Question

A star-polygon is drawn on a clock face by drawing a chord from each number to the fifth number counted clockwise from that number. That is, chords are drawn from $12$ to $5,$ from $5$ to $10,$ from $10$ to $3,$ and so on, ending back at $12.$ What is the degree measure of the angle at each vertex in the star-polygon?

$20$

$24$

$30$

$36$

$60$

Solution:

Consider the two chords meeting at the number $5.$ They run to $12$ and to $10,$ so the arc they subtend extends from $10$ to $12.$

That arc spans two of the twelve hour-marks, so its measure is $\tfrac{2}{12}\cdot 360^\circ=60^\circ.$

By the Inscribed Angle Theorem, the vertex angle is half the arc, or $\tfrac12\cdot 60^\circ=30^\circ.$ By symmetry every vertex angle equals $30^\circ.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

2007 AMC 12A Problem 8

Solution:

Problem 8 in Other Years