2024 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 11

Problem

The coordinates of $\triangle ABC$ are $A(5,7)$, $B(11,7)$, and $C(3,y)$, with $y>7$. The area of $\triangle ABC$ is 12. What is the value of $y$?

[asy]  draw((3,11)--(11,7)--(5,7)--(3,11));  dot((5,7)); label("$A(5,7)$",(5,7),S);  dot((11,7)); label("$B(11,7)$",(11,7),S);  dot((3,11)); label("$C(3,y)$",(3,11),NW);  [/asy]


$\textbf{(A) }8\qquad\textbf{(B) }9\qquad\textbf{(C) }10\qquad\textbf{(D) }11\qquad \textbf{(E) }12$

Solution 1

The triangle has base $6,$ which means its height satisfies \[\dfrac{6h}{2}=3h=12.\] This means that $h=4,$ so the answer is $7+4=\boxed{(D) 11}$

Solution 2

[asy] size(10cm); draw((5,7)--(11,7)--(3,11)--cycle); draw((3,11)--(3,7)--(5,7),red); draw((3,7.5)--(3.5,7.5)--(3.5,7)); label("$A(5,7)$", (5,7),S); label("$B(11,7)$", (11,7),S); label("$C(3,y)$", (3,11),W); label("$D(3,7)$", (3,7),SW); [/asy] Label point $D(3,7)$ as the point at which $CD\perp DA$. We now have $[\triangle ABC] = [\triangle BCD] - [\triangle ACD]$, where the brackets denote areas. On the right hand side, both of these triangles are right, so we can just compute the two sides of each triangle. The two side lengths of $\triangle ACD$ are $y-7$ and $5-3=2$. The two side lengths of $\triangle BCD$ are $y-7$ and $11-3 = 8.$ Now,

\[[\triangle ABC] = 12  = \frac{1}{2}\cdot (y-7)\cdot 8 - \frac{1}{2}\cdot (y-7)\cdot 2  = 3(y-7)\]

Dividing by $3$ gives $y -7 = 4,$ so $y = \boxed{\textbf{(D)\ 11}}.$

-Benedict T (countmath1)

Solution 3

By the Shoelace Theorem, $\triangle ABC$ has area \[\frac{1}{2}|(y \cdot 11 + 7 \cdot 5 + 7 \cdot 3) - (3 \cdot 7 + 11 \cdot 7 + 5 \cdot y)| = \frac{1}{2}|(11y + 56) - (98 + 5y)| = \frac{1}{2}|6y - 42|\]. From the problem, this is equal to $12$. We now solve for y.

$\frac{1}{2}|6y - 42| = 12$

$|6y-42| = 24$

$6y - 42 = 24$ OR $6y - 42 = -24$

$6y = 66$ OR $6y = 18$

$y = 11$ OR $y = 3$

However, since, as stated in the problem, $y > 7$, our only valid solution is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)} 11}$.

~ cxsmi

Solution 4

As in the figure, the triangle is determined by the vectors $\begin{bmatrix}-2 \\ y-7\end{bmatrix}$ and $\begin{bmatrix}6\\0\end{bmatrix}$. Recall that the absolute value of the determinant of these vectors is the area of the parallelogram determined by those vectors; the triangle has half the area of that parallelogram. Then we must have that $\frac{1}{2}|\begin{vmatrix}-2 & y-7\\6 & 0\end{vmatrix}| = 12 \implies \begin{vmatrix}-2 & y-7\\6 & 0\end{vmatrix} = \pm 24$. Expanding the determinants, we find that $-6(y-7) = 24$ or $-6(y-7) = -24$. Solving each equation individually, we find that $y = 3$ or $y = 11$. However, the problem states that $y > 7$, so the only valid solution is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)} 11}$.

~ cxsmi (again!)

Video Solution (easy to digest) by Power Solve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UIVXOB4f0o

Video Solution by Math-X (First understand the problem!!!)

https://youtu.be/BaE00H2SHQM?si=qhPbhu8o5hamBrtb&t=2315

~Math-X

Video Solution by NiuniuMaths (Easy to understand!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-xN8Njd_Lc

~NiuniuMaths

Video Solution 3 by SpreadTheMathLove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRTxlduaDs8

Video Solution by CosineMethod [🔥Fast and Easy🔥]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-64aBL-lEVg

Video Solution by Interstigation

https://youtu.be/ktzijuZtDas&t=1063

See Also

2024 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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

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