2013 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 9

Problem

In $\triangle ABC$, $AB=AC=28$ and $BC=20$. Points $D,E,$ and $F$ are on sides $\overline{AB}$, $\overline{BC}$, and $\overline{AC}$, respectively, such that $\overline{DE}$ and $\overline{EF}$ are parallel to $\overline{AC}$ and $\overline{AB}$, respectively. What is the perimeter of parallelogram $ADEF$?

[asy] size(180); pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); real r=5/7; pair A=(10,sqrt(28^2-100)),B=origin,C=(20,0),D=(A.x*r,A.y*r); pair bottom=(C.x+(D.x-A.x),C.y+(D.y-A.y)); pair E=extension(D,bottom,B,C); pair top=(E.x+D.x,E.y+D.y); pair F=extension(E,top,A,C); draw(A--B--C--cycle^^D--E--F); dot(A^^B^^C^^D^^E^^F); label("$A$",A,NW); label("$B$",B,SW); label("$C$",C,SE); label("$D$",D,W); label("$E$",E,S); label("$F$",F,dir(0)); [/asy]

$\textbf{(A) }48\qquad \textbf{(B) }52\qquad \textbf{(C) }56\qquad \textbf{(D) }60\qquad \textbf{(E) }72\qquad$

Solution

Note that because $\overline{DE}$ and $\overline{EF}$ are parallel to the sides of $\triangle ABC$, the internal triangles $\triangle BDE$ and $\triangle EFC$ are similar to $\triangle ABC$, and are therefore also isosceles triangles.

It follows that $BD = DE$. Thus, $AD + DE = AD + DB = AB = 28$.

Since opposite sides of parallelograms are equal, the perimeter is $2 * (AD + DE) =   \boxed{\textbf{(C) }{56}}$.

Solution (Cheese)

We can set point $F$ to be on point $C$, and point $D$ to be on point $A$.

This makes a degenerate parallelogram with sides of length $28$ and $0$, so it has a perimeter of $28 + 28 =  \boxed{\textbf{(C) }{56}}$.

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/CCjcMVtkVaQ

~sugar_rush

See also

2013 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
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
2013 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 11
Followed by
Problem 13
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

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