Question

Five unit squares are arranged in the coordinate plane as shown, with the lower left corner at the origin. The slanted line, extending from $(a, 0)$ to $(3, 3),$ divides the entire region into two regions of equal area. What is $a?$

$\dfrac{1}{2}$

$\dfrac{3}{5}$

$\dfrac{2}{3}$

$\dfrac{3}{4}$

$\dfrac{4}{5}$

Solution:

The five squares have total area $5,$ so each region must have area $\dfrac{5}{2}.$

The line from $(a, 0)$ to $(3, 3)$ together with the axes bounds a triangle of base $3 - a$ and height $3$ ; the region on the lower-right side of the line is this triangle with one unit square removed. Setting $\dfrac{3(3 - a)}{2} - 1 = \dfrac{5}{2}$ gives $3(3 - a) = 7,$ so $a = \dfrac{2}{3}.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

2009 AMC 12B Problem 14

Solution:

Problem 14 in Other Years