The two regular pentagons are congruent. Which inscribed square is larger?
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Label the diagram as follows:
Let the side of each pentagon be 1 , let the side of the left square be s 1 , and let the side of the right square be s 2 . Also, let A C = x , so that C D = 1 − x .
Since the interior angle of a regular pentagon is 1 0 8 ° , ∠ C D E = ∠ F G H = 1 0 8 ° and ∠ B A C = 2 1 0 8 ° = 5 4 ° , which by corresponding angles means that ∠ D C E = ∠ B A C = 5 4 ° and ∠ C E D = 1 8 0 ° − ∠ E C D − ∠ E D C = 1 8 ° .
Then from right △ A B C , sin 5 4 ° = 2 x s 1 , and from the law of sines on △ C D E , sin 1 0 8 ° s 1 = sin 1 8 ° 1 − x , and these two equations solve to s 1 ≈ 1 . 0 6 0 .
On the right side, ∠ G F H = 2 1 ( 1 0 8 ° − 9 0 ° ) = 9 ° and ∠ F H G = 1 8 0 ° − ∠ G F H − ∠ F G H = 6 3 ° .
Then from the law of sines on △ F G H , sin 1 0 8 ° s 2 = sin 6 3 ° 1 , which solves to s 2 ≈ 1 . 0 6 7 .
Since s 2 > s 1 , the right square is larger.