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

Difference between revisions of "1961 AHSME Problems/Problem 38"

(→‎Solution)
m (Undo revision 139965 by Quantomaticguy -- alternate solution not correct)
(Tag: Undo)
Line 31: Line 31:
  
 
Therefore, <math>s^2 \le 8r^2</math>, so the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(A)}}</math>.
 
Therefore, <math>s^2 \le 8r^2</math>, so the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(A)}}</math>.
−
 
−
Solution using Triangle inequality:
 
−
s = AC ^2 + BC^2 - 2AC*BC = 4r^2 - 2AC*BC <= 4r^2 - (-4r^2) using triangle inequality in triangle AOC and BOC where O is the center
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 15:44, 23 February 2021

Problem

$\triangle ABC$ is inscribed in a semicircle of radius $r$ so that its base $AB$ coincides with diameter $AB$. Point $C$ does not coincide with either $A$ or $B$. Let $s=AC+BC$. Then, for all permissible positions of $C$:

$\textbf{(A)}\ s^2\le8r^2\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ s^2=8r^2 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ s^2 \ge 8r^2 \qquad\\ \textbf{(D)}\ s^2\le4r^2 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ s^2=4r^2$

Solution

[asy] draw((-50,0)--(-30,40)--(50,0)--(-50,0)); draw(Arc((0,0),50,0,180)); draw(rightanglemark((-50,0),(-30,40),(50,0),200)); dot((-50,0)); label("A",(-50,0),SW); dot((-30,40)); label("C",(-30,40),NW); dot((50,0)); label("B",(50,0),SE); [/asy] Since $s=AC+BC$, $s^2 = AC^2 + 2 \cdot AC \cdot BC + BC^2$. Since $\triangle ABC$ is inscribed and $AB$ is the diameter, $\triangle ABC$ is a right triangle, and by the Pythagorean Theorem, $AC^2 + BC^2 = AC^2 = (2r)^2$. Thus, $s^2 = 4r^2 + 2 \cdot AC \cdot BC$.


The area of $\triangle ABC$ is $\frac{AC \cdot BC}{2}$, so $2 \cdot [ABC] = AC \cdot BC$. That means $s^2 = 4r^2 + 4 \cdot [ABC]$. The area of $\triangle ABC$ can also be calculated by using base $AB$ and the altitude from $C$. The maximum possible value of the altitude is $r$, so the maximum area of $\triangle ABC$ is $r^2$.


Therefore, $s^2 \le 8r^2$, so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(A)}}$.

See Also

1961 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 37 		Followed by
Problem 39
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
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=1961_AHSME_Problems/Problem_38&oldid=147811"