# 2015 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 20

## Problem

Isosceles triangles $T$ and $T'$ are not congruent but have the same area and the same perimeter. The sides of $T$ have lengths $5$, $5$, and $8$, while those of $T'$ have lengths $a$, $a$, and $b$. Which of the following numbers is closest to $b$?

$\textbf{(A) }3\qquad\textbf{(B) }4\qquad\textbf{(C) }5\qquad\textbf{(D) }6\qquad\textbf{(E) }8$

## Solution 1

The area of $T$ is $\dfrac{1}{2} \cdot 8 \cdot 3 = 12$ and the perimeter is 18.

The area of $T'$ is $\dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}$ and the perimeter is $2a + b$.

Thus $2a + b = 18$, so $2a = 18 - b$.

Thus $12 = \dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}$, so $48 = b \sqrt{4a^2 - b^2} = b \sqrt{(18 - b)^2 - b^2} = b \sqrt{324 - 36b}$.

We square and divide 36 from both sides to obtain $64 = b^2 (9 - b)$, so $b^3 - 9b^2 + 64 = 0$. Since we know $b = 8$ is a solution, we divide by $b - 8$ to get the other solution. Thus, $b^2 - b - 8 = 0$, so $b = \dfrac{1 + \sqrt{33}}{2} < \dfrac{1 + 6}{2} = 3.5.$ The answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }3}$.

### Solution 1.1

The area is $12$, the semiperimeter is $9$, and $a = 9 - \frac12b$. Using Heron's formula, $\sqrt{9\left(\frac{b}{2}\right)\left(\frac{b}{2}\right)(9-b)} = 12$. Squaring both sides and simplifying, we have $-b^3+9b^2-64=0$. Since we know $b = 8$ is a solution, we divide by $b - 8$ to get the other solution. Thus, $b^2 - b - 8 = 0$, so $b = \dfrac{1 + \sqrt{33}}{2} < \dfrac{1 + 6}{2} = 3.5.$ The answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }3}$.

## Solution 2

Triangle $T$, being isosceles, has an area of $\frac{1}{2}(8)\sqrt{5^2-4^2}=12$ and a perimeter of $5+5+8=18$. Triangle $T'$ similarly has an area of $\frac{1}{2}(b)\bigg(\sqrt{a^2-\frac{b^2}{4}}\bigg)=12$ and $2a+b=18$.

Now we apply our computational fortitude.

$$\frac{1}{2}(b)\bigg(\sqrt{a^2-\frac{b^2}{4}}\bigg)=12$$ $$(b)\bigg(\sqrt{a^2-\frac{b^2}{4}}\bigg)=24$$ $$(b)\sqrt{4a^2-b^2}=48$$ $$b^2(4a^2-b^2)=48^2$$ $$b^2(2a+b)(2a-b)=48^2$$ Plug in $2a+b=18$ to obtain $$18b^2(2a-b)=48^2$$ $$b^2(2a-b)=128$$ Plug in $2a=18-b$ to obtain $$b^2(18-2b)=128$$ $$2b^3-18b^2+128=0$$ $$b^3-9b^2+64=0$$ We know that $b=8$ is a valid solution by $T$. Factoring out $b-8$, we obtain $$(b-8)(b^2-b-8)=0 \Rightarrow b^2-b-8=0$$ Utilizing the quadratic formula gives $$b=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{33}}{2}$$ We clearly must pick the positive solution. Note that $5<\sqrt{33}<6$, and so ${3<\frac{1+\sqrt{33}}{2}<\frac{7}{2}}$, which clearly gives an answer of $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }3}$, as desired.

## Solution 3

Triangle T has perimeter $5 + 5 + 8 = 18$ so $18 = 2a + b$.

Using Heron's, we get $\sqrt{(9)(4)^2(1)} = \sqrt{(\frac{2a+b}{2})\left(\frac{b}{2}\right)^2(\frac{2a-b}{2})}$.

We know that $2a + b = 18$ from above so we plug that in, and we also know that then $2a - b = 18 - 2b$.

$12 = \frac{3b}{2}\sqrt{9-b}$

$64 = 9b^2 - b^3$

We plug in 3 for $b$ in the LHS, and we get 54 which is too low. We plug in 4 for $b$ in the LHS, and we get 80 which is too high. We now know that $b$ is some number between 3 and 4.

If $b \geq 3.5$, then we would round up to 4, but if $b < 3.5$, then we would round down to 3. So let us plug in 3.5 for $b$.

We get $67.375$ which is too high, so we know that $b < 3.5$.

Thus the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }3}$

## Solution 4 (Operation Descartes)

For this new triangle, say its legs have length $d$ and the base length $2c$. To see why I did this, draw the triangle on a Cartesian plane where the altitude is part of the y-axis! Then, we notice that $c+d=9$ and $c*\sqrt{d^2-c^2}=12$. It's better to let a side be some variable so we avoid having to add non-square roots and square-roots!!

Now, modify the square-root equation with $d=9-c$; you get $c^2*(81-18c)=144$, so $-18c^3+81c^2=144$. Divide by $-9$ to get $2c^3-9c^2+16=0$. Obviously, $c=4$ is a root as established by triangle $T$! So, use synthetic division to obtain $2c^2-c-4=0$, upon which $c=\frac{1+\sqrt{33}}{4}$, which is closest to $\frac{3}{2}$ (as opposed to $2$). That's enough to confirm that the answer has to be $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }3}$.

## Solution 5 (When You're Running Out of Time)

Since triangles $T'$ and $T$ have the same area and the same perimeter, $2a+b=18$ and $9*(9-a)^2(9-b) = 9*4^2*1$ By trying each answer choice, it is clear that the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) }3}$.