2012 AIME II Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 2012 AIME II 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 2012 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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5.

In the accompanying figure, the outer square SS has side length 40.40. A second square SS' of side length 1515 is constructed inside SS with the same center as SS and with sides parallel to those of S.S. From each midpoint of a side of S,S, segments are drawn to the two closest vertices of S.S'. The result is a four-pointed starlike figure inscribed in S.S. The star figure is cut out and then folded to form a pyramid with base S.S'. Find the volume of this pyramid.

Answer: 750
Concepts:net (3D geometry)pyramidvolumePythagorean Theorem
Difficulty rating: 2230
Small Hint:

The four triangular points fold up along the sides of S,S', and their tips meet at the apex above the center of SS'

Big Hint:

The slant from the midpoint of a side of SS' to the star tip has length 20152;20 - \frac{15}{2}; use a right triangle through the center to get the height

Solution:

Folding the star along the sides of SS' lifts the four triangular points so that their tips (the midpoints of the sides of SS) meet at a single apex V.V. Let MM be the center of SS' and PP the midpoint of one of its sides. In the flat figure, the distance from PP to the tip of its triangle is 20152=252,20 - \frac{15}{2} = \frac{25}{2}, and this becomes the slant PVPV after folding.

Triangle PMVPMV has a right angle at M,M, with PM=152,PM = \frac{15}{2}, so the height is VM=(252)2(152)2=100=10. \begin{aligned} VM &= \sqrt{\left(\tfrac{25}{2}\right)^2 - \left(\tfrac{15}{2}\right)^2} \\ &= \sqrt{100} = 10. \end{aligned} The volume is 1315210=750.\frac{1}{3} \cdot 15^2 \cdot 10 = 750.

Problem 4#4
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