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Difference between revisions of "2003 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21"

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label("$A$", (0,0), SW);
 
label("$A$", (0,0), SW);
 
label("$D$", (31,0), SE);
 
label("$D$", (31,0), SE);
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label("$F$", (8,0), SW);
 
 
label("$B$", (6,8), NW);
 
label("$B$", (6,8), NW);
 
label("$C$", (16,8), NE);
 
label("$C$", (16,8), NE);
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label("8", (11,4), E);
 
label("8", (11,4), E);
 
label("17", (22.5,5), E);</asy>
 
label("17", (22.5,5), E);</asy>
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<math>\textbf{(A)}\ 9\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 10\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 12\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 15\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 20</math>
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==

Latest revision as of 09:37, 14 June 2024

Problem

The area of trapezoid $ABCD$ is $164\text{ cm}^2$. The altitude is 8 cm, $AB$ is 10 cm, and $CD$ is 17 cm. What is $BC$, in centimeters?

[asy]/* AMC8 2003 #21 Problem */ size(4inch,2inch); draw((0,0)--(31,0)--(16,8)--(6,8)--cycle); draw((11,8)--(11,0), linetype("8 4")); draw((11,1)--(12,1)--(12,0)); label("$A$", (0,0), SW); label("$D$", (31,0), SE); label("$B$", (6,8), NW); label("$C$", (16,8), NE); label("10", (3,5), W); label("8", (11,4), E); label("17", (22.5,5), E);[/asy]

$\textbf{(A)}\ 9\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 10\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 12\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 15\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 20$

Solution

Using the formula for the area of a trapezoid, we have $164=8(\frac{BC+AD}{2})$. Thus $BC+AD=41$. Drop perpendiculars from $B$ to $AD$ and from $C$ to $AD$ and let them hit $AD$ at $E$ and $F$ respectively. Note that each of these perpendiculars has length $8$. From the Pythagorean Theorem, $AE=6$ and $DF=15$ thus $AD=BC+21$. Substituting back into our original equation we have $BC+BC+21=41$ thus $BC=\boxed{\text{(B)}\ 10}$

See Also

2003 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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

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