Notes
two rectangles in a hexagon ii solution

Solution to the Two Hexagons in a Rectangle II Puzzle

Two hexagons in a rectangle ii

Two regular hexagons inside a rectangle. What fraction of the rectangle is shaded?

Solution by Dissection, Angles in a Regular Hexagon, and Properties of Equilateral Triangles

Two hexagons in a rectangle ii annotated

With the diagram labelled as above, triangle ABIA B I is an equilateral triangle as it is formed by extending the sides of a regular hexagon. Therefore, triangle ADGA D G has angles 60 60^\circ, 90 90^\circ and 30 30^\circ. The orange lines therefore dissect the triangle into equilateral and half equilateral triangles. Counting the triangles, the hexagon consists of six equilateral triangles, and the dark blue shaded region comprises four equilateral and five half equilateral triangles. This is repeated in the upper half of the rectangle. So the total shaded region consists of thirteen equilateral triangles out of a total of twenty-five, meaning that 1325\frac{13}{25} of the rectangle is shaded.