2009 AMC 12B Problem 13 — Solution | LIVE by Po-Shen Loh

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2009 AMC 12B Problem 13

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 13 of the 2009 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:Pythagorean Theorem altitude casework

Difficulty rating: 1560

13.

Triangle $ABC$ has $AB = 13$ and $AC = 15,$ and the altitude to $BC$ has length $12.$ What is the sum of the two possible values of $BC?$

$15$

$16$

$17$

$18$

$19$

Solution:

Let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $A.$ Then $BD = \sqrt{13^2 - 12^2} = 5$ and $DC = \sqrt{15^2 - 12^2} = 9.$

If $D$ lies between $B$ and $C,$ then $BC = 5 + 9 = 14$ ; if the triangle is obtuse, $BC = 9 - 5 = 4.$ The sum is $14 + 4 = 18.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

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