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2025 AMC 10A Problem 23

Problem 23 of 25HarderGeometry

Triangle ABC\triangle ABC has side lengths AB=80,AB = 80, BC=45,BC = 45, and AC=75.AC = 75. The bisector of B\angle B and the altitude to side ABAB intersect at point P.P. What is BP?BP?

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Solution

Let the bisector of B\angle B hit ACAC at D.D. By the Angle Bisector Theorem, ADDC=ABBC=8045,\frac{AD}{DC} = \frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{80}{45}, and since AC=75,AC = 75, we get AD=48AD = 48 and CD=27.CD = 27. Triangles BCDBCD and ACBACB share C,\angle C, with adjacent sides in the common ratio 4575=2745=35,\tfrac{45}{75}=\tfrac{27}{45}=\tfrac35, so they are similar by SAS. Hence BD=3580=48=AD,BD=\tfrac35\cdot80=48=AD, making ADB\triangle ADB isosceles. Put DAB=DBA=θ.\angle DAB=\angle DBA=\theta. Because the altitude through CC is perpendicular to AB,AB, both DPC\angle DPC and DCP\angle DCP equal 90θ.90^\circ-\theta. Thus CDP\triangle CDP is isosceles, so PD=CD=27.PD=CD=27. Since PP lies on BD,BD, we get BP=BDPDBP=BD-PD =4827=21.=48-27=21. Thus, D is the correct answer.

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Concepts: angle bisector theorem · similarity · angle chasing

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