Notes
a circle and two semi-circles in two hexagons solution

Solution to the Circle and Two Semi-Circles in Two Hexagons Puzzle

A Circle and Two Semi-Circles in Two Hexagons

A circle and two semicircles are trapped by two overlapping regular hexagons. What fraction of the total area is shaded?

Solution by Angles in an Equilateral Triangle and Regular Hexagon

A circle and two semi-circles in two hexagons labelled

In the above diagram, the edges AGA G and BHB H are extended to meet at CC. The point OO is the centre of the larger circle and EE of the upper semi-circle.

Angles OA^GO \hat{A} G and HB^OH \hat{B} O are both 60 60^\circ so triangle ABCA B C is an equilateral triangle. Angle CD^OC \hat{D} O is a right-angle as it is the angle between a radius and tangent and angle OC^DO \hat{C} D is half of 60 60^\circ, so triangle ODCO D C is half an equilateral triangle, so the length of ODO D is half that of OCO C. Hence the length of ECE C is the same as that of ODO D. A similar argument applies to the triangle EFCE F C so the length of ICI C is the same as that of EFE F. Putting that together shows that the length of ICI C is a third of that of OIO I. So the length of HGH G is a third of the length of BHB H, which is a side of one of the hexagons.

This means that dividing each side of the hexagon in three and drawing lines parallel to the sides is a subdivision of each of the regions.

A circle and two semi-circles in two hexagons divided

There are 2424 triangles in each of the yellow regions, and 3030 in the white region. So there are 7878 in total and 4848 that are yellow, so the yellow region is 4878=2439\frac{48}{78} = \frac{24}{39}ths of the total.