2021 AMC 10A Spring Problem 17

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 17 of the 2021 AMC 10A Spring, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2021 AMC 10A Spring solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:trapezoidsimilarityPythagorean Theorem

Difficulty rating: 1950

17.

Trapezoid ABCDABCD has ABCD,BC=CD=43,\overline{AB}\parallel\overline{CD},BC=CD=43, and ADBD.\overline{AD}\perp\overline{BD}. Let OO be the intersection of the diagonals AC\overline{AC} and BD,\overline{BD}, and let PP be the midpoint of BD.\overline{BD}.

Given that OP=11,OP=11, the length of ADAD can be written in the form mn,m\sqrt{n}, where mm and nn are positive integers and nn is not divisible by the square of any prime. What is m+n?m+n?

6565

132132

157157

194194

215215

Video solution:
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Written solution:

Because BC=CDBC=CD, the median from CC to BDBD is perpendicular to BDBD. Thus BPC\triangle BPC is a right triangle. Let DBC=α\angle DBC=\alpha. Since ABCDAB\parallel CD, we also have ABD=α\angle ABD=\alpha, so BPCBDA\triangle BPC\sim\triangle BDA.

Since PP is the midpoint of BDBD, we have BD/BP=2BD/BP=2. In the similarity, BCBC corresponds to ABAB, so

ABBC=2,AB=243=86.\frac{AB}{BC}=2,\qquad AB=2\cdot43=86.

Also, ABOCDO\triangle ABO\sim\triangle CDO, so

BOOD=ABCD=2.\frac{BO}{OD}=\frac{AB}{CD}=2.

Since OP=11OP=11 and PP is the midpoint of BDBD, write BP=PD=tBP=PD=t. Then BO=t+11BO=t+11 and OD=t11OD=t-11, so

t+11t11=2.\frac{t+11}{t-11}=2.

This gives t=33t=33, hence BD=66BD=66. Finally, ABD\triangle ABD is right, so

AD=AB2BD2=862662=4190.AD=\sqrt{AB^2-BD^2}=\sqrt{86^2-66^2}=4\sqrt{190}.

Thus m+n=4+190=194m+n=4+190=194.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

Problem 17 in Other Years