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2018 AMC 10A Problem 16

Problem 16 of 25IntermediateGeometryCounting & Probability

Right triangle ABCABC has leg lengths AB=20AB=20 and BC=21.BC=21. Including AB\overline{AB} and BC,\overline{BC}, how many line segments with integer length can be drawn from vertex BB to a point on hypotenuse AC?\overline{AC}?

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Solution

Let PP be the foot of the altitude from BB to AC.\overline{AC}. The Pythagorean Theorem gives AC=29.AC=29. Computing the area in two ways gives 29PB2=20212,\dfrac{29\cdot PB}{2}=\dfrac{20\cdot21}{2}, so PB=42029,PB=\dfrac{420}{29}, which lies between 1414 and 15.15. As the endpoint moves from AA to P,P, its distance from BB decreases continuously from 2020 to PB.PB. Thus there is one segment of each integer length 15,16,17,18,19,20.15,16,17,18,19,20. As the endpoint moves from PP to C,C, the distance increases continuously from PBPB to 21,21, giving one segment of each integer length 15,16,17,18,19,20,21.15,16,17,18,19,20,21. These are 6+7=136+7=13 distinct segments. Thus, D is the correct answer.

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Concepts: right triangle · altitude · counting integers in a range

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