Dido's Problem/Variant 1/Solution

Solution to Dido's Problem: Variant 1

Consider a frame consisting of $4$ rods freely hinged at their ends:

When will the area enclosed by the frame be a maximum?

Solution

When the quadrilateral formed by the frame is cyclic.

Sources

• 1992: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): The Area Enclosed Against The Seashore: $31$