Difference between revisions of "2021 Fall AMC 12A Problems/Problem 24"

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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
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===Solution 1===
 
Let <math>E</math> be a point on <math>\overline{AB}</math> such that <math>BCDE</math> is a parallelogram. Suppose that <math>BC=ED=b, CD=BE=c,</math> and <math>DA=d,</math> so <math>AE=18-c,</math> as shown below.
 
Let <math>E</math> be a point on <math>\overline{AB}</math> such that <math>BCDE</math> is a parallelogram. Suppose that <math>BC=ED=b, CD=BE=c,</math> and <math>DA=d,</math> so <math>AE=18-c,</math> as shown below.
 
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~MRENTHUSIASM
 
~MRENTHUSIASM
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===Remark===
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Note that 4 of the 6 above cases can be eliminated by the triangle inequality (after removing parallelogram BCDE). ~hurdler
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===Video Solution and exploration by hurdler===
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA5fWLdvVQg& Video exploration and motivated solution]
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2021 Fall|ab=A|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2021 Fall|ab=A|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 10:38, 24 November 2021

Problem

Convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ has $AB = 18, \angle{A} = 60^\circ,$ and $\overline{AB} \parallel \overline{CD}.$ In some order, the lengths of the four sides form an arithmetic progression, and side $\overline{AB}$ is a side of maximum length. The length of another side is $a.$ What is the sum of all possible values of $a$?

$\textbf{(A) } 24 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 42 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 60 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 66 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 84$

Solution

Solution 1

Let $E$ be a point on $\overline{AB}$ such that $BCDE$ is a parallelogram. Suppose that $BC=ED=b, CD=BE=c,$ and $DA=d,$ so $AE=18-c,$ as shown below. [asy] /* Made by MRENTHUSIASM */ size(250); pair A, B, C, D, E; A = (0,0); B = (18,0); D = A+9*dir(60); C = D+(7,0); E = D+(B-C); dot("$A$",A,1.5*SW,linewidth(4)); dot("$B$",B,1.5*SE,linewidth(4)); dot("$C$",C,1.5*NE,linewidth(4)); dot("$D$",D,1.5*NW,linewidth(4)); dot("$E$",E,1.5*S,linewidth(4)); draw(A--B--C--D--cycle); draw(D--E,dashed); label("$60^\circ$",A,2.5*dir(30),fontsize(10)); label("$18-c$",midpoint(A--E),1.5*S,red); label("$c$",midpoint(E--B),2.25*S,red); label("$b$",midpoint(B--C),1.5*NE,red); label("$b$",midpoint(D--E),1.5*NE,red); label("$c$",midpoint(C--D),1.5*N,red); label("$d$",midpoint(D--A),1.5*NW,red); [/asy] We apply the Law of Cosines to $\triangle ADE:$ \begin{align*} AD^2 + AE^2 - 2\cdot AD\cdot AE\cdot\cos 60^\circ &= DE^2 \\ d^2 + (18-c)^2 - d(18-c) &= b^2 \\ (18-c)^2 - d(18-c) &= b^2 - d^2 \\ (18-c)(18-c-d) &= (b+d)(b-d). \hspace{15mm}(\bigstar) \end{align*} Let $k$ be the common difference of the arithmetic progression of the side-lengths. It follows that $b,c,$ and $d$ are $18-k, 18-2k,$ and $18-3k,$ in some order. It is clear that $0\leq k<6.$

If $k=0,$ then $ABCD$ is a rhombus with side-length $18,$ which is valid.

If $k\neq0,$ then we have six cases:

  1. $(b,c,d)=(18-k,18-2k,18-3k)$
  2. Note that $(\bigstar)$ becomes $2k(5k-18)=(36-4k)(2k),$ from which $k=6.$ So, this case generates no valid solutions $(b,c,d).$

  3. $(b,c,d)=(18-k,18-3k,18-2k)$
  4. Note that $(\bigstar)$ becomes $3k(5k-18)=(36-3k)k,$ from which $k=5.$ So, this case generates $(b,c,d)=(13,3,8).$

  5. $(b,c,d)=(18-2k,18-k,18-3k)$
  6. Note that $(\bigstar)$ becomes $k(4k-18)=(36-5k)k,$ from which $k=6.$ So, this case generates no valid solutions $(b,c,d).$

  7. $(b,c,d)=(18-2k,18-3k,18-k)$
  8. Note that $(\bigstar)$ becomes $3k(4k-18)=(36-3k)(-k),$ from which $k=2.$ So, this case generates $(b,c,d)=(14,12,16).$

  9. $(b,c,d)=(18-3k,18-k,18-2k)$
  10. Note that $(\bigstar)$ becomes $k(3k-18)=(36-5k)(-k),$ from which $k=9.$ So, this case generates no valid solutions $(b,c,d).$

  11. $(b,c,d)=(18-3k,18-2k,18-k)$
  12. Note that $(\bigstar)$ becomes $2k(3k-18)=(36-4k)(-2k),$ from which $k=18.$ So, this case generates no valid solutions $(b,c,d).$

Together, the sum of all possible values of $a$ is $18+(13+3+8)+(14+12+16)=\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 84}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Remark

Note that 4 of the 6 above cases can be eliminated by the triangle inequality (after removing parallelogram BCDE). ~hurdler

Video Solution and exploration by hurdler

Video exploration and motivated solution

See Also

2021 Fall AMC 12A (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 12 Problems and Solutions

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