2012 AMC 12B Problem 10

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Concepts:system of equationssubstitutiontriangle area

Difficulty rating: 1500

10.

What is the area of the polygon whose vertices are the points of intersection of the curves x2+y2=25x^2 + y^2 = 25 and (x4)2+9y2=81?(x - 4)^2 + 9y^2 = 81?

2424

2727

3636

37.537.5

4242

Solution:

From x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25 we get y2=25x2.y^2=25-x^2. Substituting into (x4)2+9y2=81(x-4)^2+9y^2=81 gives x2+x20=0,x^2+x-20=0, so x=4x=4 or x=5.x=-5.

The intersection points are (5,0),(-5,0), (4,3),(4,3), and (4,3).(4,-3).

The vertical side from (4,3)(4,3) to (4,3)(4,-3) has length 6,6, and the horizontal distance to (5,0)(-5,0) is 9,9, so the area is 1269=27.\tfrac12\cdot6\cdot9=27.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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