2014 AMC 10B Problem 13

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 13 of the 2014 AMC 10B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2014 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:regular polygonequilateral triangletriangle area

Difficulty rating: 1480

13.

Six regular hexagons surround a regular hexagon of side length 11 as shown. What is the area of ABC?\triangle{ABC}? \t\t

23 2\sqrt{3}

33 3\sqrt{3}

1+32 1+3\sqrt{2}

2+23 2+2\sqrt{3}

3+23 3+2\sqrt{3}

Solution:

Since AB=BC=ACAB = BC = AC by rotational symmetry, we know it is an equilateral triangle.

Then, one-fourth of ABAB can be found as a the leg of a right triangle with hypotenuse 11 and is opposite to the 6060^{\circ} angle, making it sin(60)=32.\sin(60^\circ) = \dfrac{\sqrt 3}2.

As such, AB=432=23.AB = 4\cdot \dfrac{\sqrt 3}2 = 2\sqrt 3.

Then, since it is an equilateral triangle, it has area s234=1234=33.\dfrac{s^2 \sqrt 3}4 = \dfrac{12\sqrt 3}4 = 3 \sqrt 3.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

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