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Difference between revisions of "2018 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 16"

(Created page with "Right triangle <math>ABC</math> has leg lengths <math>AB=20</math> and <math>BC=21</math>. Including <math>\overline{AB}</math> and <math>\overline{BC}</math>, how many line s...")
 
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\textbf{(E) }15 \qquad
 
\textbf{(E) }15 \qquad
 
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==Solution==
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The hypotenuse has length <math>29</math>. Let <math>P</math> be the foot of the altitude from <math>B</math> to <math>AC</math>. Note that <math>BP</math> is the shortest possible length of any segment. Writing the area of the triangle in two ways, we can solve for <math>BP=\dfrac{20\cdot  21}{29}</math>, which is between <math>14</math> and <math>15</math>.
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Let the line segment be <math>BX</math>, with <math>X</math> on <math>AC</math>. As you move <math>X</math> along the hypotenuse from <math>A</math> to <math>P</math>, the length of <math>BX</math> strictly decreases, hitting all the integer values from <math>20, 19, \dots 15</math>. Similarly, moving <math>X</math> from <math>P</math> to <math>C</math> hits all the integer values from <math>15, 16, \dots, 21</math>. This is a total of <math>\boxed{13}</math> line segments.

Revision as of 14:11, 8 February 2018

Right triangle $ABC$ has leg lengths $AB=20$ and $BC=21$. Including $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{BC}$, how many line segments with integer length can be drawn from vertex $B$ to a point on hypotenuse $\overline{AC}$?

$\textbf{(A) }5 \qquad \textbf{(B) }8 \qquad \textbf{(C) }12 \qquad \textbf{(D) }13 \qquad \textbf{(E) }15 \qquad$

Solution

The hypotenuse has length $29$. Let $P$ be the foot of the altitude from $B$ to $AC$. Note that $BP$ is the shortest possible length of any segment. Writing the area of the triangle in two ways, we can solve for $BP=\dfrac{20\cdot 21}{29}$, which is between $14$ and $15$.

Let the line segment be $BX$, with $X$ on $AC$. As you move $X$ along the hypotenuse from $A$ to $P$, the length of $BX$ strictly decreases, hitting all the integer values from $20, 19, \dots 15$. Similarly, moving $X$ from $P$ to $C$ hits all the integer values from $15, 16, \dots, 21$. This is a total of $\boxed{13}$ line segments.

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