Difference between revisions of "2010 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 17"

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Step 1: Use [[Law of Cosines]] in the same manner as the previous solution to get <math>AC=\sqrt{r^2+r+1}</math>.  
 
Step 1: Use [[Law of Cosines]] in the same manner as the previous solution to get <math>AC=\sqrt{r^2+r+1}</math>.  
  
Step 2: <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>~<math>\triangle{CDE}</math>~<math>\triangle{EFA}</math> via SAS congruency. Using the formula <math>[ABC]=\frac{ab \sin C}{2}= \frac{r \sqrt{3}}{4}</math> and because of the congruency, the area condition, and the fact <math>\triangle{ACE}</math> is equilateral, <math>AC=\sqrt{7r}</math> (more explanation needed).
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Step 2: <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>~<math>\triangle{CDE}</math>~<math>\triangle{EFA}</math> via SAS congruency. Using the formula <math>[ABC]=\frac{ab \sin C}{2}= \frac{r \sqrt{3}}{4}</math>. The area of the hexagon is equal to <math>[ACE] + 3[ABC]</math>. We are given that <math>70\%</math> of this area is equal to <math>[ACE]</math>; solving for <math>AC</math> in terms of <math>r</math> gives <math>AC=\sqrt{7r}</math>.
  
 
Step 3: <math>\sqrt{7r}=\sqrt{r^2+r+1} \implies r^2-6r+1=0</math> and by [[Vieta's Formulas]] , we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{E}}</math>.
 
Step 3: <math>\sqrt{7r}=\sqrt{r^2+r+1} \implies r^2-6r+1=0</math> and by [[Vieta's Formulas]] , we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{E}}</math>.

Revision as of 12:07, 24 January 2020

Problem

Equiangular hexagon $ABCDEF$ has side lengths $AB=CD=EF=1$ and $BC=DE=FA=r$. The area of $\triangle ACE$ is $70\%$ of the area of the hexagon. What is the sum of all possible values of $r$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{4\sqrt{3}}{3} \qquad \textbf{(B)} \frac{10}{3} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 4 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{17}{4} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 6$

Solution 1

It is clear that $\triangle ACE$ is an equilateral triangle. From the Law of Cosines on $\triangle ABC$, we get that $AC^2 = r^2+1^2-2r\cos{\frac{2\pi}{3}} = r^2+r+1$. Therefore, the area of $\triangle ACE$ is $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+r+1)$.

If we extend $BC$, $DE$ and $FA$ so that $FA$ and $BC$ meet at $X$, $BC$ and $DE$ meet at $Y$, and $DE$ and $FA$ meet at $Z$, we find that hexagon $ABCDEF$ is formed by taking equilateral triangle $XYZ$ of side length $r+2$ and removing three equilateral triangles, $ABX$, $CDY$ and $EFZ$, of side length $1$. The area of $ABCDEF$ is therefore

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r+2)^2-\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{4} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+4r+1)$.


Based on the initial conditions,

\[\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+r+1) = \frac{7}{10}\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}\right)(r^2+4r+1)\]

Simplifying this gives us $r^2-6r+1 = 0$. By Vieta's Formulas we know that the sum of the possible value of $r$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ 6}$.

Solution 2

Step 1: Use Law of Cosines in the same manner as the previous solution to get $AC=\sqrt{r^2+r+1}$.

Step 2: $\triangle{ABC}$~$\triangle{CDE}$~$\triangle{EFA}$ via SAS congruency. Using the formula $[ABC]=\frac{ab \sin C}{2}= \frac{r \sqrt{3}}{4}$. The area of the hexagon is equal to $[ACE] + 3[ABC]$. We are given that $70\%$ of this area is equal to $[ACE]$; solving for $AC$ in terms of $r$ gives $AC=\sqrt{7r}$.

Step 3: $\sqrt{7r}=\sqrt{r^2+r+1} \implies r^2-6r+1=0$ and by Vieta's Formulas , we get $\boxed{\textbf{E}}$.

Note: Since $r$ has to be positive we must first check that the discriminant is positive before applying Vieta's. And it indeed is.

See also

2010 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 16
Followed by
Problem 18
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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