2004 AMC 10A Problem 22

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 22 of the 2004 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2004 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:tangent linePythagorean Theorem

Difficulty rating: 1790

22.

Square ABCDABCD has side length 2.2. A semicircle with diameter AB\overline{AB} is constructed inside the square, and the tangent to the semicircle from CC intersects side AD\overline{AD} at E.E. What is the length of CE?\overline{CE}?

2+52\dfrac{2 + \sqrt{5}}{2}

5\sqrt{5}

6\sqrt{6}

52\dfrac{5}{2}

555 - \sqrt{5}

Solution:

Let FF be the point where CECE touches the semicircle and let x=AE.x = AE. Since tangents from a point are equal, CF=CB=2CF = CB = 2 and EF=EA=x,EF = EA = x, so CE=2+x.CE = 2 + x.

In right triangle CDE,CDE, we have DE=2xDE = 2 - x and DC=2,DC = 2, so (2x)2+22=(2+x)2. (2 - x)^2 + 2^2 = (2 + x)^2. This gives x=12,x = \dfrac{1}{2}, hence CE=2+12=52.CE = 2 + \dfrac{1}{2} = \dfrac{5}{2}.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 22 in Other Years