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Is there a way to cut up an equilateral triangle and reorganize the parts to get a square of the same surface area?

 Mar 25, 2015

Best Answer 

 #2
avatar+893 
+5

This is known as Haberdasher's Problem.  A web search will get you the solution.

A search on Mathematical Disections gets further more general info.

 Mar 26, 2015
 #1
avatar+118703 
+5

Well there is of course but working out the best cuts would take more time than i have right now.

 

If you let the side lengths of the equilateral triangle be 2 units then the height will be 3  units.

You can multiply these by any constant if you want different side lengths.

The area of the triangle will be      A=(1/2)bh=0.523=3

 

The are of a square is    ll  so

 

ll=3l2=31/2l=31/4$orifyouprefer$l=43units

 

so if the side of the triangle is 2k units then the side of the square will be   43×kunits

 Mar 26, 2015
 #2
avatar+893 
+5
Best Answer

This is known as Haberdasher's Problem.  A web search will get you the solution.

A search on Mathematical Disections gets further more general info.

Bertie Mar 26, 2015
 #3
avatar+118703 
0

Thanks Bertie :)

 Mar 27, 2015

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