1953 AMC 12 Problem 50

Attempt Problem 50 of the 1953 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 1953 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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50.

One of the sides of a triangle is divided into segments of 66 and 88 units by the point of tangency of the inscribed circle. If the radius of the circle is 4,4, then the length of the shortest side of the triangle is:

1212 units

1313 units

1414 units

1515 units

1616 units

Answer: B
Concepts:incircletangent lengthsHeron formulatriangle
Difficulty rating: 1950
Small Hint:

Equal tangent segments from a vertex make the three sides 14,14, 6+z,6+z, and 8+z8+z for some zz

Big Hint:

Use both K=rsK=rs and Heron’s formula with semiperimeter s=14+zs=14+z

Solution:

Let the two tangent segments from the third vertex each have length z.z. Equal tangents from a common vertex make the side lengths 14,6+z,8+z, 14,\qquad 6+z,\qquad 8+z, with semiperimeter s=14+z.s=14+z. Since the inradius is 4,4, K=rs=4(14+z). K=rs=4(14+z). Heron’s formula gives K2=(14+z)z86=48z(14+z). \begin{aligned} K^2 &=(14+z)z\cdot8\cdot6\\ &=48z(14+z). \end{aligned} Equating the squares yields 16(14+z)=48z,16(14+z)=48z, so z=7.z=7. The sides are 14,14, 13,13, and 15,15, and the shortest is 13.13.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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Problem 50 in Other Years

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