2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 11

Problem

Consider two concentric circles of radius $17$ and $19.$ The larger circle has a chord, half of which lies inside the smaller circle. What is the length of the chord in the larger circle?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 12\sqrt{2} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 10\sqrt{3} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt{17 \cdot 19} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 18 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 8\sqrt{6}$

Solution 1 (Power of a Point)

Draw the diameter perpendicular to the chord. Call the intersection between that diameter and the chord $A$ . In the circle of radius $17$ , let the shorter piece of the diameter cut by the chord would be of length $x$ , making the longer piece $34-x.$ In that same circle, let the $y$ be the length of the portion of the chord in the smaller circle that is cut by the diameter we drew. Thus, in the circle of radius $7$ , the shorter piece of the diameter cut by the chord would be of length $x+2$ , making the longer piece $36-x,$ and length of the piece of the chord cut by the diameter would be $2y$ (as given in the problem statement). By Power of a Point, we can construct the system of equations $x(34-x) = y^2$ $(x+2)(36-x) = (y+2)^2$ Expanding both equations, we get $34x-x^2 = y^2$ and $36x-x^2+72-2x = 4y^2,$ in which the $34x$ and $-x^2$ terms magically cancel when we subtract the first equation from the second equation. Thus, now we have $72 = 3y^2 \implies y = 2\sqrt{6} \implies 4y = \boxed{ 8\sqrt{6}}$ .

-fidgetboss_4000

Solution 2 (Pythagorean Theorem)

Label an intersection of the chord with the smaller and larger circle as A and B respectively. Draw the radius perpendicular to the chord and label its intersection with the chord M. Note that $BM = 2AM$ because half of the chord lies in the smaller circle and because if a radius is perpendicular to a chord, then the radius also bisects the chord.

Construct segments AO and BO. Note that these are radii with lengths 17 and 19 respectively.

We have two right triangles. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to get the following system of equations: $OM^2+AM^2=17^2$ $OM^2+(2AM)^2=19^2$

So, $AM=2\sqrt{6}$ , and the length of the chord in the larger circle $= 4AM = \boxed{\textbf{(E)} \: 8\sqrt{6}}$ .

2021 Fall AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 10	Followed by Problem 12
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2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 11

Contents

Problem

Solution 1 (Power of a Point)

Solution 2 (Pythagorean Theorem)

See Also