Question

A rectangular box $P$ has distinct edge lengths $a,$ $b,$ and $c.$ The sum of the lengths of all $12$ edges of $P$ is $13,$ the sum of the areas of all $6$ faces of $P$ is $\tfrac{11}{2},$ and the volume of $P$ is $\tfrac{1}{2}.$ What is the length of the longest interior diagonal connecting two vertices of $P?$

$2$

$\dfrac{3}{8}$

$\dfrac{9}{8}$

$\dfrac{9}{4}$

$\dfrac{3}{2}$

Answer: D

Concepts:rectangular prism algebraic manipulation

Difficulty rating: 1500

Solution:

From the edges, $4(a+b+c)=13,$ so $a+b+c=\tfrac{13}{4}.$ From the faces, $2(ab+bc+ca)=\tfrac{11}{2},$ so $ab+bc+ca=\tfrac{11}{4}.$ Then $\begin{aligned} a^2+b^2+c^2 &=\left(\tfrac{13}{4}\right)^2-2\cdot\tfrac{11}{4} \\ &=\tfrac{169}{16}-\tfrac{88}{16} \\ &=\tfrac{81}{16}, \end{aligned}$ so the diagonal is $\sqrt{\tfrac{81}{16}}=\tfrac{9}{4}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2023 AMC 12B Problem 13

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1500

Solution:

Problem 13 in Other Years