Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2015 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 19"
(→‎Solution)
Line 9: Line 9:
 
<math>\triangle ADC</math> can be split into a <math>45-45-90</math> right triangle and a <math>30-60-90</math> right triangle by dropping a perpendicular from <math>D</math> to side <math>AC</math>. Let <math>F</math> be where that perpendicular intersects <math>AC</math>.
 
<math>\triangle ADC</math> can be split into a <math>45-45-90</math> right triangle and a <math>30-60-90</math> right triangle by dropping a perpendicular from <math>D</math> to side <math>AC</math>. Let <math>F</math> be where that perpendicular intersects <math>AC</math>.
  
−
Because the side lengths of a <math>45-45-90</math> right triangle are in ratio <math>a:a:2a</math>, <math>DF = AF</math>.
+
Because the side lengths of a <math>45-45-90</math> right triangle are in ratio <math>a:a:a/sqrt{2}</math>, <math>DF = AF</math>.
  
 
Because the side lengths of a <math>30-60-90</math> right triangle are in ratio <math>a:a\sqrt{3}:2a</math> and <math>AF</math> + <math>FC = 5</math>, <math>DF = \frac{5 - AF}{\sqrt{3}}</math>.
 
Because the side lengths of a <math>30-60-90</math> right triangle are in ratio <math>a:a\sqrt{3}:2a</math> and <math>AF</math> + <math>FC = 5</math>, <math>DF = \frac{5 - AF}{\sqrt{3}}</math>.

Revision as of 23:52, 7 March 2015

Problem

The isosceles right triangle $ABC$ has right angle at $C$ and area $12.5$. The rays trisecting $\angle ACB$ intersect $AB$ at $D$ and $E$. What is the area of $\bigtriangleup CDE$?

$\textbf{(A) }\dfrac{5\sqrt{2}}{3}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac{50\sqrt{3}-75}{4}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\dfrac{15\sqrt{3}}{8}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\dfrac{50-25\sqrt{3}}{2}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\dfrac{25}{6}$

Solution

$\triangle ADC$ can be split into a $45-45-90$ right triangle and a $30-60-90$ right triangle by dropping a perpendicular from $D$ to side $AC$. Let $F$ be where that perpendicular intersects $AC$.

Because the side lengths of a $45-45-90$ right triangle are in ratio $a:a:a/sqrt{2}$, $DF = AF$.

Because the side lengths of a $30-60-90$ right triangle are in ratio $a:a\sqrt{3}:2a$ and $AF$ + $FC = 5$, $DF = \frac{5 - AF}{\sqrt{3}}$.

Setting the two equations for $DF$ equal to each other, $AF = \frac{5 - AF}{\sqrt{3}}$.

Solving gives $AF = DF = \frac{5\sqrt{3} - 5}{2}$.

The area of $\triangle ADC = \frac12 \cdot DF \cdot AC = \frac{25\sqrt{3} - 25}{4}$.

$\triangle ADC$ is congruent to $\triangle BEC$, so their areas are equal.

A triangle's area can be written as the sum of the figures that make it up, so $[ABC] = [ADC] + [BEC] + [CDE]$.

$\frac{25}{2} = \frac{25\sqrt{3} - 25}{4} + \frac{25\sqrt{3} - 25}{4} + [CDE]$.

Solving gives $[CDE] = \frac{50 - 25\sqrt{3}}{2}$, so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) }\frac{50 - 25\sqrt{3}}{2}}$

Solution 2

The area of $\triangle ABC$ is $12.5$, and so the leg length of $45 - 45 - 90$ $\triangle ABC$ is $5.$ Thus, the altitude to hypotenuse $AB$, $CF$, has length $\dfrac{5}{\sqrt{2}}$ by $45 - 45 - 90$ right triangles. Now, it is clear that $\angle{ACD} = \angle{BCE} = 30^\circ$, and so by the Exterior Angle Theorem, $\triangle{CDE}$ is an isosceles $30 - 75 - 75$ triangle. Thus, $DF = CF \tan 15^\circ = \dfrac{5}{\sqrt{2}} (2 - \sqrt{3})$, and so the area of $\triangle CDE$ is $DF \cdot CF = \dfrac{25}{2} (2 - \sqrt{3})$. The answer is thus $\boxed{\textbf{(D) } \frac{50 - 25\sqrt{3}}{2}}$

See Also

2015 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 18 		Followed by
Problem 20
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

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2015_AMC_10A_Problems/Problem_19&oldid=68574"