Difference between revisions of "1965 AHSME Problems/Problem 25"

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Lines <math>AC</math> and <math>CE</math> are drawn to form <math>\angle{ACE}</math>. For this angle to be a right angle it is necessary that quadrilateral <math>ABCD</math> have:  
 
Lines <math>AC</math> and <math>CE</math> are drawn to form <math>\angle{ACE}</math>. For this angle to be a right angle it is necessary that quadrilateral <math>ABCD</math> have:  
  
<math>\textbf{(A)}\ \text{all angles equal}  
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<math>\textbf{(A)}\ \text{all angles equal} \qquad
 
\textbf{(B) }\ \text{all sides equal} \\
 
\textbf{(B) }\ \text{all sides equal} \\
 
\textbf{(C) }\ \text{two pairs of equal sides} \qquad
 
\textbf{(C) }\ \text{two pairs of equal sides} \qquad
 
\textbf{(D) }\ \text{one pair of equal sides} \\
 
\textbf{(D) }\ \text{one pair of equal sides} \\
\textbf{(E) }\ \text{one pair of equal angles} </math>   \qquad
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\textbf{(E) }\ \text{one pair of equal angles} </math>
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
<math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)}}</math>
 
  
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<asy>
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draw((0,0)--(16,0));
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dot((0,0));
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label("A", (-1,-1));
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dot((8,0));
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label("B",(8,-1));
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dot((16,0));
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label("E",(17,-1));
 +
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draw((0,0)--(8*sqrt(3),4)--(16,0));
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draw((8,0)--(8*sqrt(3),4));
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dot((8*sqrt(3),4));
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label("C", (8*sqrt(3)+0.75,5));
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draw((0,0)--(2,6)--(8*sqrt(3),4));
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dot((2,6));
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label("D", (1,7));
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markscalefactor=0.1;
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draw(rightanglemark((0,0), (8*sqrt(3),4), (16,0)));
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</asy>
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Because <math>\triangle ACE</math> is right, the midpoint of its hypoteneuse (namely, <math>B</math>) is its [[orthocenter]]. Thus, <math>AB=BC</math>, and so two side lengths of quadrilateral <math>ABCD</math> are equal. The placement of <math>D</math> is irrelevant. Thus, our answer is <math>\fbox{\textbf{(D) }one pair of equal sides}</math>.
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==

Latest revision as of 18:52, 18 July 2024

Problem

Let $ABCD$ be a quadrilateral with $AB$ extended to $E$ so that $\overline{AB} = \overline{BE}$. Lines $AC$ and $CE$ are drawn to form $\angle{ACE}$. For this angle to be a right angle it is necessary that quadrilateral $ABCD$ have:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{all angles equal} \qquad \textbf{(B) }\ \text{all sides equal} \\ \textbf{(C) }\ \text{two pairs of equal sides} \qquad \textbf{(D) }\ \text{one pair of equal sides} \\ \textbf{(E) }\ \text{one pair of equal angles}$

Solution

[asy]  draw((0,0)--(16,0)); dot((0,0)); label("A", (-1,-1)); dot((8,0)); label("B",(8,-1)); dot((16,0)); label("E",(17,-1));  draw((0,0)--(8*sqrt(3),4)--(16,0)); draw((8,0)--(8*sqrt(3),4)); dot((8*sqrt(3),4)); label("C", (8*sqrt(3)+0.75,5));  draw((0,0)--(2,6)--(8*sqrt(3),4)); dot((2,6)); label("D", (1,7));  markscalefactor=0.1; draw(rightanglemark((0,0), (8*sqrt(3),4), (16,0)));  [/asy]

Because $\triangle ACE$ is right, the midpoint of its hypoteneuse (namely, $B$) is its orthocenter. Thus, $AB=BC$, and so two side lengths of quadrilateral $ABCD$ are equal. The placement of $D$ is irrelevant. Thus, our answer is $\fbox{\textbf{(D) }one pair of equal sides}$.

See Also

1965 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 24
Followed by
Problem 26
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