Difference between revisions of "2017 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 24"

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==Solution 2==
 
==Solution 2==
WLOG, let the centroid of <math>\triangle ABC</math> be <math>G = (-1,-1)</math>. Then, one of the vertices must be the other vertex of the parabola. WLOG, let <math>A = (1,1)</math>. Then, point <math>B</math> must be the reflection of <math>C</math> across the line <math>y=x</math>, so let <math>B = (a,1/a)</math> and <math>C=(1/a,a)</math>, where <math>a <-1</math>. Because <math>G</math> is the centroid, the average of the <math>x</math>-coordinates of the vertices of the triangle is <math>-1</math>. So we know that <math>a + 1/a+ 1 = -3</math>. Multiplying by <math>a</math> and solving gives us <math>a=-2-\sqrt{3}</math>. So <math>B=(-2-\sqrt{3},-2+\sqrt{3})</math> and <math>C=(-2+\sqrt{3},-2-\sqrt{3})</math>. So <math>BC=2\sqrt{6}</math>, and finding the square of the area gives us <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 108}</math>.
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WLOG, let the centroid of <math>\triangle ABC</math> be <math>G = (-1,-1)</math>. Then, one of the vertices must be the other vertex of the hyperbola. WLOG, let <math>A = (1,1)</math>. Then, point <math>B</math> must be the reflection of <math>C</math> across the line <math>y=x</math>, so let <math>B = (a,1/a)</math> and <math>C=(1/a,a)</math>, where <math>a <-1</math>. Because <math>G</math> is the centroid, the average of the <math>x</math>-coordinates of the vertices of the triangle is <math>-1</math>. So we know that <math>a + 1/a+ 1 = -3</math>. Multiplying by <math>a</math> and solving gives us <math>a=-2-\sqrt{3}</math>. So <math>B=(-2-\sqrt{3},-2+\sqrt{3})</math> and <math>C=(-2+\sqrt{3},-2-\sqrt{3})</math>. So <math>BC=2\sqrt{6}</math>, and finding the square of the area gives us <math>\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 108}</math>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2017|ab=B|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2017|ab=B|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 20:20, 16 February 2017

Problem 24

The vertices of an equilateral triangle lie on the hyperbola $xy=1$, and a vertex of this hyperbola is the centroid of the triangle. What is the square of the area of the triangle?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 48\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 60\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 108\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 120\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 169$

Solution

WLOG, let the centroid of $\triangle ABC$ be $I = (-1,-1)$. By symmetry, $A = (1,1)$, so $AI = BI = CI = 2\sqrt{2}$, so since $\triangle AIB$ is isosceles and $\angle AIB = 120^{\circ}$, then by Law of Cosines, $AB = 2\sqrt{6}$. Therefore, the area of the triangle is $\frac{(2\sqrt{6})^2\sqrt{3}}4 = 6\sqrt{3}$, so the square of the area of the triangle is $\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 108}$.


Solution 2

WLOG, let the centroid of $\triangle ABC$ be $G = (-1,-1)$. Then, one of the vertices must be the other vertex of the hyperbola. WLOG, let $A = (1,1)$. Then, point $B$ must be the reflection of $C$ across the line $y=x$, so let $B = (a,1/a)$ and $C=(1/a,a)$, where $a <-1$. Because $G$ is the centroid, the average of the $x$-coordinates of the vertices of the triangle is $-1$. So we know that $a + 1/a+ 1 = -3$. Multiplying by $a$ and solving gives us $a=-2-\sqrt{3}$. So $B=(-2-\sqrt{3},-2+\sqrt{3})$ and $C=(-2+\sqrt{3},-2-\sqrt{3})$. So $BC=2\sqrt{6}$, and finding the square of the area gives us $\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 108}$.

See Also

2017 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 23
Followed by
Problem 25
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

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