Towering Trapeziums

Why do this problem?

This problem gives students an opportunity to do some geometrical reasoning and apply what they know about Pythagoras' theorem, area of triangles, and sequences.

Possible approach

Show the image:

"This diagram was created by starting with a right angled isosceles triangle $OAB$ with area 1 unit."
"$AB$, $CD$, $EF$, and $GH$ are all parallel."
"$OC$ and $AB$ have the same length."
"$OE$ and $CD$ have the same length."
"$OG$ and $EF$ have the same length."

Invite students to construct the diagram for themselves, and then pose the following questions:
"Can you find the area of the trapezium $ABDC?$"
"What about trapezium $CDFE?$"
"What about trapezium $EFHG?$"

Give students some time to explore the problem, at first on their own and then with a partner. As they are working, circulate and listen out for useful strategies to discuss in a mini-plenary. If no useful strategies emerge, share with students the advice offered in Getting Started.

Any students who work out the areas quickly can consider the following: "If the pattern continued, what would be the area of the $n^{th}$ trapezium in the chain?"

Finish by discussing what students found and what strategies they used to work out the relevant areas.

Key questions

Can you find an expression for the area of an isosceles right-angled triangle with two sides of length $a$?
Can you find an expression for the area of an isosceles right-angled triangle with hypotenuse $b$?

Possible extension

Another challenge involving areas and Pythagoras' Theorem is Compare Areas.

Possible support

Some students may benefit from working on some of the Pythagoras' Theorem Short Problems before looking at this problem.