2009 AMC 12A Problem 10

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 10 of the 2009 AMC 12A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:triangle inequalitybounding to limit cases

Difficulty rating: 1500

10.

In quadrilateral ABCD,ABCD, AB=5,AB = 5, BC=17,BC = 17, CD=5,CD = 5, DA=9,DA = 9, and BDBD is an integer. What is BD?BD?

1111

1212

1313

1414

1515

Solution:

In BCD,\triangle BCD, the triangle inequality gives BD+CD>BC,BD + CD \gt BC, so BD+5>17BD + 5 \gt 17 and BD>12.BD \gt 12.

In ABD,\triangle ABD, AB+DA>BD,AB + DA \gt BD, so BD<5+9=14.BD \lt 5 + 9 = 14.

The only integer with 12<BD<1412 \lt BD \lt 14 is 13.13.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 10 in Other Years