2015 AMC 10A Problem 21

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 21 of the 2015 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2015 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:3D geometryvolumeright triangle

Difficulty rating: 2010

21.

Tetrahedron ABCDABCD has AB=5,AB=5, AC=3,AC=3, BC=4,BC=4, BD=4,BD=4, AD=3,AD=3, and CD=1252.CD=\tfrac{12}5\sqrt2. What is the volume of the tetrahedron?

323\sqrt2

252\sqrt5

245\dfrac{24}5

333\sqrt{3}

2452\dfrac{24}5\sqrt2

Solution:

We claim that triangles ABCABC and ABDABD are perpendicular to each other.

We can show this be dropping the altitudes from CC to ABAB and from DD to ABAB in each triangle.

Since AC=ADAC = AD and BC=BD,BC = BD, we have that the feet of these altitudes will coincide at point P.P.

Then we have that CP=DP=345=125. CP = DP = \dfrac{3 \cdot 4}{5} = \dfrac{12}{5}. We then have that CD=CP2,CD = CP\sqrt{2}, which shows that CPDCPD is an isosceles right triangle.

This proves the above claim. Finally, the volume of the tetrahedron is 13[ABD]CP=63125=245. \dfrac{1}{3}[ABD] \cdot CP = \dfrac{6}{3} \cdot \dfrac{12}{5} = \dfrac{24}{5}.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

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