2015 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21

Problem

In the given figure, hexagon $ABCDEF$ is equiangular, $ABJI$ and $FEHG$ are squares with areas $18$ and $32$ respectively, $\triangle JBK$ is equilateral and $FE=BC$. What is the area of $\triangle KBC$?

[asy] draw((-4,6*sqrt(2))--(4,6*sqrt(2))); draw((-4,-6*sqrt(2))--(4,-6*sqrt(2))); draw((-8,0)--(-4,6*sqrt(2))); draw((-8,0)--(-4,-6*sqrt(2))); draw((4,6*sqrt(2))--(8,0)); draw((8,0)--(4,-6*sqrt(2))); draw((-4,6*sqrt(2))--(4,6*sqrt(2))--(4,8+6*sqrt(2))--(-4,8+6*sqrt(2))--cycle); draw((-8,0)--(-4,-6*sqrt(2))--(-4-6*sqrt(2),-4-6*sqrt(2))--(-8-6*sqrt(2),-4)--cycle); label("$I$",(-4,8+6*sqrt(2)),dir(100)); label("$J$",(4,8+6*sqrt(2)),dir(80)); label("$A$",(-4,6*sqrt(2)),dir(280)); label("$B$",(4,6*sqrt(2)),dir(250)); label("$C$",(8,0),W); label("$D$",(4,-6*sqrt(2)),NW); label("$E$",(-4,-6*sqrt(2)),NE); label("$F$",(-8,0),E); draw((4,8+6*sqrt(2))--(4,6*sqrt(2))--(4+4*sqrt(3),4+6*sqrt(2))--cycle); label("$K$",(4+4*sqrt(3),4+6*sqrt(2)),E); draw((4+4*sqrt(3),4+6*sqrt(2))--(8,0),dashed); label("$H$",(-4-6*sqrt(2),-4-6*sqrt(2)),S); label("$G$",(-8-6*sqrt(2),-4),W); label("$32$",(-10,-8),N); label("$18$",(0,6*sqrt(2)+2),N); [/asy]

$\textbf{(A) }6\sqrt{2}\quad\textbf{(B) }9\quad\textbf{(C) }12\quad\textbf{(D) }9\sqrt{2}\quad\textbf{(E) }32$.

Solution 1

Clearly, since $\overline{FE}$ is a side of a square with area $32$, $\overline{FE} = \sqrt{32} = 4 \sqrt{2}$. Now, since $\overline{FE} = \overline{BC}$, we have $\overline{BC} = 4 \sqrt{2}$.

Now, $\overline{JB}$ is a side of a square with area $18$, so $\overline{JB} = \sqrt{18} = 3 \sqrt{2}$. Since $\Delta JBK$ is equilateral, $\overline{BK} = 3 \sqrt{2}$.

Lastly, $\Delta KBC$ is a right triangle. We see that $\angle JBA + \angle ABC + \angle CBK + \angle KBJ = 360^{\circ} \rightarrow 90^{\circ} + 120^{\circ} + \angle CBK + 60^{\circ} = 360^{\circ} \rightarrow \angle CBK = 90^{\circ}$, so $\Delta KBC$ is a right triangle with legs $3 \sqrt{2}$ and $4 \sqrt{2}$. Now, its area is $\dfrac{3 \sqrt{2} \cdot 4 \sqrt{2}}{2} = \dfrac{24}{2} = \boxed{\textbf{(C)}~12}$.

Solution 2

Since $\overline{FE} = \sqrt{32}$, and $\overline{FE} = \overline{BC}$, $\overline{BC} = 4\sqrt{2}$. Meanwhile, $\overline{JB} = 3\sqrt{2}$, and since $\triangle JBK$ is equilateral, $\overline{BK} = 3\sqrt{2}$. If $ABCDEF$ is equiangular, $\angle ABC = \frac{180 \cdot (n-2)}{n} = 120^{\circ}$, where $n$ is the number of sides of the shape. Adding all the angles around $B$ gives $270^{\circ}$, so $\angle KBC = 360 - 90 = 270^{\circ}$. Because $\triangle KBC$ is right, the area of $\triangle KBC = \frac{4\sqrt{2} \cdot 3\sqrt{2}} {2} = 12$. Therefore, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}~12}$. ~strongstephen

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/mUBhWTlvuLQ

~savannahsolver

See Also

2015 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png