2014 AMC 10A Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 2014 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 2014 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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14.

The yy-intercepts, PP and Q,Q, of two perpendicular lines intersecting at the point A(6,8)A(6,8) have a sum of zero. What is the area of APQ?\triangle APQ?

4545

4848

5454

6060

7272

Answer: D
Concepts:coordinate geometrymedian (geometry)triangle area
Difficulty rating: 1660
Solution:

We have that the yy-intercepts are an equal distance from the origin since their values sum to 0.0.

Let this distance be z.z. Because the two given lines are perpendicular, APQ\triangle APQ is right at AA. The origin is the midpoint of its hypotenuse PQPQ, so it is equidistant from PP, QQ, and AA. Hence the distance from AA to the origin is also zz.

We then know that z=62+82=10 z = \sqrt{6^2 + 8^2} = 10 by the distance formula. We know the altitude from AA to PQ\overline{PQ} is 66 (it is just the xx-value of AA).

We also know that PQ=210=20,PQ = 2 \cdot 10 = 20, which tells us that the area [APQ]=12620=60. [APQ] = \dfrac{1}{2} \cdot 6 \cdot 20 = 60.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

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