2017 AMC 8 Problem 16

Attempt Problem 16 of the 2017 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2017 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

16.

In the figure below, choose point DD on BC\overline{BC} so that ACD\triangle ACD and ABD\triangle ABD have equal perimeters. What is the area of ABD?\triangle ABD?

34 \dfrac{3}{4}

32 \dfrac{3}{2}

2 2

125 \dfrac{12}{5}

52 \dfrac{5}{2}

Answer: D
Concepts:area ratioperimeter
Difficulty rating: 1420
Video solution:
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Written solution:

The only way to split BC\overline{BC} into two parts such that the two triangles have the same perimeter is if CD=3\overline{CD} = 3 and BD=2.\overline{BD} = 2.

ACD\triangle ACD and ABD\triangle ABD have the same altitudes, so their areas are proportional to their bases. This means that the area of ABD\triangle ABD is 25\dfrac{2}{5} the area of ABC,\triangle ABC, which is 25342=125.\dfrac{2}{5} \cdot 3 \cdot \dfrac{4}{2} = \dfrac{12}{5}.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

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