2025 AMC 10B Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 2025 AMC 10B 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 2025 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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13.

The altitude to the hypotenuse of a 3030-6060-9090^\circ right triangle is divided into two segments of lengths x<yx \lt y by the median to the shortest side of the triangle. What is the ratio xx+y?\dfrac{x}{x + y}?

37\dfrac{3}{7}

34\dfrac{\sqrt3}{4}

49\dfrac{4}{9}

511\dfrac{5}{11}

4315\dfrac{4\sqrt3}{15}

Answer: A
Concepts:special right trianglealtitudemedian (geometry)
Difficulty rating: 1660
Solution:

Place the right angle at C=(0,0),C = (0,0), the short leg CB=1CB = 1 with B=(1,0),B = (1, 0), and the long leg CA=3CA = \sqrt3 with A=(0,3).A = (0, \sqrt3). The altitude from CC to hypotenuse ABAB has foot H=(34,34)H = \left(\tfrac34, \tfrac{\sqrt3}{4}\right) and runs along x=3y.x = \sqrt3\,y. The median from AA to the midpoint (12,0)\left(\tfrac12, 0\right) of CBCB meets that altitude at (37,37).\left(\tfrac37, \tfrac{\sqrt3}{7}\right). This cuts CHCH (length 32\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}) into 4314\tfrac{4\sqrt3}{14} and 3314,\tfrac{3\sqrt3}{14}, so x=3314x = \tfrac{3\sqrt3}{14} and xx+y=33/143/2=37.\dfrac{x}{x + y} = \dfrac{3\sqrt3/14}{\sqrt3/2} = \dfrac{3}{7}. Thus, A is the correct answer.

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