1984 AIME Problem 9

Attempt Problem 9 of the 1984 AIME below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1984 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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9.

In tetrahedron ABCD,ABCD, edge ABAB has length 33 cm. The area of face ABCABC is 15 cm215\text{ cm}^2 and the area of face ABDABD is 12 cm2.12\text{ cm}^2. These two faces meet each other at a 3030^\circ angle. Find the volume of the tetrahedron in cm3.\text{cm}^3.

Answer: 20
Concepts:3D geometrytriangle areavolume
Difficulty rating: 2650
Small Hint:

Find the altitudes from CC and DD to the common edge ABAB

Big Hint:

Express the tetrahedron’s volume using the common edge, the two altitudes, and the sine of the dihedral angle

Solution:

Let hCh_C and hDh_D be the perpendicular distances from CC and DD to AB.AB. From the two face areas, hC=2153=10,hD=2123=8. \begin{aligned} h_C&=\frac{2\cdot15}{3}=10,\\ h_D&=\frac{2\cdot12}{3}=8. \end{aligned} The angle between these two perpendicular directions is the 3030^\circ dihedral angle. Hence the scalar triple product gives V=16(AB)hChDsin30=16310812=20. \begin{aligned} V&=\frac16(AB)h_Ch_D\sin30^\circ\\ &=\frac16\cdot3\cdot10\cdot8\cdot\frac12\\ &=20. \end{aligned}

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