Difference between revisions of "2023 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 11"

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<math>\textbf{(A) }\frac 54 \qquad \textbf{(B) } \frac 87 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \frac{5\sqrt2}4 \qquad \textbf{(D) } \frac 32  \qquad \textbf{(E) } \frac{3\sqrt3}4</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A) }\frac 54 \qquad \textbf{(B) } \frac 87 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \frac{5\sqrt2}4 \qquad \textbf{(D) } \frac 32  \qquad \textbf{(E) } \frac{3\sqrt3}4</math>
  
==Solution==
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==Solution 1==
  
 
Denote by <math>x</math> the length of the shorter base.
 
Denote by <math>x</math> the length of the shorter base.
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~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)
 
~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)
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==Solution 2==
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~cantalon
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2023|ab=B|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2023|ab=B|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 20:09, 15 November 2023

Problem

What is the maximum area of an isosceles trapezoid that has legs of length $1$ and one base twice as long as the other?

$\textbf{(A) }\frac 54 \qquad \textbf{(B) } \frac 87 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \frac{5\sqrt2}4 \qquad \textbf{(D) } \frac 32  \qquad \textbf{(E) } \frac{3\sqrt3}4$

Solution 1

Denote by $x$ the length of the shorter base. Thus, the height of the trapezoid is \begin{align*} \sqrt{1^2 - \left( \frac{x}{2} \right)^2} . \end{align*}

Thus, the area of the trapezoid is \begin{align*} \frac{1}{2} \left( x + 2 x \right) \sqrt{1^2 - \left( \frac{x}{2} \right)^2}  & = \frac{3}{4} \sqrt{x^2 \left( 4 - x^2 \right)} \\ & \leq \frac{3}{4} \frac{x^2 + \left( 4 - x^2 \right)}{2} \\ & = \boxed{\textbf{(D) } \frac{3}{2}} , \end{align*}

where the inequality follows from the AM-GM inequality and it is binding if and only if $x^2 = 4 - x^2$.

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Solution 2

~cantalon

See Also

2023 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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 12 Problems and Solutions

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