2014 AMC 10B Problem 21

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 21 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:trapezoidPythagorean Theorem

Difficulty rating: 1790

21.

Trapezoid ABCD ABCD has parallel sides AB \overline{AB} of length 33 33 and CD \overline {CD} of length 21. 21 . The other two sides are of lengths 10 10 and 14. 14 . The angles A A and B B are acute. What is the length of the shorter diagonal of ABCD? ABCD ?

106 10\sqrt{6}

25 25

810 8\sqrt{10}

182 18\sqrt{2}

26 26

Solution:

Let the base of the altitude from CC to ABAB be E.E. and let the base of the altitude from DD to ABAB be F.F. Also, let BC=10BC = 10 since we can assign any value. This yields the following diagram:

Then, let FB=xFB = x and the altitude be h.h. This means AE=33xEF=33x21=12x.\begin{align*}AE &= 33-x-EF\\&=33-x-21 \\&= 12-x.\end{align*}

This suggests that: 142=(12x)2+h214^2 = (12-x)^2 + h^2 102=x2+h2.10^2 = x^2 + h^2. Subtracting the equations, we get: 96=14424x96 = 144 - 24x x=2.x = 2. Then, we want to find (21+x)2+h2\sqrt{ (21+x)^2+h^2} =212+42x+(x2+h2)= \sqrt{21^2 + 42x + (x^2 + h^2) }=441+422+100= \sqrt{441+42\cdot 2 + 100} =625= \sqrt{625}=25.=25.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

Problem 21 in Other Years