2012 AMC 12B Problem 17

Attempt Problem 17 of the 2012 AMC 12B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2012 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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17.

Square PQRSPQRS lies in the first quadrant. Points (3,0),(3, 0), (5,0),(5, 0), (7,0),(7, 0), and (13,0)(13, 0) lie on lines SP,SP, RQ,RQ, PQ,PQ, and SR,SR, respectively. What is the sum of the coordinates of the center of the square PQRS?PQRS?

66

6.26.2

6.46.4

6.66.6

6.86.8

Answer: C
Concepts:coordinate geometryslopesystem of equations
Difficulty rating: 1910
Small Hint:

Let θ\theta be the angle line PQPQ makes with the xx-axis; the square condition relates the projections of the given segments

Big Hint:

From 2cosθ=6sinθ2\cos\theta=6\sin\theta get tanθ=13,\tan\theta=\tfrac13, then intersect the two lines through the midpoints (4,0)(4,0) and (10,0)(10,0)

Solution:

Let θ\theta be the acute angle line PQPQ makes with the xx-axis. Sides SR=PQSR=PQ span the segment from (3,0)(3,0) to (5,0)(5,0) as 2cosθ,2\cos\theta, while SP=QRSP=QR span the segment from (7,0)(7,0) to (13,0)(13,0) as 6sinθ.6\sin\theta.

Since the square has equal sides, 2cosθ=6sinθ,2\cos\theta=6\sin\theta, so tanθ=13.\tan\theta=\tfrac13. Thus lines SP,RQSP,RQ have slope 33 and lines SR,PQSR,PQ have slope 13.-\tfrac13.

The center lies on the line through (4,0)(4,0) with slope 33 and the line through (10,0)(10,0) with slope 13:-\tfrac13: y=3(x4),y=3(x-4), y=13(x10).y=-\tfrac13(x-10). These meet at (4.6,1.8).(4.6,1.8).

The sum of the coordinates is 4.6+1.8=6.4.4.6+1.8=6.4.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 16#16
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