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

1958 AHSME Problems/Problem 47

Revision as of 00:46, 18 August 2022 by Lovesummer (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

$ABCD$ is a rectangle (see the accompanying diagram) with $P$ any point on $\overline{AB}$. $\overline{PS} \perp \overline{BD}$ and $\overline{PR} \perp \overline{AC}$. $\overline{AF} \perp \overline{BD}$ and $\overline{PQ} \perp \overline{AF}$. Then $PR + PS$ is equal to:

[asy] draw((-2,-1)--(-2,1)--(2,1)--(2,-1)--cycle,dot); draw((-2,-1)--(2,1)--(2,-1)--(-2,1),dot); draw((-2,1)--(-6/5,-3/5),black+linewidth(.75)); draw((6/5,3/5)--(1,1)--(-3/2+1/10,-2/10),black+linewidth(.75)); draw((1,1)--(1-3/5,1-6/5),black+linewidth(.75)); MP("A",(-2,1),NW);MP("B",(2,1),NE);MP("C",(2,-1),SE);MP("D",(-2,-1),SW); MP("Q",(-3/2+1/10,-2/10),W);MP("T",(-2/5,1/5),N);MP("P",(1,1),N); MP("F",(-6/5,-3/5),SE);MP("E",(0,0),S);MP("S",(6/5,3/5),S);MP("R",(1-3/5,1-6/5),S); [/asy]

$\textbf{(A)}\ PQ\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ AE\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ PT + AT\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ AF\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ EF$

\usepackage{amssymb}

Solution

Since $\overline{\rm PQ}$ and $\overline{\rm BD}$ are both perpendicular to $\overline{\rm AF}$, $\overline{\rm PQ} || \overline{\rm BD}$. Thus, $\angle APQ = \angle ABD$.

$\angle ABD$ and $\angle CAB$ are also congruent because $ABCD$ is a rectangle. Thus, $\angle APQ = \angle ABD = \angle CAB$.

Since $\angle APQ = \angle CAB$, $\triangle APT$ is isosceles with $PT = AT$.

$\angle ATQ$ and $\angle PTR$ are vertical angles, and thus congruent. Thus, since $\angle ATQ = \angle PTR$, $\angle AQT = \angle PRT = 90 ^{\circ}$, and $PT = AT$, $\triangle ATQ \cong \triangle PTR$, so $AQ = PR$.

We also know that $PSFQ$ is a rectangle, since $\overline{\rm PS} \perp \overline{\rm BD}$, $\overline{\rm BF} \perp \overline{\rm AF}$, and $\overline{\rm PQ} \perp \overline{\rm AF}$.

Since $PSFQ$ is a rectangle, $QF = PS$. We also found earlier that $AQ = PR$. Thus, $PR + PS = AQ + QF = AF$

Our answer is $PR + PS = \fbox{D) AF}$

See Also

1958 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 46 		Followed by
Problem 48
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 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50
All AHSME 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=1958_AHSME_Problems/Problem_47&oldid=177138"