2024 AMC 12A Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 of the 2024 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 2024 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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23.

What is the value of tan2π16tan23π16+tan2π16tan25π16+tan23π16tan27π16+tan25π16tan27π16? \begin{aligned} &\tan^2\frac{\pi}{16}\cdot\tan^2\frac{3\pi}{16} \\ &\quad {}+\tan^2\frac{\pi}{16}\cdot\tan^2\frac{5\pi}{16} \\ &\quad {}+\tan^2\frac{3\pi}{16}\cdot\tan^2\frac{7\pi}{16} \\ &\quad {}+\tan^2\frac{5\pi}{16}\cdot\tan^2\frac{7\pi}{16}? \end{aligned}

2828

6868

7070

7272

8484

Answer: B
Concepts:trigonometric identityfactoring
Difficulty rating: 2370
Solution:

With a=tan2π16, a=\tan^2\tfrac{\pi}{16},\ b=tan23π16, b=\tan^2\tfrac{3\pi}{16},\ c=tan25π16, c=\tan^2\tfrac{5\pi}{16},\ d=tan27π16,d=\tan^2\tfrac{7\pi}{16}, the expression is ab+ac+bd+cdab+ac+bd+cd =(a+d)(b+c).=(a+d)(b+c).

Since 7π16=π2π16,\tfrac{7\pi}{16}=\tfrac{\pi}{2}-\tfrac{\pi}{16}, we have d=cot2π16,d=\cot^2\tfrac{\pi}{16}, so a+d=tan2π16+cot2π16a+d=\tan^2\tfrac{\pi}{16}+\cot^2\tfrac{\pi}{16} =4sin2(π/8)2=\tfrac{4}{\sin^2(\pi/8)}-2 =14+82.=14+8\sqrt2. Likewise b+c=4sin2(3π/8)2b+c=\tfrac{4}{\sin^2(3\pi/8)}-2 =1482.=14-8\sqrt2. Their product is 142(82)2=196128=68.14^2-(8\sqrt2)^2=196-128=68.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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