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2006 AMC 12B Problem 16

Problem 16 of 25IntermediateGeometry

Regular hexagon ABCDEFABCDEF has vertices AA and CC at (0,0)(0, 0) and (7,1),(7, 1), respectively. What is its area?

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Solution

The distance is AC=72+12=50.AC = \sqrt{7^2 + 1^2} = \sqrt{50}. In a regular hexagon with side s,s, the distance between vertices two apart is s3,s\sqrt3, so s23=50,s^2 \cdot 3 = 50, giving s2=503.s^2 = \dfrac{50}{3}. The hexagon’s area is 332s2=332503=253.\frac{3\sqrt3}{2}s^2 = \frac{3\sqrt3}{2} \cdot \frac{50}{3} = 25\sqrt3. Thus, the correct answer is C.

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Concepts: regular polygon · distance formula · area

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