Difference between revisions of "2015 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 20"

Revision as of 02:34, 5 February 2015

Problem

Isosceles triangles $T$ and $T'$ are not congruent but have the same area and the same perimeter. The sides of $T$ have lengths $5$ , $5$ , and $8$ , while those of $T'$ have lengths $a$ , $a$ , and $b$ . Which of the following numbers is closest to $b$ ?

$\textbf{(A) }3\qquad\textbf{(B) }4\qquad\textbf{(C) }5\qquad\textbf{(D) }6\qquad\textbf{(E) }8$

Solution

Solution 1

The area of $T$ is $\dfrac{1}{2} \cdot 8 \cdot 3 = 12$ and the perimeter is 18.

The area of $T'$ is $\dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}$ and the perimeter is $2a + b$ .

Thus $2a + b = 18$ , so $2a = 18 - b$ .

Thus $12 = \dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}$ , so $48 = b \sqrt{4a^2 - b^2} = b \sqrt{(18 - b)^2 - b^2} = b \sqrt{324 - 36b}$ .

We square and divide 36 from both sides to obtain $64 = b^2 (9 - b)$ , so $b^3 - 9b^2 + 64 = 0$ . This factors as $(b - 8)(b^2 - b - 8) = 0$ . Because clearly $b \neq 8$ but $b > 0$ , we have $b = \dfrac{1 + \sqrt{33}}{2} < \dfrac{1 + 6}{2} = 3.5.$ The answer is $\textbf{(A)}$ .

Solution 2

Triangle $T$ , being isosceles, has an area of $\frac{1}{2}(8)\sqrt{5^2-4^2}=12$ and a perimeter of $5+5+8=18$ . Triangle $T'$ similarly has an area of $\frac{1}{2}(b)\bigg(\sqrt{a^2-\frac{b^2}{4}}\bigg)=12$ and $2a+b=18$ .

Now we apply our computational fortitude.

$\frac{1}{2}(b)\bigg(\sqrt{a^2-\frac{b^2}{4}}\bigg)=12$ $(b)\bigg(\sqrt{a^2-\frac{b^2}{4}}\bigg)=24$ $(b)\sqrt{4a^2-b^2}=48$ $b^2(4a^2-b^2)=48^2$ $b^2(2a+b)(2a-b)=48^2$ Plug in $2a+b=18$ to obtain $18b^2(2a-b)=48^2$ $b^2(2a-b)=128$ Plug in $2a=18-b$ to obtain $b^2(18-2b)=128$ $2b^3-18b^2+128=0$ $b^3-9b^2+64=0$ We know that $b=8$ is a valid solution by $T$ . Factoring out $b-8$ , we obtain $(b-8)(b^2-b-8)=0 \Rightarrow b^2-b-8=0$ Utilizing the quadratic formula gives $b=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{33}}{2}$ We clearly must pick the positive solution. Note that $5<\sqrt{33}<6$ , and so ${3<\frac{1+\sqrt{33}}{2}<\frac{7}{2}}$ , which clearly gives an answer of $\fbox{A}$ , as desired.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 The area of <math>T</math> is <math>\dfrac{1}{2} \cdot 8 \cdot 3 = 12</math> and the perimeter is 18.
-The area of <math>T</math> is <math>\dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}</math> and the perimeter is <math>2a + b</math>.
+The area of <math>T'</math> is <math>\dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}</math> and the perimeter is <math>2a + b</math>.
-Thus <math>2a + b = 18</math>, so <math>2a = 18 - a</math>.
+Thus <math>2a + b = 18</math>, so <math>2a = 18 - b</math>.
 Thus <math>12 = \dfrac{1}{2} b \sqrt{a^2 - (\dfrac{b}{2})^2}</math>, so <math>48 = b \sqrt{4a^2 - b^2} = b \sqrt{(18 - b)^2 - b^2} = b \sqrt{324 - 36b}</math>.

2015 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 19	Followed by Problem 21
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