# 2013 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 16

## Problem

A triangle with vertices $(6, 5)$, $(8, -3)$, and $(9, 1)$ is reflected about the line $x=8$ to create a second triangle. What is the area of the union of the two triangles?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 9 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{28}{3} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{31}{3} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{32}{3}$

## Solution 1

Let $A$ be at $(6, 5)$, B be at $(8, -3)$, and $C$ be at $(9, 1)$. Reflecting over the line $x=8$, we see that $A' = D = (10,5)$, $B' = B$ (as the x-coordinate of B is 8), and $C' = E = (7, 1)$. Line $AB$ can be represented as $y=-4x+29$, so we see that $E$ is on line $AB$.

$[asy] pair A = (6, 5), B = (8, -3), C = (9, 1), D = (10, 5), E = (7, 1); draw(A--B--C--cycle^^D--E--B--cycle); dot(A^^B^^C^^D^^E); label("A",A,NW); label("B",B,S); label("C",C,SE); label("D",D,NE); label("E",E,W); [/asy]$

We see that if we connect $A$ to $D$, we get a line of length $4$ (between $(6, 5)$ and $(10,5)$). The area of $\triangle ABD$ is equal to $\frac{bh}{2} = \frac{4(8)}{2} = 16$.

Now, let the point of intersection between $AC$ and $DE$ be $F$. If we can just find the area of $\triangle ADF$ and subtract it from $16$, we are done.

We realize that because the diagram is symmetric over $x = 8$, the intersection of lines $AC$ and $DE$ should intersect at an x-coordinate of $8$. We know that the slope of $DE$ is $\frac{5-1}{10-7} = \frac{4}{3}$. Thus, we can represent the line going through $E$ and $D$ as $y - 1=\frac{4}{3}(x - 7)$. Plugging in $x = 8$, we find that the y-coordinate of F is $\frac{7}{3}$. Thus, the height of $\triangle ADF$ is $5 - \frac{7}{3} = \frac{8}{3}$. Using the formula for the area of a triangle, the area of $\triangle ADF$ is $\frac{16}{3}$.

To get our final answer, we must subtract this from $16$. $[ABD] - [ADF] = 16 - \frac{16}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{32}{3}}$

## Solution 2

First, realize that $E$ is the midpoint of $AB$ and $C$ is the midpoint of $BD$. Connect $A$ to $D$ to form $\triangle ABD$. Let the midpoint of $AD$ be $G$. Connect $B$ to $G$. $BG$ is a median of $\triangle ABD$.

Because $\triangle ABD$ is isosceles, $BG$ is also an altitude of $\triangle ABD$. We know the length of $AD$ and $BG$ from the given coordinates. The area of $\triangle ABD$ is $\frac{bh}{2} = \frac{4(8)}{2} = 16$.

Let the intesection of $AC$, $DE$ and $BG$ be $F$. $F$ is the centroid of $\triangle ABD$. Therefore, it splits $BG$ into $BF={2 \over 3}(BG)$ and $FG={1\over 3}(BG)$. The area of quadrilateral $ABDF = 16\cdot {2 \over 3} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{32}{3}}$

~Zeric Hang