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2012 AMC 10B Problem 12

Problem 12 of 25IntermediateGeometry

Point BB is due east of point A.A. Point CC is due north of point B.B. The distance between points AA and CC is 10210\sqrt 2 meters, and BAC=45.\angle BAC = 45^\circ. Point DD is 2020 meters due north of point C.C. The distance ADAD is between which two integers?

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Solution

We know ABAB and BCBC are perpendicular, so AB2+BC2=(102)2=200.AB^2 + BC^2 = (10\sqrt 2)^2 = 200. Also, as BAC=45,\angle BAC = 45^\circ, we know that ABC\triangle ABC is an isosceles right triangle, so AB=BC,AB = BC , making 2AB2=200.2AB^2 = 200. Thus, AB=BC=10.AB = BC = 10. As such, we know that BD=BC+CD=30.BD= BC+CD = 30. Thus, by the Pythagorean Theorem, we have that AD2=AB2+BD2=102+302=1000\begin{aligned}AD^2 &= AB^2+BD^2 \\&= 10^2+30^2\\&=1000\end{aligned} Thus, since 312<AD2<322,31^2 \lt AD^2 \lt 32^2, we have 31<AD<3231 \lt AD\lt 32 Thus, the correct answer is B .

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Concepts: Pythagorean Theorem · special right triangle · estimation

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.