Three squares have a common point at the circumcentre of an equilateral triangle. The squares just touch the sides. What is the ratio of OA / OB ? Give your answer to the nearest hundredths
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Let O B = 1 and label C and D as follows:
By the properties of an equilateral triangle, ∠ A O D = 6 0 ° and by the properties of a square, ∠ A O C = 4 5 ° .
That means ∠ C O D = ∠ A O D − ∠ B O C = 6 0 ° − 4 5 ° = 1 5 ° .
From △ B O D , O D = O B sin 3 0 ° = 1 ⋅ 2 1 = 2 1 .
From △ C O D , O C = cos 1 5 ° O D = 2 2 1 + 3 2 1 = 2 2 ( 3 − 1 ) .
From △ A O C , O A = cos 4 5 ° O C = 2 2 2 2 ( 3 − 1 ) = 3 − 1 .
Therefore, the ratio O B O A = 1 3 − 1 = 3 − 1 .