# 2000 AIME II Problems/Problem 8

## Problem

In trapezoid $ABCD$, leg $\overline{BC}$ is perpendicular to bases $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{CD}$, and diagonals $\overline{AC}$ and $\overline{BD}$ are perpendicular. Given that $AB=\sqrt{11}$ and $AD=\sqrt{1001}$, find $BC^2$.

## Solution

### Solution 1

Let $x = BC$ be the height of the trapezoid, and let $y = CD$. Since $AC \perp BD$, it follows that $\triangle BAC \sim \triangle CBD$, so $\frac{x}{\sqrt{11}} = \frac{y}{x} \Longrightarrow x^2 = y\sqrt{11}$.

Let $E$ be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to $\overline{CD}$. Then $AE = x$, and $ADE$ is a right triangle. By the Pythagorean Theorem,

$$x^2 + \left(y-\sqrt{11}\right)^2 = 1001 \Longrightarrow x^4 - 11x^2 - 11^2 \cdot 9 \cdot 10 = 0$$

The positive solution to this quadratic equation is $x^2 = \boxed{110}$.

$[asy] size(200); pathpen = linewidth(0.7); pair C=(0,0),B=(0,110^.5),A=(11^.5,B.y),D=(10*11^.5,0),E=foot(A,C,D); D(MP("A",A,(2,.5))--MP("B",B,W)--MP("C",C)--MP("D",D)--cycle); D(A--C);D(B--D);D(A--E,linetype("4 4") + linewidth(0.7)); MP("\sqrt{11}",(A+B)/2,N);MP("\sqrt{1001}",(A+D)/2,NE);MP("\sqrt{1001}",(A+D)/2,NE);MP("x",(B+C)/2,W);MP("y",(D+C)/2);D(rightanglemark(B,IP(A--C,B--D),C,20)); [/asy]$

### Solution 2

Let $BC=x$. Dropping the altitude from $A$ and using the Pythagorean Theorem tells us that $CD=\sqrt{11}+\sqrt{1001-x^2}$. Therefore, we know that vector $\vec{BD}=\langle \sqrt{11}+\sqrt{1001-x^2},-x\rangle$ and vector $\vec{AC}=\langle-\sqrt{11},-x\rangle$. Now we know that these vectors are perpendicular, so their dot product is 0.$$\vec{BD}\cdot \vec{AC}=-11-\sqrt{11(1001-x^2)}+x^2=0$$ $$(x^2-11)^2=11(1001-x^2)$$ $$x^4-11x^2-11\cdot 990=0.$$ As above, we can solve this quadratic to get the positve solution $BC^2=x^2=\boxed{110}$.

### Solution 3

Let $BC=x$ and $CD=y+\sqrt{11}$. From Pythagoras with $AD$, we obtain $x^2+y^2=1001$. Since $AC$ and $BD$ are perpendicular diagonals of a quadrilateral, then $AB^2+CD^2=BC^2+AD^2$, so we have $$\left(y+\sqrt{11}\right)^2+11=x^2+1001.$$ Substituting $x^2=1001-y^2$ and simplifying yields $$y^2+\sqrt{11}y-990=0,$$ and the quadratic formula gives $y=9\sqrt{11}$. Then from $x^2+y^2=1001$, we plug in $y$ to find $x^2=\boxed{110}$.

### Solution 4

Let $E$ be the intersection of the diagonals. Since the diagonals are perpendicular, applying the Pythagorean Theorem multiple times we have \begin{align*} BC^2&=BE^2+CE^2 \\ &=(AB^2-AE^2)+(CD^2-DE^2) \\ &=CD^2+\sqrt{11}^2-(AE^2+DE^2) \\ &=CD^2+11-AD^2 \\ &=CD^2-990 \end{align*} Followed by dropping the perpendicular like in solution 1, we obtain system of equation $$BC^2=CD^2-990$$ $$BC^2+CD^2-2\sqrt{11}CD=990$$ Rearrange the first equation yields $$BC^2-CD^2=990$$ Equating it with the second equation we have $$BC^2-CD^2=BC^2+CD^2-2\sqrt{11}CD$$ Which gives $CD^2=\frac{BC^2}{11}$. Substituting into equation 1 obtains the quadratic in terms of $BC^2$ $$(BC^2)^2-11BC^2-11\cdot990=0$$ Solving the quadratic to obtain $BC^2=\boxed{110}$.

~ Nafer