Difference between revisions of "2000 AMC 12 Problems/Problem 21"

(Solution 2)
(Solution 2)
Line 22: Line 22:
 
WLOG, let a side of the square be <math>1</math>. Simple angle chasing shows that the two right triangles are [[similar triangles|similar]]. Thus the ratio of the sides of the triangles are the same. Since <math>A = \frac{1}{2}bh = \frac{h}{2}</math>, the height of the triangle with area <math>m</math> is <math>2m</math>. Therefore <math>\frac{2m}{1} = \frac{1}{x}</math> where <math>x</math> is the base of the other triangle. <math>x = \frac{1}{2m}</math>, and the area of that triangle is <math>\frac{1}{2} \cdot 1 \cdot \frac{1}{2m} = \frac{1}{4m}\ \text{(D)}</math>.
 
WLOG, let a side of the square be <math>1</math>. Simple angle chasing shows that the two right triangles are [[similar triangles|similar]]. Thus the ratio of the sides of the triangles are the same. Since <math>A = \frac{1}{2}bh = \frac{h}{2}</math>, the height of the triangle with area <math>m</math> is <math>2m</math>. Therefore <math>\frac{2m}{1} = \frac{1}{x}</math> where <math>x</math> is the base of the other triangle. <math>x = \frac{1}{2m}</math>, and the area of that triangle is <math>\frac{1}{2} \cdot 1 \cdot \frac{1}{2m} = \frac{1}{4m}\ \text{(D)}</math>.
  
=== Solution 2 ===
 
 
<center><asy>
 
unitsize(36);
 
draw((0,0)--(6,0)--(0,3)--cycle);
 
draw((0,0)--(2,0)--(2,2)--(0,2)--cycle);
 
label("$b$",(2.5,0),S);
 
label("$a$",(0,1.5),W);
 
label("$c$",(2.5,1),W);
 
label("$A$",(0.5,2.5),W);
 
label("$B$",(3.5,0.75),W);
 
label("$C$",(1,1),W);
 
</asy></center>
 
 
From the diagram above, we have <math>a</math>, <math>b</math> as the legs and <math>c</math> as the side length of the square. WLOG, let the area of triangle A
 
be <math>m</math> times the area of square C.
 
 
Since triangle A is similar to the large triangle, it has <math>h = a(\frac{c}{b}) = \frac{ac}{b}</math>, <math>b = c</math> and <cmath>[A] = \frac{bh}{2} = \frac{ac^2}{2b} = m[C] = mc^2</cmath>
 
Thus <math>\frac{a}{2b} = m</math>
 
 
Now since triangle B is similar to the large triangle, it has <math>h = c</math>, <math>b = b\frac{c}{a} = \frac{bc}{a}</math>
 
 
=== Solution 2 ===
 
=== Solution 2 ===
  

Revision as of 14:55, 29 June 2019

The following problem is from both the 2000 AMC 12 #21 and 2000 AMC 10 #19, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Through a point on the hypotenuse of a right triangle, lines are drawn parallel to the legs of the triangle so that the triangle is divided into a square and two smaller right triangles. The area of one of the two small right triangles is $m$ times the area of the square. The ratio of the area of the other small right triangle to the area of the square is

$\text {(A)}\ \frac{1}{2m+1} \qquad \text {(B)}\ m \qquad \text {(C)}\ 1-m \qquad \text {(D)}\ \frac{1}{4m} \qquad \text {(E)}\ \frac{1}{8m^2}$

Solution

Solution 1

[asy] unitsize(36); draw((0,0)--(6,0)--(0,3)--cycle); draw((0,0)--(2,0)--(2,2)--(0,2)--cycle); label("$1$",(1,2),S); label("$1$",(2,1),W); label("$2m$",(4,0),S); label("$x$",(0,2.5),W); [/asy]

WLOG, let a side of the square be $1$. Simple angle chasing shows that the two right triangles are similar. Thus the ratio of the sides of the triangles are the same. Since $A = \frac{1}{2}bh = \frac{h}{2}$, the height of the triangle with area $m$ is $2m$. Therefore $\frac{2m}{1} = \frac{1}{x}$ where $x$ is the base of the other triangle. $x = \frac{1}{2m}$, and the area of that triangle is $\frac{1}{2} \cdot 1 \cdot \frac{1}{2m} = \frac{1}{4m}\ \text{(D)}$.

Solution 2

[asy] unitsize(36); draw((0,0)--(6,0)--(0,3)--cycle); draw((0,0)--(2,0)--(2,2)--(0,2)--cycle); label("$b$",(2.5,0),S); label("$a$",(0,1.5),W); label("$c$",(2.5,1),W); label("$A$",(0.5,2.5),W); label("$B$",(3.5,0.75),W); label("$C$",(1,1),W); [/asy]

From the diagram above, we have $a$, $b$ as the legs and $c$ as the side length of the square. WLOG, let the area of triangle A be $m$ times the area of square C.

Since triangle A is similar to the large triangle, it has $height = a(\frac{c}{b}) = \frac{ac}{b}$, $base = c$ and \[[A] = \frac{bh}{2} = \frac{ac^2}{2b} = m[C] = mc^2\] Thus $\frac{a}{2b} = m$

Now since triangle B is similar to the large triangle, it has $height = c$, $base = b\frac{c}{a} = \frac{bc}{a}$ and \[[B] = \frac{bh}{2} = \frac{bc^2}{2a} = nc^2 = n[C]\]

Thus $n = \frac{b}{2a} = \frac{1}{4(\frac{a}{2b})} = \frac{1}{4m}$. $(C)$

See also

2000 AMC 12 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
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 12 Problems and Solutions
2000 AMC 10 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 18
Followed by
Problem 20
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

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