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2012 AMC 10B Problem 3

Problem 3 of 25EasierGeometry

The point in the xyxy-plane with coordinates (1000,2012)(1000, 2012) is reflected across the line y=2000.y=2000. What are the coordinates of the reflected point?

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Solution

Notice that the line in question is perfectly horizontal. This means that if we were to construct a perpendicular line segment from the point to the line, to find the reflected coordinates of the point, we simply double the distance along that line segment. The line segment from (1000,2012)(1000,2012) to y=2000y=2000 is of length 12,12, so the reflected point is along this same line segment, but a distance of 1212 on the other side of the horizontal line. This yields (1000,1988).(1000,1988). Thus, the correct answer is B .

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Concepts: reflection (geometry) · coordinate geometry

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