Difference between revisions of "2010 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 17"

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It is clear that <math>\triangle ACE</math> is an equilateral triangle. From the [[Law of Cosines]], we get that <math>AC^2 = r^2+1^2-2r\cos{\frac{2\pi}{3}} = r^2+r+1</math>. Therefore, the area of <math>\triangle ACE</math> is <math>\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+r+1)</math>.
 
It is clear that <math>\triangle ACE</math> is an equilateral triangle. From the [[Law of Cosines]], we get that <math>AC^2 = r^2+1^2-2r\cos{\frac{2\pi}{3}} = r^2+r+1</math>. Therefore, the area of <math>\triangle ACE</math> is <math>\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+r+1)</math>.
  
If we extend <math>BC</math>, <math>DE</math> and <math>FA</math> so that <math>FA</math> and <math>BC</math> meet at <math>X</math>, <math>BC</math> and <math>DE</math> meet at <math>Y</math>, and <math>DE</math> and <math>FA</math> meet at <math>Z</math>, we find that hexagon <math>ABCDEF</math> is formed by taking equilateral triangle <math>XYZ</math> of side length <math>r+2</math> and removing three equilateral triangles, <math>ABX</math>, <math>CDY</math> and <math>EFZ</math>, of side length <math>1</math>.
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If we extend <math>BC</math>, <math>DE</math> and <math>FA</math> so that <math>FA</math> and <math>BC</math> meet at <math>X</math>, <math>BC</math> and <math>DE</math> meet at <math>Y</math>, and <math>DE</math> and <math>FA</math> meet at <math>Z</math>, we find that hexagon <math>ABCDEF</math> is formed by taking equilateral triangle <math>XYZ</math> of side length <math>r+2</math> and removing three equilateral triangles, <math>ABX</math>, <math>CDY</math> and <math>EFZ</math>, of side length <math>1</math>. The area of <math>ABCDEF</math> is therefore
 
 
 
 
The area of <math>ABCDEF</math> is therefore
 
  
 
<math>\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r+2)^2-\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{4} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+4r+1)</math>.
 
<math>\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r+2)^2-\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{4} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+4r+1)</math>.

Revision as of 17:46, 11 February 2010

Problem

Equiangular hexagon $ABCDEF$ has side lengths $AB=CD=EF=1$ and $BC=DE=FA=r$. The area of $\triangle ACE$ is $70\%$ of the area of the hexagon. What is the sum of all possible values of $r$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{4\sqrt{3}}{3} \qquad \textbf{(B)} \frac{10}{3} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 4 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{17}{4} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 6$

Solution

It is clear that $\triangle ACE$ is an equilateral triangle. From the Law of Cosines, we get that $AC^2 = r^2+1^2-2r\cos{\frac{2\pi}{3}} = r^2+r+1$. Therefore, the area of $\triangle ACE$ is $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+r+1)$.

If we extend $BC$, $DE$ and $FA$ so that $FA$ and $BC$ meet at $X$, $BC$ and $DE$ meet at $Y$, and $DE$ and $FA$ meet at $Z$, we find that hexagon $ABCDEF$ is formed by taking equilateral triangle $XYZ$ of side length $r+2$ and removing three equilateral triangles, $ABX$, $CDY$ and $EFZ$, of side length $1$. The area of $ABCDEF$ is therefore

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r+2)^2-\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{4} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+4r+1)$.


Based on the initial conditions,

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}(r^2+r+1) = \frac{7}{10}\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}\right)(r^2+4r+1)$

Simplifying this gives us $r^2-6r+1 = 0$. By Vieta's Formulas we know that the sum of the possible value of $r$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ 6}$.