2022 AMC 12A Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2022 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 2022 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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

3.

Five rectangles, A,A, B,B, C,C, D,D, and E,E, are arranged in a square as shown below. These rectangles have dimensions 1×6,1\times6, 2×4,2\times4, 5×6,5\times6, 2×7,2\times7, and 2×3,2\times3, respectively. (The figure is not drawn to scale.) Which of the five rectangles is the shaded one in the middle?
AA
BB
CC
DD
EE
Answer: B
Concepts:areatilingrectangle
Small hint:
The five areas add to the square’s area, which fixes the side length
Big hint:
Anchor the large 5×65\times6 and 2×72\times7 pieces in corners, then fit the rest
Solution:
The five areas are 6, 8, 30, 14,6,\ 8,\ 30,\ 14, and 6,6, which sum to 64.64. So the square is 8×8.8\times8.
Placing CC (5×65\times6) across the top left, DD (2×72\times7) up the right side, EE (2×32\times3) in the lower left, and AA (1×61\times6) along the bottom leaves a central 2×42\times4 gap, which is exactly rectangle B.B.
Thus, the correct answer is B.
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