2013 AMC 12B Problem 20

Attempt Problem 20 of the 2013 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 2013 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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20.

For 135∘<x<180∘,135^\circ \lt x \lt 180^\circ, points P=(cos⁡x,cos⁡2x),P = (\cos x, \cos^2 x), Q=(cot⁡x,cot⁡2x),Q = (\cot x, \cot^2 x), R=(sin⁡x,sin⁡2x),R = (\sin x, \sin^2 x), and S=(tan⁡x,tan⁡2x)S = (\tan x, \tan^2 x) are the vertices of a trapezoid. What is sin⁡(2x)?\sin(2x)?
2−222 - 2\sqrt2
33−63\sqrt3 - 6
32−53\sqrt2 - 5
−34-\dfrac{3}{4}
1−31 - \sqrt3
Answer: A
Concepts:parabolatrigonometric identitytrapezoid
Small hint:
All four points lie on the parabola y=t2;y = t^2; the slope of the chord joining parameters t1t_1 and t2t_2 is t1+t2t_1 + t_2
Big hint:
On this range the parallel sides must be QRQR and PS,PS, so cot⁡x+sin⁡x=tan⁡x+cos⁡x\cot x + \sin x = \tan x + \cos x
Solution:
Each point (t,t2)(t, t^2) lies on y=t2,y = t^2, and the chord through parameters t1,t2t_1, t_2 has slope t1+t2.t_1 + t_2. For 135∘<x<180∘,135^\circ \lt x \lt 180^\circ, both cos⁡x\cos x and tan⁡x\tan x lie between cot⁡x\cot x and sin⁡x,\sin x, so PP and SS sit between QQ and RR and the parallel sides are QRQR and PS.PS. Equal slopes give cot⁡x+sin⁡x=tan⁡x+cos⁡x.\cot x + \sin x = \tan x + \cos x. Multiplying by sin⁡xcos⁡x\sin x\cos x and simplifying yields cos⁡x+sin⁡x−sin⁡xcos⁡x=0.\cos x + \sin x - \sin x\cos x = 0. Squaring and using 2sin⁡xcos⁡x=sin⁡2x2\sin x\cos x = \sin 2x gives 1+sin⁡2x=14sin⁡22x,1 + \sin 2x = \tfrac14\sin^2 2x, whose only root in (−1,1)(-1, 1) is sin⁡2x=2−22.\sin 2x = 2 - 2\sqrt2. Thus, the correct answer is A.
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