2003 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21

Revision as of 03:37, 11 March 2012 by CYAX (talk | contribs) (Created page with "Using the formula for the area of a trapezoid, we have <math>164=8(\frac{BC+AD}{2})</math>. Thus <math>BC+AD=41</math>. Drop perpendiculars from <math>B</math> to <math>AD</math>...")
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Using the formula for the area of a trapezoid, we have $164=8(\frac{BC+AD}{2})$. Thus $BC+AD=41$. Drop perpendiculars from $B$ to $AD$ and from $C$ to $AD$ and let them hit $AD$ at $E$ and $F$ respectively. Note that each of these perpendiculars has length $8$. From the Pythagorean Theorem, $AE=6$ and $DF=15$ thus $AD=BC+21$. Substituting back into our original equation we have $BC+BC+21=41$ thus $BC=10\Rightarrow B$