2023 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 24

Problem

Isosceles $\triangle ABC$ has equal side lengths $AB$ and $BC$ . In the figure below, segments are drawn parallel to $\overline{AC}$ so that the shaded portions of $\triangle ABC$ have the same area. The heights of the two unshaded portions are 11 and 5 units, respectively. What is the height of $h$ of $\triangle ABC$ ?

Add asymptote diagram*

(note: diagrams are not necessarily drawn to scale)

$\textbf{(A) } 14.6 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 14.8 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 15 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 15.2 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 15.4$

Solution 1

First, we notice that the smaller isosceles triangles are similar to the larger isosceles triangles. We can find that the area of the gray area in the first triangle is $[\text{ABC}]\cdot\left(1-\left(\tfrac{11}{h}\right)^2\right)$ . Similarly, we can find that the area of the gray part in the second triangle is $[\text{ABC}]\cdot\left(\tfrac{h-5}{h}\right)^2$ . These areas are equal, so $1-\left(\frac{11}{h}\right)^2=\left(\frac{h-5}{h}\right)^2$ . Simplifying yields $10h=146$ so $h=\boxed{\textbf{(A) }14.6}$ .

~MathFun1000 (~edits apex304)

Video Solution 1 by OmegaLearn (Using Similarity)

https://youtu.be/almtw4n-92A

Video Solution 2 by SpreadTheMathLove(Using Area-Similarity Relaitionship)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTlkTwxSxgo

2023 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 23	Followed by Problem 25
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All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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

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2023 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 24

Contents

Problem

Solution 1

Video Solution 1 by OmegaLearn (Using Similarity)

Video Solution 2 by SpreadTheMathLove(Using Area-Similarity Relaitionship)

See Also