2022 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 20

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Problem

Isosceles trapezoid $ABCD$ has parallel sides $\overline{AD}$ and $\overline{BC},$ with $BC < AD$ and $AB = CD.$ There is a point $P$ in the plane such that $PA=1, PB=2, PC=3,$ and $PD=4.$ What is $\tfrac{BC}{AD}?$

$\textbf{(A) }\frac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\frac{1}{3}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\frac{2}{3}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\frac{3}{4}$

Solution

Consider the reflection $P^{\prime}$ of $P$ over the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{BC}$, creating two new isosceles trapezoids $DAPP^{\prime}$ and $CBPP^{\prime}$. Under this reflection, $P^{\prime}A=PD=4$, $P^{\prime}D=PA=1$, $P^{\prime}C=PB=2$, and $P^{\prime}B=PC=3$. By Ptolmey's theorem \begin{align*} PP^{\prime}\cdot AD+1=16 \\ PP^{\prime}\cdot BC+4=9\end{align*} Thus $PP^{\prime}\cdot AD=15$ and $PP^{\prime}\cdot BC=5$; dividing these two equations yields $\frac{BC}{AD}=\boxed{\textbf{(B)}~\frac{1}{3}}$.

See also

2022 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 19
Followed by
Problem 21
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
2022 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 22
Followed by
Problem 24
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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