2010 AMC 10A Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 2010 AMC 10A 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 2010 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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14.

Triangle ABCABC has AB=2⋅AC.AB=2 \cdot AC. Let DD and EE be on AB‾\overline{AB} and BC‾,\overline{BC}, respectively, such that ∠BAE=∠ACD.\angle BAE = \angle ACD. Let FF be the intersection of segments AEAE and CD,CD, and suppose that △CFE\triangle CFE is equilateral. What is ∠ACB?\angle ACB?

60∘60^\circ

75∘75^\circ

90∘90^\circ

105∘105^\circ

120∘120^\circ

Answer: C
Concepts:angle chasingequilateral trianglespecial right triangle
Difficulty rating: 1660
Small Hint:

Let ∠BAE=∠ACD=x\angle BAE=\angle ACD=x

Big Hint:

Use △CFE\triangle CFE to find ∠AFC\angle AFC, then angle-chase ∠BAC\angle BAC

Solution:

Let ∠BAE=∠ACD=x.\angle BAE = \angle ACD = x. Note that ∠CFE=60∘\angle CFE = 60^{\circ} since △CFE\triangle CFE is equilateral.

We then have that ∠AFC=180∘−∠CFE=120∘. \angle AFC = 180^{\circ} - \angle CFE = 120^{\circ}.

Then: ∠FAC=180∘−120∘−x=60∘−x=∠EAC.\begin{aligned} \angle FAC &= 180^{\circ} - 120^{\circ} - x\\ &=60^{\circ} - x \\ &= \angle EAC.\end{aligned}

We then get that ∠BAC=∠BAE+∠EAC=x+60∘−x=60∘. \begin{aligned} \angle BAC &= \angle BAE + \angle EAC\\ &= x + 60^{\circ} - x \\&= 60^{\circ}. \end{aligned}

Since AB=2⋅ACAB = 2 \cdot AC and ∠BAC=60∘,\angle BAC = 60^{\circ}, we have that △ABC\triangle ABC is a 30−60−9030-60-90 triangle.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

Problem 13#13
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