2021 AMC 12B Spring Problem 8

Attempt Problem 8 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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8.

Three equally spaced parallel lines intersect a circle, creating three chords of lengths 38,38,38, 38, and 34.34. What is the distance between two adjacent parallel lines?

5125\tfrac{1}{2}

66

6126\tfrac{1}{2}

77

7127\tfrac{1}{2}

Answer: B
Concepts:chordPythagorean Theorem
Difficulty rating: 1500
Solution:

Place the center at height 0.0. Two equal chords lie at equal distances from the center, so the three equally spaced lines are at heights d2,d2,3d2,-\tfrac{d}{2},\tfrac{d}{2},\tfrac{3d}{2}, with the two 3838-chords at ±d2\pm\tfrac{d}{2} and the 3434-chord at 3d2.\tfrac{3d}{2}.

Half-chord relations give r2(d2)2=192r^2-\left(\tfrac{d}{2}\right)^2=19^2 and r2(3d2)2=172.r^2-\left(\tfrac{3d}{2}\right)^2=17^2.

Subtracting, 2d2=192172=72,2d^2=19^2-17^2=72, so d2=36d^2=36 and d=6.d=6.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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