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2023 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 13

Revision as of 21:10, 9 November 2023 by Not slay (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution 3)

Problem

Abdul and Chiang are standing $48$ feet apart in a field. Bharat is standing in the same field as far from Abdul as possible so that the angle formed by his lines of sight to Abdul and Chaing measures $60^\circ$. What is the square of the distance (in feet) between Abdul and Bharat?

$\textbf{(A) } 1728 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 2601 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 3072 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 4608 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 6912$

Solution 1

2023 10a 13.png

Let $\theta=\angle ACB$ and $x=\overline{AB}$.

By the Law of Sines, we know that $\dfrac{\sin\theta}x=\dfrac{\sin60^\circ}{48}=\dfrac{\sqrt3}{96}$. Rearranging, we get that $x=\dfrac{\sin\theta}{\frac{\sqrt3}{96}}=32\sqrt3\sin\theta$ where $x$ is a function of $\theta$. We want to maximize $x$.

We know that the maximum value of $\sin\theta=1$, so this yields $x=32\sqrt3\implies x^2=\boxed{\text{(C) }3072.}$

A quick checks verifies that $\theta=90^\circ$ indeed works.

~Technodoggo

Solution 2 (no law of sines)

Help with the diagram please?

Let us begin by circumscribing the two points A and C so that the arc it determines has measure $120$. Then the point B will lie on the circle, which we can quickly find the radius of by using the 30-60-90 triangle formed by the radius and the midpoint of segment $\overline{AC}$. We will find that $r=16*\sqrt3$. Due to the triangle inequality, $\overline{AB}$ is maximized when B is on the diameter passing through A, giving a length of $32*\sqrt3$ and when squared gives $\boxed{\text{(C) }3072}$.

Solution 3

It is quite clear that this is just a 30-60-90 triangle. Its ratio is $\frac{48}{\sqrt{3}}$, so $\overline{AB}=\frac{96}{\sqrt{3}}$.

Its square is then $\frac{96^2}{3}=\boxed{\text{(C) }3072}$

~not_slay

See Also

2023 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 12 		Followed by
Problem 14
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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