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2015 AMC 10A Problem 21

Problem 21 of 25HarderGeometry

Tetrahedron ABCDABCD has AB=5,AB=5, AC=3,AC=3, BC=4,BC=4, BD=4,BD=4, AD=3,AD=3, and CD=1252.CD=\tfrac{12}5\sqrt2. What is the volume of the tetrahedron?

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Solution

We claim that the planes ABCABC and ABDABD are perpendicular to each other. We can show this by dropping the perpendiculars from CC and DD to ABAB. Since AC=ADAC = AD and BC=BD,BC = BD, we have that the feet of these altitudes will coincide at point P.P. Then we have that CP=DP=3⋅45=125. CP = DP = \dfrac{3 \cdot 4}{5} = \dfrac{12}{5}. We also have CD=CP2,CD = CP\sqrt{2}, so △CPD\triangle CPD is an isosceles right triangle and CP⊥DP.CP\perp DP. Since CP⊥ABCP\perp AB and CP⊥DPCP\perp DP, the segment CPCP is perpendicular to the plane ABDABD. Finally, the volume of the tetrahedron is 13[ABD]⋅CP=63⋅125=245. \dfrac{1}{3}[ABD] \cdot CP = \dfrac{6}{3} \cdot \dfrac{12}{5} = \dfrac{24}{5}. Thus, C is the correct answer.
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Tagged: 3D geometry · volume · right triangle

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