2020 AMC 12A Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 2020 AMC 12A 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 2020 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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

2.

The acronym AMC is shown in the rectangular grid below with grid lines spaced 11 unit apart. In units, what is the sum of the lengths of the line segments that form the acronym AMC?
1717
15+2215 + 2\sqrt{2}
13+4213 + 4\sqrt{2}
11+6211 + 6\sqrt{2}
2121
Answer: C
Concepts:Pythagorean Theoremdistance formula
Small hint:
A segment spanning one unit right and one unit up has length 2\sqrt{2}
Big hint:
Total the horizontal and vertical pieces separately from the diagonal pieces
Solution:
Split each letter into its segments. The AA is a diagonal of length 22,2\sqrt{2}, a vertical of length 2,2, and a crossbar of length 1.1.
The MM has two verticals of length 22 and two diagonals of length 2\sqrt{2} each. The CC is three sides of length 2.2.
The straight pieces total 2+1+2+2+2+2+2=13,2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 13, and the diagonal pieces total 22+2+2=42.2\sqrt2 + \sqrt2 + \sqrt2 = 4\sqrt2.
The sum is 13+42.13 + 4\sqrt2.
Thus, C is the correct answer.
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