2014 AMC 12B Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 2014 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 2014 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

5.

Doug constructs a square window using 88 equal-size panes of glass, as shown. The ratio of the height to width for each pane is 5:2,5 : 2, and the borders around and between the panes are 22 inches wide. In inches, what is the side length of the square window?
2626
2828
3030
3232
3434
Answer: A
Concepts:ratio and proportionlinear equationrectangle
Small hint:
Let each pane be 2x2x wide and 5x5x tall
Big hint:
The window’s width 4(2x)+5⋅24(2x)+5\cdot2 equals its height 2(5x)+3⋅22(5x)+3\cdot2
Solution:
Let each pane have width 2x2x and height 5x.5x. The window is 44 panes wide with 55 vertical borders, so its width is 4(2x)+5⋅2=8x+10.4(2x) + 5\cdot2 = 8x+10.
It is 22 panes tall with 33 horizontal borders, so its height is 2(5x)+3⋅2=10x+6.2(5x) + 3\cdot2 = 10x+6.
Setting width equal to height gives 8x+10=10x+6,8x+10 = 10x+6, so x=2x=2 and the side length is 10⋅2+6=26.10\cdot2+6 = 26.
Thus, the correct answer is A.
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