It is known that the A-series paper retains a ratio of 2 when folded in half lengthwise. However, other folds may yield interesting results of their own. Fold a piece of paper as such:
For which ratios of paper sizes are the final product also of the same ratio as the original? Enter your answer as the sum of all possible ratios.
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It is worth noting that in both ratios there are two solutions, i.e. for x y = 2 , there's also a solution x y = − 2 , and for x y = 2 1 + 5 , there is x y = 2 1 − 5 . However, since the two alternate solutions are negative, and the ratio is between two positive values and is thus necessarily positive, they are both rejected.
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I want to add something. For the ratio of 2 1 + 5 , following the folding pattern doesn't return a rectangle.
Do we get a rectangle when the ratio is 2 1 + 5 ?
Yes, for a rectangle with a ratio of 2 1 + 5 , I suppose one more fold would be necessary to make it a rectangle with the same ratio as its original:
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Yes, that's the problem. One more fold is necessary.
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Let rectangle A B C D be the paper with a width of x and a length of y so that A B = C D = x and A D = B C = y . Let E be the intersection of folds on B C , F be the intersection of folds on C D , and G be the intersection of folds on A D .
From the first fold we have B E = A B = x , and from the second fold we have C F = C E = B C − B E = y − x , and from the third fold we have D G = D F = C D − C F = x − ( y − x ) = 2 x − y . Since triangles △ C E F and △ D G F are right isosceles triangles, E F = 2 ( y − x ) and F G = 2 ( 2 x − y ) .
For the ratio of the final product to be the same as the original, either x y = 2 ( y − x ) 2 ( 2 x − y ) or x y = 2 ( 2 x − y ) 2 ( y − x ) . The first solves to y = 2 x for a paper ratio of x y = 2 , and the second solves to y = 2 1 + 5 x for a paper ratio of x y = 2 1 + 5 .
Therefore, the sum of all possible ratios is 2 + 2 1 + 5 ≈ 3 . 0 3 2 .