Difference between revisions of "2019 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 15"

(Solution)
Line 7: Line 7:
  
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
{{Solution}}
+
 
 +
First of all, name the two sides which are congruent to be <math>x</math> and <math>y</math>, where <math>y > x</math>. The only way that the conditions of the problem can be satisfied is if <math>x</math> was the shorter leg of <math>T_{2}</math> and the longer leg of <math>T_{1}</math>, and <math>y</math> is the longer leg of <math>T_{2}</math> and the hypotenuse of <math>T_{1}</math>.
 +
 
 +
Notice that this means the value we are looking for is the square of <math>\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}} \cdot \sqrt{y^{2}-x^{2}} = \sqrt{y^{4}-x^{4}}</math>, which is just <math>y^{4}-x^{4}</math>.
 +
 
 +
We have two equations: <math>\frac{xy}{2} = 2</math> and <math>\frac{x\sqrt{y^{2}-x^{2}}}{2} = 1</math>.
 +
 
 +
This means that <math>y = \frac{4}{x}</math> and that <math>\frac{4}{x^{2}} = y^{2} - x^{2}</math>.
 +
 
 +
Taking the second equation, we get <math>x^{2}y^{2} - x^{4} = 4</math>, so since <math>xy = 4</math>, <math>x^{4} = 12</math>.
 +
 
 +
Since <math>y = \frac{4}{x}</math>, we get <math>y^{4} = \frac{256}{12} = \frac{64}{3}</math>.
 +
 
 +
The value we are looking for is just <math>y^{4}-x^{4} = \frac{64-36}{3} = \frac{28}{3}</math> so the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(A)}}</math>.
 +
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2019|ab=B|num-b=14|num-a=16}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2019|ab=B|num-b=14|num-a=16}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 15:45, 14 February 2019

Problem

Two right triangles, $T_1$ and $T_2$, have areas of 1 and 2, respectively. One side length of one triangle is congruent to a different side length in the other, and another side length of the first triangle is congruent to yet another side length in the other. What is the product of the third side lengths of $T_1$ and $T_2$?

$\textbf{(A) }\frac{28}{3}\qquad\textbf{(B) }10\qquad\textbf{(C) }\frac{32}{3}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\frac{34}{3}\qquad\textbf{(E) }12$

Solution

First of all, name the two sides which are congruent to be $x$ and $y$, where $y > x$. The only way that the conditions of the problem can be satisfied is if $x$ was the shorter leg of $T_{2}$ and the longer leg of $T_{1}$, and $y$ is the longer leg of $T_{2}$ and the hypotenuse of $T_{1}$.

Notice that this means the value we are looking for is the square of $\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}} \cdot \sqrt{y^{2}-x^{2}} = \sqrt{y^{4}-x^{4}}$, which is just $y^{4}-x^{4}$.

We have two equations: $\frac{xy}{2} = 2$ and $\frac{x\sqrt{y^{2}-x^{2}}}{2} = 1$.

This means that $y = \frac{4}{x}$ and that $\frac{4}{x^{2}} = y^{2} - x^{2}$.

Taking the second equation, we get $x^{2}y^{2} - x^{4} = 4$, so since $xy = 4$, $x^{4} = 12$.

Since $y = \frac{4}{x}$, we get $y^{4} = \frac{256}{12} = \frac{64}{3}$.

The value we are looking for is just $y^{4}-x^{4} = \frac{64-36}{3} = \frac{28}{3}$ so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(A)}}$.


See Also

2019 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 14
Followed by
Problem 16
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

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png