2010 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 8

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ has $AB=2 \cdot AC$. Let $D$ and $E$ be on $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{BC}$, respectively, such that $\angle BAE = \angle ACD$. Let $F$ be the intersection of segments $AE$ and $CD$, and suppose that $\triangle CFE$ is equilateral. What is $\angle ACB$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 60^\circ \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 75^\circ \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 90^\circ \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 105^\circ \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 120^\circ$

Solution 1

AMC 2010 12A Problem 8.png


Let $\angle BAE = \angle ACD = x$.

\begin{align*}\angle BCD &= \angle AEC = 60^\circ\\  \angle EAC + \angle FCA + \angle ECF + \angle AEC &= \angle EAC + x + 60^\circ + 60^\circ = 180^\circ\\  \angle EAC &= 60^\circ - x\\  \angle BAC &= \angle EAC + \angle BAE = 60^\circ - x + x = 60^\circ\end{align*}

Since $\frac{AC}{AB} = \frac{1}{2}$ and the angle between the hypotenuse and the shorter side is $60^\circ$, triangle $ABC$ is a $30-60-90$ triangle, so $\angle BCA = \boxed{90^\circ\,\textbf{(C)}}$.

Solution 2(Trig and Angle Chasing)

Let \[AB=2a, AC=a\] Let \[\angle BAE=\angle ACD=x\] Because $\triangle CFE$ is equilateral, we get $\angle FCE=60$, so $\angle ACB=60+x$

Because $\triangle CFE$ is equilateral, we get $\angle CFE=60$.

Angles $AFD$ and $CFE$ are vertical, so $\angle AFD=60$.

By triangle $ADF$, we have $\angle ADF=120-x$, and because of line $AB$, we have $\angle BDC=60+x$.

Because Of line $BC$, we have $\angle AEB=120$, and by line $CD$, we have $\angle DFE=120$.

By quadrilateral $BDFE$, we have $\angle ABC=60-x$.

By the Law of Sines: \[\frac{\sin(60-x)}{a}=\frac{\sin(60+x)}{2a}\implies 2\sin(60-x)=\sin(60+x)\]

By the sine addition formula($\sin(a+b)=\sin(a)\cos(b)+\cos(a)\sin(b)$): \[2(\sin(60)\cos(-x)+\cos(60)\sin(-x))=\sin(60)\cos(x)+\cos(60)\sin(x)\]

Because cosine is an even function, and sine is an odd function, we have \[2\sin(60)\cos(x)-2\cos(60)\sin(x)=\sin(60)\cos(x)+\cos(60)\sin(x) \implies \sin(60)\cos(x)=3\cos(60)\sin(x)\]

We know that $\sin(60)=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$, and $\cos(60)=\frac{1}{2}$, hence \[\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\cos(x)=\frac{3}{2}\sin(x)\implies \tan(x)=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\]

The only value of $x$ that satisfies $60+x<180$(because $60+x$ is an angle of the triangle) is $x=30^{\circ}$. We seek to find $\angle ACB$, which as we found before is $60+x$, which is $90$. The answer is $90, \text{or} \textbf{(C)}$

-vsamc

Solution 3 (Similar Triangles)

Notice that $\angle AEB=\angle AFC = 120^{\circ}$ and $\angle ACF=\angle BAE$. Hence, triangle AEB is similar to triangle CFA. Since $AB=2AC$, $AE=2CF=2FE$, as triangle CFE is equilateral. Therefore, $AF=FE=FC$, and since $\angle AFC=120^{\circ}$, $x=30$. Thus, the measure of $\angle ACE$ equals to $\angle FCE+\angle ACF=90^{\circ}, \text{or} \textbf{(C)}$ -HarryW


Solution 4

Notice that $\triangle ADF \sim \triangle CDA$ (by AA Similarity.) Since the corresponding angles of a pair of similar triangles are congruent, we have $\angle DAC = \angle DFA = 60^\circ.$ Since $AB = 2 \cdot AC$ and $\angle DFA = 60^\circ,$ we have that $\triangle ABC$ is congruent by SAS to a $30-60-90$ right triangle, which gives the answer $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}}$. ~clever14710owl

Video Solution by the Beauty of Math

https://youtu.be/kU70k1-ONgM?t=785

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/O_o_-yjGrOU?t=58

~ pi_is_3.14

See also

2010 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions
2010 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
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 AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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