Notes
angle formed by three rectangles solution

Solution to the Angle Formed by Three Rectangles Puzzle

Angle Formed by Three Rectangles

Three congruent rectangles. What’s the angle?

Solution by Triangles

Angle formed by three rectangles labelled

With the points labelled as in the diagram above, the line segments ADA D, DFD F, and FAF A all have the same length since they are diagonals of congruent rectangles. This means that triangle ADFA D F is an equilateral triangle and so angle AF^DA \hat{F} D is 60 60^\circ. In triangle DFID F I, angle DI^FD \hat{I} F is 90 90^\circ and sides IDI D and IFI F have the same length. Therefore, triangle DFID F I is an isosceles right-angled triangle so angle IF^DI \hat{F} D is 45 45^\circ. Putting these together, angle AF^B=60 45 =15 A \hat{F} B = 60^\circ - 45^\circ = 15^\circ. This is the same as angle KF^DK \hat{F} D and so angle IF^KI \hat{F} K is 45 15 =30 45^\circ - 15^\circ = 30^\circ. Therefore, angle EF^G=360 90 90 30 =150 E \hat{F} G = 360^\circ - 90^\circ - 90^\circ - 30^\circ = 150^\circ.