Difference between revisions of "2009 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 20"

Revision as of 19:28, 20 December 2020

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ has a right angle at $B$ , $AB=1$ , and $BC=2$ . The bisector of $\angle BAC$ meets $\overline{BC}$ at $D$ . What is $BD$ ?

$[asy] unitsize(2cm); defaultpen(linewidth(.8pt)+fontsize(8pt)); dotfactor=4; pair A=(0,1), B=(0,0), C=(2,0); pair D=extension(A,bisectorpoint(B,A,C),B,C); pair[] ds={A,B,C,D}; dot(ds); draw(A--B--C--A--D); label("$1$",midpoint(A--B),W); label("$B$",B,SW); label("$D$",D,S); label("$C$",C,SE); label("$A$",A,NW); draw(rightanglemark(C,B,A,2)); [/asy]$

$\text{(A) } \frac {\sqrt3 - 1}{2} \qquad \text{(B) } \frac {\sqrt5 - 1}{2} \qquad \text{(C) } \frac {\sqrt5 + 1}{2} \qquad \text{(D) } \frac {\sqrt6 + \sqrt2}{2} \qquad \text{(E) } 2\sqrt 3 - 1$

Solution 1

By the Pythagorean Theorem, $AC=\sqrt5$ . Then, from the Angle Bisector Theorem, we have:

$\frac{BD}{1}=\frac{2-BD}{\sqrt5}\\ BD\left(1+\frac{1}{\sqrt5}\right)=\frac{2}{\sqrt5}\\ BD(\sqrt5+1)=2\\ BD=\frac{2}{\sqrt5+1}=\boxed{\frac{\sqrt5-1}{2} \implies B}.$

Solution 2

Let $\theta = \angle BAD = \angle DAC$ . Notice $\tan \theta = BD$ and $\tan 2 \theta = 2$ . By the double angle identity, $2 = \frac{2 BD}{1 - BD^2} \implies BD = \boxed{\frac{\sqrt5 - 1}{2} \implies B}.$

Solution 3

Let $BD=y$

Make $DE$ a line so that it is perpendicular to $AC$ . Since $AD$ is an angle bisector, $\triangle AED$ is congruent to $\triangle ABD$ . Using the Pythagorean Theorem:

$AC^2=1^2+2^2$

$AC^2=5$

$AC=\sqrt{5}$

We know that $AE=1$ by the congruent triangles, so $EC=\sqrt{5}-1$ . We know that $DE=y$ , $EC=\sqrt{5}-1$ , and $DC=2-y$ We now have right triangle $DEC$ and its 3 sides. Using the Pythagoreon Thereom, we get:

$y^2+(\sqrt{5}-1)^2=(2-y)^2$

$-4y=2-2\sqrt{5}$

So, $y=\boxed{\frac{\sqrt5-1}{2} \implies B}.$

~HelloWorld21

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 == Solution 3 ==
+Let <math>BD=y</math>
+Make <math>DE</math> a line so that it is perpendicular to <math>AC</math>. Since <math>AD</math> is an angle bisector, <math>\triangle AED</math> is congruent to <math>\triangle ABD</math>.
+Using the Pythagorean Theorem:
+<math>AC^2=1^2+2^2</math>
+<math>AC^2=5</math>
+<math>AC=\sqrt{5}</math>
+We know that <math>AE=1</math> by the congruent triangles, so <math>EC=\sqrt{5}-1</math>. We know that <math>DE=y</math>, <math>EC=\sqrt{5}-1</math>, and <math>DC=2-y</math> We now have right triangle <math>DEC</math> and its 3 sides. Using the Pythagoreon Thereom, we get:
+<math>y^2+(\sqrt{5}-1)^2=(2-y)^2</math>
+<math>-4y=2-2\sqrt{5}</math>
+So, <math>y=\boxed{\frac{\sqrt5-1}{2} \implies B}.</math>
+~HelloWorld21
 == See Also ==

2009 AMC 10B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 19	Followed by Problem 21
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

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