2000 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 24

Problem

If $\angle A = 20^\circ$ and $\angle AFG =\angle AGF$, then $\angle B+\angle D =$

[asy] pair A,B,C,D,EE,F,G; A = (0,0); B = (9,4); C = (21,0); D = (13,-12); EE = (4,-16); F = (13/2,-6); G = (8,0); draw(A--C--EE--B--D--cycle); label("$A$",A,W); label("$B$",B,N); label("$C$",C,E); label("$D$",D,SE); label("$E$",EE,SW); label("$F$",F,WSW); label("$G$",G,NW);[/asy]

$\text{(A)}\ 48^\circ\qquad\text{(B)}\ 60^\circ\qquad\text{(C)}\ 72^\circ\qquad\text{(D)}\ 80^\circ\qquad\text{(E)}\ 90^\circ$

Solution

As a strategy, think of how $\angle B + \angle D$ would be determined, particularly without determining either of the angles individually, since it may not be possible to determine $\angle B$ or $\angle D$ alone. If you see $\triangle BFD$, then you can see that the problem is solved quickly after determining $\angle BFD$.

But start with $\triangle AGF$, since that's where most of our information is. Looking at $\triangle AGF$, since $\angle F = \angle G$, and $\angle A = 20$, we can write:

$\angle A + \angle G + \angle F = 180$

$20 + 2\angle F = 180$

$\angle AFG = 80$

By noting that $\angle AFG$ and $\angle GFD$ make a straight line, we know

$\angle AFG + \angle GFD = 180$

$80 + \angle GFD = 180$

$\angle GFD = 100$

Ignoring all other parts of the figure and looking only at $\triangle BFD$, you see that $\angle B + \angle D + \angle F = 180$. But $\angle F$ is the same as $\angle GFD$. Therefore:

$\angle B + \angle D + \angle GFD = 180$ $\angle B + \angle D + 100 = 180$ $\angle B + \angle D = 80^\circ$, and the answer is thus $\boxed{D}$

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ntXubG2Iho ~David

See Also

2000 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 23
Followed by
Problem 25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png