DSQ: Calculating whether quadrilaterals are similar - GMAT Quantitative

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Question

True or false: Rhombus Rhombus .

Statement 1: and are both angles.

Statement 2: The area of Rhombus is four times that of Rhombus .

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Answer

To prove two figures similar, we must prove that their corresponding angles are congruent, and that their corresponding sides are in proportion.

All four sides of a rhombus are congruent, so it easily follows that corresponding sides of two rhombuses are in proportion, regardless of whether they are similar or not; it is therefore necessary and sufficient to prove that coresponding angles are congruent. Also, since a rhombus is a parallelogram, opposite angles are congruent and consecutive angles are supplementary - that is, their angle measures total . Therefore, it is neccessary and sufficient to prove just one pair of corresponding angles congruent.

Assume Statement 1 alone. is a angle, so any angle consecutive to it, which includes , is supplementary to it—that is, the angle measures total . This makes a angle. Its corresponding angle in Rhombus is , which is a angle. Since and are noncongruent, it follows that Rhombus Rhombus . (Note that it can be demonstrated that the rhombuses are similar, but the correct statement is Rhombus Rhombus .)

Statement 2 alone provides no useful information; the relationship between the areas of the rhombuses is irrelevant.

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