1951 AMC 12 Problem 49

Attempt Problem 49 of the 1951 AMC 12 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 1951 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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49.

The medians of a right triangle which are drawn from the vertices of the acute angles are 55 and 40.\sqrt{40}. The value of the hypotenuse is:

1010

2402\sqrt{40}

13\sqrt{13}

2132\sqrt{13}

None of these

Answer: D
Concepts:median (geometry)right trianglesystem of equations
Difficulty rating: 1930
Small Hint:

Let the legs be a,ba,b and place the right angle at their common endpoint

Big Hint:

The two median lengths give a2+b24=25a^2+\frac{b^2}{4}=25 and a24+b2=40\frac{a^2}{4}+b^2=40

Solution:

Let the legs be a,b.a,b. The medians from their opposite acute vertices have squared lengths a2+b24=25,a24+b2=40. a^2+\frac{b^2}{4}=25,\qquad \frac{a^2}{4}+b^2=40. Solving gives a2=16a^2=16 and b2=36.b^2=36. Thus the hypotenuse cc satisfies c2=a2+b2=52, c^2=a^2+b^2=52, so c=213.c=2\sqrt{13}.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

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Problem 49 in Other Years

1950 AMC 12 · 1952 AMC 12 · 1953 AMC 12 · 1954 AMC 12 · 1955 AMC 12 · 1956 AMC 12 · 1957 AMC 12 · 1958 AMC 12 · 1959 AMC 12