2012 AMC 10B Problem 21
Attempt Problem 21 of the 2012 AMC 10B 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 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.
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21.
Four distinct points are arranged in a plane so that the segments connecting them have lengths and What is the ratio of to
Answer: A
Solution:
Regard the four length- segments as edges of a graph on the four points. If they contained no triangle, they would form a -cycle. The length- segment would then be one of its diagonals. Each of the other two points gives a two-edge path of total length between the diagonal's endpoints. Equality in the triangle inequality would force both intermediate points to be the midpoint of that diagonal, contradicting that the four points are distinct. Therefore three points do form an equilateral triangle of side call them
The fourth point is distance from one of these points, say and distance from another, say Because the points are collinear and is the midpoint of Thus is a diameter of the circle through centered at so is right.
Thus , so .
Thus, A is the correct answer.
Problem 21 in Other Years
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