2021 AMC 12B Spring Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 2021 AMC 12B Spring 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 2021 AMC 12B Spring solutions, or check the answer key.

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11.

Triangle ABCABC has AB=13,AB=13, BC=14,BC=14, and AC=15.AC=15. Let PP be the point on AC\overline{AC} such that PC=10.PC=10. There are exactly two points DD and EE on line BPBP such that quadrilaterals ABCDABCD and ABCEABCE are trapezoids. What is the distance DE?DE?

425\dfrac{42}{5}

626\sqrt2

845\dfrac{84}{5}

12212\sqrt2

1818

Answer: D
Concepts:coordinate geometryparallel linestrapezoid
Difficulty rating: 1690
Small Hint:

Place A=(0,0),A=(0,0), C=(15,0);C=(15,0); then B=(335,565)B=\left(\tfrac{33}{5},\tfrac{56}{5}\right) and P=(5,0)P=(5,0)

Big Hint:

One trapezoid needs CDAB,CD\parallel AB, the other needs AEBC;AE\parallel BC; find where each parallel line meets line BPBP

Solution:

Place A=(0,0)A=(0,0) and C=(15,0).C=(15,0). Then B=(335,565),B=\left(\tfrac{33}{5},\tfrac{56}{5}\right), and since PC=10,PC=10, P=(5,0).P=(5,0). Line BPBP has slope 7,7, so it is y=7(x5).y=7(x-5).

For ABCDABCD to be a trapezoid with DD on line BP,BP, take CDAB.CD\parallel AB. The line through CC parallel to ABAB meets line BPBP at (95,1125).(\tfrac95,-\tfrac{112}{5}).

For ABCEABCE with EE on line BP,BP, take AEBC.AE\parallel BC. The line through AA parallel to BCBC meets line BPBP at (215,285).(\tfrac{21}{5},-\tfrac{28}{5}).

Their coordinate differences are 125\tfrac{12}{5} and 845,\tfrac{84}{5}, so DE=15122+842=122.DE=\tfrac15\sqrt{12^2+84^2}=12\sqrt2.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 10#10
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