2005 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 18

Problem

Let $A(2,2)$ and $B(7,7)$ be points in the plane. Define $R$ as the region in the first quadrant consisting of those points $C$ such that $\triangle ABC$ is an acute triangle. What is the closest integer to the area of the region $R$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 25     \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 39     \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 51     \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 60      \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 80$

Solution

[asy] Label f;  f.p=fontsize(6); xaxis(-1,15,Ticks(f, 2.0));  yaxis(-1,15,Ticks(f, 2.0));  pair A = MP("A",(2,2),SW), B = MP("B",(7,7),NE); D(A--B); filldraw((0,4)--(4,0)--(14,0)--(0,14)--cycle,gray); filldraw(CP(0.5(A+B),A),white); D(A); D(B); [/asy]

For angle $A$ and $B$ to be acute, $C$ must be between the two lines that are perpendicular to $\overline{AB}$ and contain points $A$ and $B$. For angle $C$ to be acute, first draw a $45-45-90$ triangle with $\overline{AB}$ as the hypotenuse. Note $C$ cannot be inside this triangle's circumscribed circle or else $\angle C > 90^\circ$. Hence, the area of $R$ is the area of the large triangle minus the area of the small triangle minus the area of the circle, which is $\frac{14^2}{2}-\frac{4^2}{2}-(\frac{5\sqrt{2}}{2})^2\pi=98-8-\frac{25\pi}{2}$, which is approximately $51$. The answer is $\boxed{\mathrm{C}}$.

See also

2005 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 17
Followed by
Problem 19
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All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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