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

(Solution 2)
(Solution 2)
Line 23: Line 23:
 
Step 2: <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>~<math>\triangle{CDE}</math>~<math>\triangle{EFA}</math> via SAS congruency. Using the formula <math>[ABC]=\frac{ab \sin C}{2}= \frac{r \sqrt{3}}{4}</math> and because of the congruency, the area condition, and the fact <math>\triangle{ACE}</math> is equilateral, <math>AC=\sqrt{7r}</math>.
 
Step 2: <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>~<math>\triangle{CDE}</math>~<math>\triangle{EFA}</math> via SAS congruency. Using the formula <math>[ABC]=\frac{ab \sin C}{2}= \frac{r \sqrt{3}}{4}</math> and because of the congruency, the area condition, and the fact <math>\triangle{ACE}</math> is equilateral, <math>AC=\sqrt{7r}</math>.
  
Step 3: <math>\sqrt{7r}=\sqrt{r^2+r+1} \implies r^2-6r+1=0</math> and by [[Vieta's Formulas]] we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{E}}</math>.
+
Step 3: <math>\sqrt{7r}=\sqrt{r^2+r+1} \implies r^2-6r+1=0</math> and by [[Vieta's Formulas]] , we get <math>\boxed{\textbf{E}}</math>.
 +
 
 +
Note: Since <math>r</math> has to be positive we must first check that the discriminant is positive before applying Vieta's. And it indeed is.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 10:03, 5 February 2018

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 1

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 $\boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ 6}$.

Solution 2

Step 1: Use Law of Cosines in the same manner as the previous solution to get $AC=\sqrt{r^2+r+1}$.

Step 2: $\triangle{ABC}$~$\triangle{CDE}$~$\triangle{EFA}$ via SAS congruency. Using the formula $[ABC]=\frac{ab \sin C}{2}= \frac{r \sqrt{3}}{4}$ and because of the congruency, the area condition, and the fact $\triangle{ACE}$ is equilateral, $AC=\sqrt{7r}$.

Step 3: $\sqrt{7r}=\sqrt{r^2+r+1} \implies r^2-6r+1=0$ and by Vieta's Formulas , we get $\boxed{\textbf{E}}$.

Note: Since $r$ has to be positive we must first check that the discriminant is positive before applying Vieta's. And it indeed is.

See also

2010 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 16
Followed by
Problem 18
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

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