1991 AMC 12 Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 1991 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 1991 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

10.

Point PP is 99 units from the center of a circle of radius 15.15. How many different chords of the circle contain PP and have integer lengths?
1111
1212
1313
1414
2929
Answer: B
Concepts:circle chorddistancecounting
Small hint:
Find the shortest and longest chord through PP
Big hint:
Except at the extreme lengths, each attainable chord length occurs in two directions
Solution:
The longest chord through PP is a diameter of length 30.30. The shortest is perpendicular to the radius through P,P, and has length 2152−92=24. 2\sqrt{15^2-9^2}=24. As the chord rotates between these positions, its length varies continuously from 2424 to 30.30. The endpoint lengths each occur once, while each of the five interior integer lengths 25,26,27,28,2925,26,27,28,29 occurs twice. Thus the count is 1+2(5)+1=12.1+2(5)+1=12.
Thus the correct answer is B.
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