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Difference between revisions of "2017 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 19"

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==Problem==
  
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A square with side length <math>x</math> is inscribed in a right triangle with sides of length <math>3</math>, <math>4</math>, and <math>5</math> so that one vertex of the square coincides with the right-angle vertex of the triangle. A square with side length <math>y</math> is inscribed in another right triangle with sides of length <math>3</math>, <math>4</math>, and <math>5</math> so that one side of the square lies on the hypotenuse of the triangle. What is <math>\frac{x}{y}</math>?
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<math> \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{12}{13}
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\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{35}{37}
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\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1
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\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{37}{35}
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\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{13}{12}</math>
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==Solution 1==
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Analyze the first right triangle.
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<asy>
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pair A,B,C;
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pair D, e, F;
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A = (0,0);
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B = (4,0);
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C = (0,3);
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D = (0, 12/7);
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e = (12/7 , 12/7);
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F = (12/7, 0);
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draw(A--B--C--cycle);
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draw(D--e--F);
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label("$x$", D/2, W);
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label("$A$", A, SW);
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label("$B$", B, SE);
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label("$C$", C, N);
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label("$D$", D, W);
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label("$E$", e, NE);
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label("$F$", F, S);
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</asy>
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Note that <math>\triangle ABC</math> and <math>\triangle FBE</math> are similar, so <math>\frac{BF}{FE} = \frac{AB}{AC}</math>. This can be written as <math>\frac{4-x}{x}=\frac{4}{3}</math>. Solving, <math>x = \frac{12}{7}</math>.
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Now we analyze the second triangle.
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<asy>
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pair A,B,C;
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pair q, R, S, T;
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A = (0,0);
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B = (4,0);
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C = (0,3);
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q = (1.297, 0);
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R = (2.27 , 1.297);
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S = (0.973, 2.27);
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T  = (0, 0.973);
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draw(A--B--C--cycle);
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draw(q--R--S--T--cycle);
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label("$y$", (q+R)/2, NW);
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label("$A'$", A, SW);
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label("$B'$", B, SE);
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label("$C'$", C, N);
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label("$Q$", (q-(0,0.3)));
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label("$R$", R, NE);
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label("$S$", S, NE);
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label("$T$", T, W);
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</asy>
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Similarly, <math>\triangle A'B'C'</math> and <math>\triangle RB'Q</math> are similar, so <math>RB' = \frac{4}{3}y</math>, and <math>C'S = \frac{3}{4}y</math>. Thus, <math>C'B' = C'S + SR + RB' = \frac{4}{3}y + y + \frac{3}{4}y = 5</math>. Solving for <math>y</math>, we get <math>y = \frac{60}{37}</math>. Thus, <math>\frac{x}{y} = \frac{37}{35} \implies \boxed{\textbf{D}}</math>.
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==Video Solution (HOW TO THINK CREATIVELY!!!)==
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https://youtu.be/BbEgHNtuY8c
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~Education, the Study of Everything
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==See Also==
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{{AMC10 box|year=2017|ab=A|num-b=20|num-a=22}}
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{{AMC12 box|year=2017|ab=A|num-b=18|num-a=20}}
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 13:55, 10 June 2023

Problem

A square with side length $x$ is inscribed in a right triangle with sides of length $3$, $4$, and $5$ so that one vertex of the square coincides with the right-angle vertex of the triangle. A square with side length $y$ is inscribed in another right triangle with sides of length $3$, $4$, and $5$ so that one side of the square lies on the hypotenuse of the triangle. What is $\frac{x}{y}$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{12}{13} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{35}{37} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{37}{35} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{13}{12}$

Solution 1

Analyze the first right triangle.

[asy] pair A,B,C; pair D, e, F; A = (0,0); B = (4,0); C = (0,3); D = (0, 12/7); e = (12/7 , 12/7); F = (12/7, 0); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(D--e--F); label("$x$", D/2, W); label("$A$", A, SW); label("$B$", B, SE); label("$C$", C, N); label("$D$", D, W); label("$E$", e, NE); label("$F$", F, S); [/asy]

Note that $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle FBE$ are similar, so $\frac{BF}{FE} = \frac{AB}{AC}$. This can be written as $\frac{4-x}{x}=\frac{4}{3}$. Solving, $x = \frac{12}{7}$.

Now we analyze the second triangle.


[asy] pair A,B,C; pair q, R, S, T; A = (0,0); B = (4,0); C = (0,3); q = (1.297, 0); R = (2.27 , 1.297); S = (0.973, 2.27); T = (0, 0.973); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(q--R--S--T--cycle); label("$y$", (q+R)/2, NW); label("$A'$", A, SW); label("$B'$", B, SE); label("$C'$", C, N); label("$Q$", (q-(0,0.3))); label("$R$", R, NE); label("$S$", S, NE); label("$T$", T, W); [/asy]

Similarly, $\triangle A'B'C'$ and $\triangle RB'Q$ are similar, so $RB' = \frac{4}{3}y$, and $C'S = \frac{3}{4}y$. Thus, $C'B' = C'S + SR + RB' = \frac{4}{3}y + y + \frac{3}{4}y = 5$. Solving for $y$, we get $y = \frac{60}{37}$. Thus, $\frac{x}{y} = \frac{37}{35} \implies \boxed{\textbf{D}}$.

Video Solution (HOW TO THINK CREATIVELY!!!)

https://youtu.be/BbEgHNtuY8c

~Education, the Study of Everything

See Also

2017 AMC 10A (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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions
2017 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 18 		Followed by
Problem 20
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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