. So, ST is perpendicular to PQ.
- Draw another perpendicular line segment from R to PQ, and let the point where it meets PQ be U. So, RU is perpendicular to PQ.
This construction creates three distinct shapes within the trapezium PQRS:
- A rectangle STUR (since ST and RU are both perpendicular to PQ, they are parallel to each other, and SR is parallel to TU).
- Two right-angled triangles: ▵PST and ▵QRU.
From the properties of the rectangle STUR:
- ST = RU = h (this is the height we need to find).
- TU = SR = 6 cm.
Now, consider the side PQ. We know that PQ is composed of three segments: PT, TU, and UQ.
\[ \text{PQ} = \text{PT} + \text{TU} + \text{UQ} \]Substitute the given values:
\[ 11 = \text{PT} + 6 + \text{UQ} \]Rearrange the equation to find the sum of PT and UQ:
\[ \text{PT} + \text{UQ} = 11 - 6 \] \[ \text{PT} + \text{UQ} = 5 \text{ cm} \]Let's denote the length of PT as \(x\). Then, the length of UQ will be \((5 - x)\) cm.
Utilizing the Pythagorean Theorem for Height Calculation
We now have two right-angled triangles, ▵PST and ▵QRU, and we can apply the Pythagorean theorem (\(a^2 + b^2 = c^2\)) to each of them.
| Triangle | Hypotenuse | Leg 1 | Leg 2 (Height) | Pythagorean Equation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▵PST | SP = 3 cm | PT = \(x\) cm | ST = \(h\) cm | \(\text{SP}^2 = \text{PT}^2 + \text{ST}^2 \implies 3^2 = x^2 + h^2\) |
| ▵QRU | QR = 4 cm | UQ = \((5 - x)\) cm | RU = \(h\) cm | \(\text{QR}^2 = \text{UQ}^2 + \text{RU}^2 \implies 4^2 = (5 - x)^2 + h^2\) |
Solving the System of Equations to Find the Shortest Distance
From the equations above, we have:
Equation 1 (from ▵PST):
\[ 9 = x^2 + h^2 \]We can express \(h^2\) from this equation:
\[ h^2 = 9 - x^2 \quad \text{(Eq. A)} \]Equation 2 (from ▵QRU):
\[ 16 = (5 - x)^2 + h^2 \]Now, substitute the expression for \(h^2\) from Eq. A into Equation 2:
\[ 16 = (5 - x)^2 + (9 - x^2) \]Expand the term \((5 - x)^2\). Recall the identity \((a - b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2\):
\[ (5 - x)^2 = 5^2 - 2(5)(x) + x^2 = 25 - 10x + x^2 \]Substitute this expansion back into the equation:
\[ 16 = (25 - 10x + x^2) + (9 - x^2) \]Combine the constant terms and notice that the \(x^2\) terms cancel each other out:
\[ 16 = 25 + 9 - 10x + x^2 - x^2 \] \[ 16 = 34 - 10x \]Now, we solve for \(x\):
\[ 10x = 34 - 16 \] \[ 10x = 18 \] \[ x = \frac{18}{10} \] \[ x = 1.8 \text{ cm} \]Finally, we substitute the value of \(x\) back into Eq. A to find the value of \(h^2\):
\[ h^2 = 9 - x^2 \] \[ h^2 = 9 - (1.8)^2 \] \[ h^2 = 9 - 3.24 \] \[ h^2 = 5.76 \]To find \(h\), take the square root of \(5.76\):
\[ h = \sqrt{5.76} \] \[ h = 2.4 \text{ cm} \]Final Result: Shortest Distance
The shortest distance between the parallel sides PQ and SR of the trapezium, which is its height, is found to be 2.40 cm.
Important Questions from Plane Figures
If the area of a square is 625 cm 2, then what is the perimeter of the square?
The area and the perimeter of a sheet of paper are 240 cm 2and 68 cm, respectively. What would be its length and breadth?
One side of rectangular field is 15 meters and one of its diagonals is 17 meters. Then find the area of the field.
The bisector of ∠B in ΔABC meets AC at D. If AB = 12 cm, BC = 18 cm and AC = 15 cm, then the length of AD (in cm) is:
The perimeter and the length of one of the diagonals of a rhombus is 26 cm and 5 cm respectively. Find the length of its other diagonal (in cm).
