2018 AMC 8 Problem 24

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 24 of the 2018 AMC 8, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2018 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:cube geometryrhombusPythagorean Theorem

Difficulty rating: 1910

24.

In the cube ABCDEFGHABCDEFGH with opposite vertices CC and E,E, JJ and II are the midpoints of segments FB\overline{FB} and HD,\overline{HD}, respectively. Let RR be the ratio of the area of the cross-section EJCIEJCI to the area of one of the faces of the cube. What is R2?R^2?

54 \dfrac{5}{4}

43 \dfrac{4}{3}

32 \dfrac{3}{2}

2516 \dfrac{25}{16}

94 \dfrac{9}{4}

Video solution:
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Written solution:

Allow ss to represent the length of an edge of the cube. Noting that each side of the cross section is equal in length, we conclude that EJCIEJCI is a rhombus. The area of this rhombus can be calculated as 12IJCE,\frac12 IJ\cdot CE, as the area of a rhombus is equal to half the product of its diagonals. Using the Pythagorean Theorem: IJ=FH=s2.IJ=FH=s\sqrt{2}. Similarly, using the Pythagorean Theorem again lets us see that: CE=AC2+AE2=(s2)2+s2=2s2+s2=s3\begin{align*}CE&=\sqrt{AC^2+AE^2}\\&=\sqrt{(s\sqrt{2})^2+s^2}\\&=\sqrt{2s^2+s^2}\\&=s\sqrt{3}\end{align*} Therefore, R=12IJCEs2=12s223s2=32\begin{align*}R&=\dfrac{\frac12 IJ\cdot CE}{s^2}\\&=\dfrac{\frac12 s^2\sqrt{2}\sqrt{3}}{s^2}\\&=\sqrt{\dfrac32}\end{align*} Thus, R2=32,R^2=\dfrac32, and the correct answer is C.

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