2009 AMC 10A Problem 12

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 12 of the 2009 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:triangle inequalitybounding to limit cases

Difficulty rating: 1220

12.

In quadrilateral ABCD,ABCD, AB=5,AB = 5, BC=17,BC = 17, CD=5,CD = 5, DA=9,DA = 9, and BDBD is an integer. What is BD?BD?

1111

1212

1313

1414

1515

Solution:

In BCD,\triangle BCD, the triangle inequality gives 5+BD>17,5 + BD \gt 17, so BD>12.BD \gt 12.

In ABD,\triangle ABD, it gives 5+9>BD,5 + 9 \gt BD, so BD<14.BD \lt 14.

The only integer with 12<BD<1412 \lt BD \lt 14 is BD=13.BD = 13.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 12 in Other Years