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A rectangle PQRS is drawn with it four points on the circumference of the circle

x2+y2=16

Find the largest possible value for the area of the rectangle.


This might give you some ideas: try moving (x,y) around. You might find the largest area from the picture, but can you confirm it using algebra?


What would be the coordinates of the other three points? Can you use them to find an expression for the area of the rectangle in terms of x and y? Can you manipulate this using the fact that x2+y2=16 and find the largest area?


Let S be the area. We get

S=4xyx2+y2=16

You can now either use the fact that (x−y)2≥0, or substitute to eliminate y from S=4xy and use completing the square. If you choose the second option, it is easier to consider S2=16x2y2 and then let u=x2.