2004 AMC 10A Problem 20

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Concepts:equilateral trianglearea ratioPythagorean Theorem

Difficulty rating: 1790

20.

Points EE and FF are located on square ABCDABCD so that BEF\triangle BEF is equilateral. What is the ratio of the area of DEF\triangle DEF to that of ABE?\triangle ABE?

43\dfrac{4}{3}

32\dfrac{3}{2}

3\sqrt{3}

22

1+31 + \sqrt{3}

Solution:

Let the square have side 1,1, and by symmetry let ED=DF=x,ED = DF = x, so AE=1x.AE = 1 - x.

Since BEF\triangle BEF is equilateral, EF2=EB2,EF^2 = EB^2, giving 2x2=1+(1x)2, 2x^2 = 1 + (1 - x)^2, which simplifies to x2=2(1x).x^2 = 2(1 - x).

The right triangles have areas [DEF]=12x2[DEF] = \tfrac12 x^2 and [ABE]=12(1x),[ABE] = \tfrac12(1 - x), so [DEF][ABE]=x21x=2(1x)1x=2. \dfrac{[DEF]}{[ABE]} = \dfrac{x^2}{1 - x} = \dfrac{2(1 - x)}{1 - x} = 2.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 20 in Other Years