2010 AMC 12A Problem 8

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 8 of the 2010 AMC 12A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2010 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:angle chasingequilateral trianglespecial right triangle

Difficulty rating: 1660

8.

Triangle ABCABC has AB=2AC.AB=2 \cdot AC. Let DD and EE be on AB\overline{AB} and BC,\overline{BC}, respectively, such that BAE=ACD.\angle BAE = \angle ACD. Let FF be the intersection of segments AEAE and CD,CD, and suppose that CFE\triangle CFE is equilateral. What is ACB?\angle ACB?

6060^\circ

7575^\circ

9090^\circ

105105^\circ

120120^\circ

Solution:

Let BAE=ACD=x.\angle BAE = \angle ACD = x. Note that CFE=60\angle CFE = 60^{\circ} since CFE\triangle CFE is equilateral.

We then have that AFC=180CFE=120. \angle AFC = 180^{\circ} - \angle CFE = 120^{\circ}.

Then: FAC=180120x=60x=EAC.\begin{align*} \angle FAC &= 180^{\circ} - 120^{\circ} - x\\ &=60^{\circ} - x \\ &= \angle EAC.\end{align*}

We then get that BAC=BAE+EAC=x+60x=60. \begin{align*} \angle BAC &= \angle BAE + \angle EAC\\ &= x + 60^{\circ} - x \\&= 60^{\circ}. \end{align*}

Since AB=2ACAB = 2 \cdot AC and BAC=60,\angle BAC = 60^{\circ}, we have that ABC\triangle ABC is a 30609030-60-90 triangle.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

Problem 8 in Other Years