Difference between revisions of "2014 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 22"

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[[Category: Introductory Geometry Problems]]
 
[[Category: Introductory Geometry Problems]]
  
==Solution==
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==Solution (Trigonmetry)==
 
Note that <math>\tan 15^\circ=\frac{EC}{10} \Rightarrow EC=20-10 \sqrt 3</math>. (If you do not know the tangent half-angle formula, it is <math>\frac{1-\cos \theta}{\sin \theta}</math>).  Therefore, we have <math>DE=10\sqrt 3</math>. Since <math>ADE</math> is a <math>30-60-90</math> triangle, <math>AE=2 \cdot AD=2 \cdot 10=\boxed{\textbf{(E)} \: 20}</math>
 
Note that <math>\tan 15^\circ=\frac{EC}{10} \Rightarrow EC=20-10 \sqrt 3</math>. (If you do not know the tangent half-angle formula, it is <math>\frac{1-\cos \theta}{\sin \theta}</math>).  Therefore, we have <math>DE=10\sqrt 3</math>. Since <math>ADE</math> is a <math>30-60-90</math> triangle, <math>AE=2 \cdot AD=2 \cdot 10=\boxed{\textbf{(E)} \: 20}</math>
  

Revision as of 19:38, 16 January 2016

Problem

In rectangle $ABCD$, $\overline{AB}=20$ and $\overline{BC}=10$. Let $E$ be a point on $\overline{CD}$ such that $\angle CBE=15^\circ$. What is $\overline{AE}$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \dfrac{20\sqrt3}3\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 10\sqrt3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 18\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 11\sqrt3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 20$

Solution (Trigonmetry)

Note that $\tan 15^\circ=\frac{EC}{10} \Rightarrow EC=20-10 \sqrt 3$. (If you do not know the tangent half-angle formula, it is $\frac{1-\cos \theta}{\sin \theta}$). Therefore, we have $DE=10\sqrt 3$. Since $ADE$ is a $30-60-90$ triangle, $AE=2 \cdot AD=2 \cdot 10=\boxed{\textbf{(E)} \: 20}$

Solution 2 (non-trig)

Let $F$ be a point on line $\overline{CD}$ such that points $C$ and $F$ are distinct and that $\angle EBF = 15^\circ$. By the angle bisector theorem, $\frac{\overline{BC}}{\overline{BF}} = \frac{\overline{CE}}{\overline{EF}}$. Since $\triangle BFC$ is a $30-60-90$ right triangle, $\overline{CF} = \frac{10\sqrt{3}}{3}$ and $\overline{BF} = \frac{20\sqrt{3}}{3}$. Additionally, \[\overline{CE} + \overline{EF} = \overline{CF} = \frac{10\sqrt{3}}{3}\]Now, substituting in the obtained values, we get $\frac{10}{\frac{20\sqrt{3}}{3}} = \frac{\overline{CE}}{\overline{EF}} \Rightarrow \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\overline{CE} = \overline{EF}$ and $\overline{CE} + \overline{EF} = \frac{10\sqrt{3}}{3}$. Substituting the first equation into the second yields $\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\overline{CE} + \overline{CE} = \frac{10\sqrt{3}}{3} \Rightarrow \overline{CE} = 20 - 10\sqrt{3}$, so $\overline{DE} = 10\sqrt{3}$. Because $\triangle ADE$ is a $30-60-90$ triangle, $\overline{AE} = \boxed{\textbf{(E)}~20}$.

See Also

2014 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 21
Followed by
Problem 23
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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