Difference between revisions of "2023 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 11"

(Solution 1)
(Solution)
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<cmath>2x^2-2x\sqrt{3}+1=0</cmath>.
 
<cmath>2x^2-2x\sqrt{3}+1=0</cmath>.
  
By the quadratic formula, we find <math>x=\frac{\sqrt{3}\pm1}{2}</math>. Hence, our answer is <math>\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{\sqrt{3}+1}}=2-\sqrt{3}.</math>
+
By the quadratic formula, we find <math>x=\frac{\sqrt{3}\pm1}{2}</math>. Hence, our answer is <math>\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{\sqrt{3}+1}=2-\sqrt{3}.</math>
  
 
~SirAppel
 
~SirAppel

Revision as of 19:51, 9 November 2023

A square of area $2$ is inscribed in a square of area $3$, creating four congruent triangles, as shown below. What is the ratio of the shorter leg to the longer leg in the shaded right triangle? [asy] size(200); defaultpen(linewidth(0.6pt)+fontsize(10pt)); real y = sqrt(3); pair A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H; A = (0,0); B = (0,y); C = (y,y); D = (y,0); E = ((y + 1)/2,y); F = (y, (y - 1)/2); G = ((y - 1)/2, 0); H = (0,(y + 1)/2); fill(H--B--E--cycle, gray); draw(A--B--C--D--cycle); draw(E--F--G--H--cycle); [\asy] $\textbf{(A) }\frac15\qquad\textbf{(B) }\frac14\qquad\textbf{(C) }2-\sqrt3\qquad\textbf{(D) }\sqrt3-\sqrt2\qquad\textbf{(E) }\sqrt2-1$

Solution

Note that each side length is $\sqrt{2}$ and $\sqrt{3}.$ Let the shorter side of our triangle be $x$, thus the longer leg is $\sqrt{3}-x$. Hence, by the Pythagorean Theorem, we have \[(x-\sqrt{3})^2+x^2=2\] \[2x^2-2x\sqrt{3}+1=0\].

By the quadratic formula, we find $x=\frac{\sqrt{3}\pm1}{2}$. Hence, our answer is $\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{\sqrt{3}+1}=2-\sqrt{3}.$

~SirAppel