2014 AMC 10A Problem 22

Attempt Problem 22 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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22.

In rectangle ABCD,ABCD, AB‾=20\overline{AB}=20 and BC‾=10.\overline{BC}=10. Let EE be a point on CD‾\overline{CD} such that ∠CBE=15∘.\angle CBE=15^\circ. What is AE‾?\overline{AE}?

2033\dfrac{20\sqrt3}3

10310\sqrt3

1818

11311\sqrt3

2020

Answer: E
Concepts:special right triangleisosceles triangleangle chasing
Difficulty rating: 1950
Small Hint:

Construct a helpful point making a 3030-6060-9090 triangle

Big Hint:

Show the constructed point is the same as EE

Solution:

Let E′E' be the point on CD‾\overline{CD} such that AE′=AB=20AE'=AB=20.

Since AD=10AD=10, triangle ADE′ADE' is a 3030-6060-9090 triangle, so ∠DAE′=60∘\angle DAE'=60^\circ and ∠BAE′=30∘\angle BAE'=30^\circ.

Also AE′=ABAE'=AB, so triangle ABE′ABE' is isosceles. Its vertex angle at AA is 30∘30^\circ, so each base angle is 75∘75^\circ.

Therefore ∠CBE′=90∘−75∘=15∘\angle CBE'=90^\circ-75^\circ=15^\circ, so E′=EE'=E, and AE=20AE=20.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

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