Difference between revisions of "2024 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 10"

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<math>\textbf{(A) }\frac{\alpha}{3}\qquad \textbf{(B) }\alpha - \frac{\pi}{8}\qquad \textbf{(C) }\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha \qquad \textbf{(D) }\frac{\alpha}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\pi - 4\alpha\qquad</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A) }\frac{\alpha}{3}\qquad \textbf{(B) }\alpha - \frac{\pi}{8}\qquad \textbf{(C) }\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha \qquad \textbf{(D) }\frac{\alpha}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\pi - 4\alpha\qquad</math>
 
==Solution 1==
 
==Solution 1==
From question,
+
From the question,
<cmath>tan\alpha=\frac{3}{4}, \space tan\beta=\frac{7}{24}</cmath>
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<cmath>\tan\alpha=\frac{3}{4}, \space \tan\beta=\frac{7}{24}</cmath>
<cmath>tan(\alpha+\beta)= \frac{tan\alpha+tan\beta}{1-tan\alpha tan\beta}</cmath>
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<cmath>\tan(\alpha+\beta)= \frac{\tan\alpha+\tan\beta}{1-\tan\alpha\tan\beta}</cmath>
<cmath>tan(\alpha+\beta)= \frac{\frac{3}{4}+\frac{7}{24}}{1-\frac{3}{4} \cdot \frac{7}{24}}</cmath>
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<cmath>\tan(\alpha+\beta)= \frac{\frac{3}{4}+\frac{7}{24}}{1-\frac{3}{4} \cdot \frac{7}{24}}</cmath>
<cmath>tan(\alpha+\beta)=\frac{4}{3}</cmath>
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<cmath>\tan(\alpha+\beta)=\frac{4}{3}</cmath>
<cmath>\alpha+\beta=tan^{-1}(\frac{4}{3})</cmath>
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<cmath>\alpha+\beta=\tan^{-1}(\frac{4}{3})</cmath>
 
<cmath>\alpha+\beta=\frac{\pi}{2}-\alpha</cmath>
 
<cmath>\alpha+\beta=\frac{\pi}{2}-\alpha</cmath>
<math></math>\beta=\fbox{(C) <math>\frac{\pi}{2} -2\alpha</math>}<math></math>
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<cmath>\beta=\boxed{(C) \frac{\pi}{2} -2\alpha}</cmath>
 
~lptoggled
 
~lptoggled
 
  
 
==Solution 2: Trial and Error ==  
 
==Solution 2: Trial and Error ==  
 
Another approach to solving this problem is trial and error, comparing the sine of the answer choices with <math>\sin\beta = \frac{7}{25}</math>. Starting with the easiest sine to compute from the answer choices (option choice D). We get:
 
Another approach to solving this problem is trial and error, comparing the sine of the answer choices with <math>\sin\beta = \frac{7}{25}</math>. Starting with the easiest sine to compute from the answer choices (option choice D). We get:
<cmath>\sin{(\frac{\alpha}{2})} = \sqrt{\frac{1 - \cos\alpha}{2}}</cmath>
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<cmath>\sin{(\frac{\alpha}{2})} = \sqrt{\frac{1 - \cos{\alpha}}{2}}</cmath>
 
<cmath>= \sqrt{\frac{1 - \frac{4}{5}}{2}}</cmath>
 
<cmath>= \sqrt{\frac{1 - \frac{4}{5}}{2}}</cmath>
 
<cmath>= \sqrt{\frac{1}{10}}</cmath>
 
<cmath>= \sqrt{\frac{1}{10}}</cmath>
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The next easiest sine to compute is option choice C.
 
The next easiest sine to compute is option choice C.
<cmath>\sin(\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha) == \sin(\frac{\pi}{2})\cos{2\alpha}</cmath>
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<cmath>\sin{(\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha)} = \sin{(\frac{\pi}{2})}\cos{(2\alpha)}</cmath>
 
<cmath>=\cos{2\alpha}</cmath>
 
<cmath>=\cos{2\alpha}</cmath>
 
<cmath>=\cos^2{\alpha} - \sin^2{\alpha}</cmath>
 
<cmath>=\cos^2{\alpha} - \sin^2{\alpha}</cmath>
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<cmath>=\frac{7}{25}</cmath>
 
<cmath>=\frac{7}{25}</cmath>
  
Since <math>\sin(\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha)</math> is equal to <math>\sin\beta</math>, option choice C is the correct answer. -amshah
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Since <math>\sin(\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha)</math> is equal to <math>\sin\beta</math>, option choice C is the correct answer. ~amshah
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2024|ab=A|num-b=9|num-a=11}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2024|ab=A|num-b=9|num-a=11}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 19:57, 8 November 2024

Problem

Let $\alpha$ be the radian measure of the smallest angle in a $3{-}4{-}5$ right triangle. Let $\beta$ be the radian measure of the smallest angle in a $7{-}24{-}25$ right triangle. In terms of $\alpha$, what is $\beta$?

$\textbf{(A) }\frac{\alpha}{3}\qquad \textbf{(B) }\alpha - \frac{\pi}{8}\qquad \textbf{(C) }\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha \qquad \textbf{(D) }\frac{\alpha}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\pi - 4\alpha\qquad$

Solution 1

From the question, \[\tan\alpha=\frac{3}{4}, \space \tan\beta=\frac{7}{24}\] \[\tan(\alpha+\beta)= \frac{\tan\alpha+\tan\beta}{1-\tan\alpha\tan\beta}\] \[\tan(\alpha+\beta)= \frac{\frac{3}{4}+\frac{7}{24}}{1-\frac{3}{4} \cdot \frac{7}{24}}\] \[\tan(\alpha+\beta)=\frac{4}{3}\] \[\alpha+\beta=\tan^{-1}(\frac{4}{3})\] \[\alpha+\beta=\frac{\pi}{2}-\alpha\] \[\beta=\boxed{(C) \frac{\pi}{2} -2\alpha}\] ~lptoggled

Solution 2: Trial and Error

Another approach to solving this problem is trial and error, comparing the sine of the answer choices with $\sin\beta = \frac{7}{25}$. Starting with the easiest sine to compute from the answer choices (option choice D). We get: \[\sin{(\frac{\alpha}{2})} = \sqrt{\frac{1 - \cos{\alpha}}{2}}\] \[= \sqrt{\frac{1 - \frac{4}{5}}{2}}\] \[= \sqrt{\frac{1}{10}}\] \[\neq \frac{7}{25}\]

The next easiest sine to compute is option choice C. \[\sin{(\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha)} = \sin{(\frac{\pi}{2})}\cos{(2\alpha)}\] \[=\cos{2\alpha}\] \[=\cos^2{\alpha} - \sin^2{\alpha}\] \[=\frac{16}{25} - \frac{9}{25}\] \[=\frac{7}{25}\]

Since $\sin(\frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha)$ is equal to $\sin\beta$, option choice C is the correct answer. ~amshah

See also

2024 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 9
Followed by
Problem 11
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

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