Difference between revisions of "2005 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 3"

(Problem)
(Solution)
Line 11: Line 11:
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
 +
<asy>
 +
size(5cm);
 +
pen f = fontsize(10);
 +
pair A = (0,0);
 +
pair B = (0,1);
 +
pair C = (2,1);
 +
pair DD = (2,0);
 +
D(A--B--C--DD--cycle);
 +
D(A--C);
 +
MP("2w",(A+DD)/2,plain.N,f);
 +
MP("w",(C+DD)/2,plain.E,f);
 +
MP("x",(A+C)/2,plain.NW,f);
 +
</asy>
 +
Using the Pythagorean theorem, we have
 +
 +
<math>w^2+(2w)^2=x^2 \Rightarrow 5w^2 = x^2 \Rightarrow w^2 = x^2/5.</math>
 +
 +
<math>\therefore \mbox{Area} = w \cdot 2w = 2w^2 = \boxed{\frac25x^2}</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
* [[2005 AMC 12B Problems]]
 
* [[2005 AMC 12B Problems]]

Revision as of 20:47, 17 April 2009

Problem

A rectangle with a diagonal of length $x$ is twice as long as it is wide. What is the area of the rectangle?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ \frac14x^2      \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ \frac25x^2      \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ \frac12x^2      \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ x^2      \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ \frac32x^2$

Solution

[asy] size(5cm); pen f = fontsize(10); pair A = (0,0); pair B = (0,1); pair C = (2,1); pair DD = (2,0); D(A--B--C--DD--cycle); D(A--C); MP("2w",(A+DD)/2,plain.N,f); MP("w",(C+DD)/2,plain.E,f); MP("x",(A+C)/2,plain.NW,f); [/asy] Using the Pythagorean theorem, we have

$w^2+(2w)^2=x^2 \Rightarrow 5w^2 = x^2 \Rightarrow w^2 = x^2/5.$

$\therefore \mbox{Area} = w \cdot 2w = 2w^2 = \boxed{\frac25x^2}$.

See also