2021 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 24
Contents
Problem
The interior of a quadrilateral is bounded by the graphs of and
, where
a positive real number. What is the area of this region in terms of
, valid for all
?
Diagram
Graph in Desmos: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/satawguqsc
~MRENTHUSIASM
Solution 1 (Generalized Value of a)
The cases for are
or two parallel lines. We rearrange each case and construct the table below:
The cases for
are
or two parallel lines. We rearrange each case and construct the table below:
Since the slopes of intersecting lines
and
are negative reciprocals, we get four right angles, from which this quadrilateral is a rectangle.
Recall that for constants and
the distance
between parallel lines
is
From this formula:
- The distance between lines
and
is
the length of this rectangle.
- The distance between lines
and
is
the width of this rectangle.
The area we seek is
~MRENTHUSIASM
Solution 2 (Specified Value of a)
In this solution, we will refer to equations and
from Solution 1.
Substituting into the answer choices gives
At the respective solutions to systems
are
Two solutions follow from here:
Solution 2.1 (Rectangle)
From the tables in Solution 1, we conclude that the quadrilateral is a rectangle.
By the Distance Formula, the length and width of this rectangle are and
respectively.
The area we seek is from which the answer is
~MRENTHUSIASM
Solution 2.2 (Shoelace Theorem)
Even if we do not recognize that the quadrilateral is a rectangle, we can apply the Shoelace Theorem to its consecutive vertices
The area we seek is
from which the answer is
~MRENTHUSIASM
Solution 3 (Trigonometry)
Similar to Solution 1, we will use the equations from the four cases:
This is a line with
-intercept
-intercept
and slope
This is a line with
-intercept
-intercept
and slope
This is a line with
-intercept
-intercept
and slope
This is a line with
-intercept
-intercept
and slope
Let The area of the rectangle created by the four equations can be written as
~fnothing4994 (Solution)
~MRENTHUSIASM (Code Adjustments)
Solution 4 (Observations Version 1)
The conditions and
give
and
or
and
. The slopes here are perpendicular, so the quadrilateral is a rectangle.
Plug in
and graph it. We quickly see that the area is
, so the answer can't be
or
by testing the values they give (test it!). Now plug in
. We see using a ruler that the sides of the rectangle are about
and
. So the area is about
. Testing
, we get
which is clearly less than
, so it is out. Testing
, we get
which is near our answer, so we leave it. Testing
, we get
, way less than
, so it is out. So, the only plausible answer is
.
~firebolt360
Solution 5 (Observations Version 2)
Trying narrows down the choices to options
,
and
. Trying
and
eliminates
and
, to obtain
as our answer.
~¢
Video Solution by OmegaLearn (System of Equations and Shoelace Formula)
~ pi_is_3.14
See also
2021 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 23 |
Followed by Problem 25 | |
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 |
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