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2014 AMC 10A Problem 22

Problem 22 of 25HarderGeometry

In rectangle ABCD,ABCD, AB=20\overline{AB}=20 and BC=10.\overline{BC}=10. Let EE be a point on CD\overline{CD} such that CBE=15.\angle CBE=15^\circ. What is AE?\overline{AE}?

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Solution

Let EE' be the point on CD\overline{CD} such that AE=AB=20AE'=AB=20. Since AD=10AD=10, triangle ADEADE' is a 3030-6060-9090 triangle, so DAE=60\angle DAE'=60^\circ and BAE=30\angle BAE'=30^\circ. Also AE=ABAE'=AB, so triangle ABEABE' is isosceles. Its vertex angle at AA is 3030^\circ, so each base angle is 7575^\circ. Therefore CBE=9075=15\angle CBE'=90^\circ-75^\circ=15^\circ, so E=EE'=E, and AE=20AE=20. Thus, E is the correct answer.

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Concepts: special right triangle · isosceles triangle · angle chasing

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