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 and units by the point of tangency of the inscribed circle. If the radius of the circle is then the length of the shortest side of the triangle is:
units
units
units
units
units
Answer: B
Small Hint:
Equal tangent segments from a vertex make the three sides and for some
Big Hint:
Use both and Heron’s formula with semiperimeter
Solution:
Let the two tangent segments from the third vertex each have length Equal tangents from a common vertex make the side lengths with semiperimeter Since the inradius is Heron’s formula gives Equating the squares yields so The sides are and and the shortest is
Thus, the correct answer is B.