Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 12"

(→‎Solution 5 (Medians))
(Solution where the figure is drawn out and area is approximated deleted due to inability to directly construct figure with given information)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
<math>\textbf{(A) } 48 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 72 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 96 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 144 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 192</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A) } 48 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 72 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 96 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 144 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 192</math>
  
−
== Solution ==
+
== Solution 1 ==
 
Since quadrilateral <math>UVCM</math> has perpendicular diagonals, its area can be found as half of the product of the length of the diagonals. Also note that <math>\triangle AUV</math> has <math>\frac 14</math> the area of triangle <math>AMC</math> by similarity, so <math>[UVCM]=\frac 34\cdot [AMC].</math> Thus,
 
Since quadrilateral <math>UVCM</math> has perpendicular diagonals, its area can be found as half of the product of the length of the diagonals. Also note that <math>\triangle AUV</math> has <math>\frac 14</math> the area of triangle <math>AMC</math> by similarity, so <math>[UVCM]=\frac 34\cdot [AMC].</math> Thus,
 
<cmath>\frac 12 \cdot 12\cdot 12=\frac 34 \cdot [AMC]</cmath>
 
<cmath>\frac 12 \cdot 12\cdot 12=\frac 34 \cdot [AMC]</cmath>
Line 11: Line 11:
 
<cmath>[AMC]=96\rightarrow \boxed{\textbf{(C)}}.</cmath>
 
<cmath>[AMC]=96\rightarrow \boxed{\textbf{(C)}}.</cmath>
  
−
 
+
==Solution 2 (Trapezoid)==
−
==Solution 2 (CHEATING)==
 
−
Draw a to-scale diagram with your graph paper and straightedge. Measure the height and approximate the area.
 
−
 
 
−
==Solution 3 (Trapezoid)==
 
 
<asy>
 
<asy>
 
draw((-4,0)--(4,0)--(0,12)--cycle);
 
draw((-4,0)--(4,0)--(0,12)--cycle);
Line 44: Line 40:
 
This is <math>\frac{3}{4}</math> of the triangle, so the area of the triangle is <math>\frac{4}{3}\cdot{72}=\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 96}</math> ~quacker88, diagram by programjames1
 
This is <math>\frac{3}{4}</math> of the triangle, so the area of the triangle is <math>\frac{4}{3}\cdot{72}=\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 96}</math> ~quacker88, diagram by programjames1
  
−
==Solution 4 (Medians)==
+
==Solution 3 (Medians)==
 
Draw median <math>\overline{AB}</math>.
 
Draw median <math>\overline{AB}</math>.
 
<asy>
 
<asy>

Revision as of 23:25, 31 January 2020

Problem

Triangle $AMC$ is isoceles with $AM = AC$. Medians $\overline{MV}$ and $\overline{CU}$ are perpendicular to each other, and $MV=CU=12$. What is the area of $\triangle AMC?$

$\textbf{(A) } 48 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 72 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 96 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 144 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 192$

Solution 1

Since quadrilateral $UVCM$ has perpendicular diagonals, its area can be found as half of the product of the length of the diagonals. Also note that $\triangle AUV$ has $\frac 14$ the area of triangle $AMC$ by similarity, so $[UVCM]=\frac 34\cdot [AMC].$ Thus, \[\frac 12 \cdot 12\cdot 12=\frac 34 \cdot [AMC]\] \[72=\frac 34\cdot [AMC]\] \[[AMC]=96\rightarrow \boxed{\textbf{(C)}}.\]

Solution 2 (Trapezoid)

[asy] draw((-4,0)--(4,0)--(0,12)--cycle); draw((-2,6)--(4,0)); draw((2,6)--(-4,0)); draw((-2,6)--(2,6)); label("M", (-4,0), W); label("C", (4,0), E); label("A", (0, 12), N); label("V", (2, 6), NE); label("U", (-2, 6), NW); label("P", (0, 3.6), S); [/asy]

We know that $\triangle AUV \sim \triangle AMC$, and since the ratios of its sides are $\frac{1}{2}$, the ratio of of their areas is $(\frac{1}{2})^2=\frac{1}{4}$.

If $\triangle AUV$ is $\frac{1}{4}$ the area of $\triangle AMC$, then trapezoid $MUVC$ is $\frac{3}{4}$ the area of $\triangle AMC$.

Let's call the intersection of $\overline{UC}$ and $\overline{MV}$ $P$. Let $\overline{UP}=x$. Then $\overline{PC}=12-x$. Since $\overline{UC} \perp \overline{MV}$, $\overline{UP}$ and $\overline{CP}$ are heights of triangles $\triangle MUV$ and $\triangle MCV$, respectively. Both of these triangles have base $12$.

Area of $\triangle MUV = \frac{x\cdot12}{2}=6x$

Area of $\triangle MCV = \frac{(12-x)\cdot12}{2}=72-6x$

Adding these two gives us the area of trapezoid $MUVC$, which is $6x+(72-6x)=72$.

This is $\frac{3}{4}$ of the triangle, so the area of the triangle is $\frac{4}{3}\cdot{72}=\boxed{\textbf{(C) } 96}$ ~quacker88, diagram by programjames1

Solution 3 (Medians)

Draw median $\overline{AB}$. [asy] draw((-4,0)--(4,0)--(0,12)--cycle); draw((-2,6)--(4,0)); draw((2,6)--(-4,0)); draw((0,12)--(0,0)); label("M", (-4,0), W); label("C", (4,0), E); label("A", (0, 12), N); label("V", (2, 6), NE); label("U", (-2, 6), NW); label("P", (0.5, 4), E); label("B", (0, 0), S); [/asy]

Since we know that all medians of a triangle intersect at the incenter, we know that $\overline{AB}$ passes through point $P$. We also know that medians of a triangle divide each other into segments of ratio $2:1$. Knowing this, we can see that $\overline{PC}:\overline{UP}=2:1$, and since the two segments sum to $12$, $\overline{PC}$ and $\overline{UP}$ are $8$ and $4$, respectively.

Finally knowing that the medians divide the triangle into $6$ sections of equal area, finding the area of $\triangle PUM$ is enough. $\overline{PC} = \overline{MP} = 8$.

The area of $\triangle PUM = \frac{4\cdot8}{2}=16$. Multiplying this by $6$ gives us $6\cdot16=\boxed{\textbf{(C) }96}$ ~quacker88

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/ZGwAasE32Y4

~IceMatrix

See Also

2020 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 11 		Followed by
Problem 13
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2020_AMC_10A_Problems/Problem_12&oldid=116133"