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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 E′E' be the point on CD‾\overline{CD} such that AE′=AB=20AE'=AB=20. Since AD=10AD=10, triangle ADE′ADE' 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 ABE′ABE' is isosceles. Its vertex angle at AA is 30∘30^\circ, so each base angle is 75∘75^\circ. Therefore ∠CBE′=90∘−75∘=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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Tagged: special right triangle · isosceles triangle · angle chasing

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