Skip to main content

2010 AMC 12B Problem 13

Problem 13 of 25IntermediateGeometryProblem-Solving Techniques

In △ABC,\triangle ABC, cos⁡(2A−B)+sin⁡(A+B)=2\cos(2A-B)+\sin(A+B)=2 and AB=4.AB=4. What is BC?BC?

Answer choices

Show solution

Solution

A cosine plus a sine equals 22 only when each equals 1.1. So cos⁡(2A−B)=1\cos(2A-B)=1 and sin⁡(A+B)=1,\sin(A+B)=1, giving 2A−B=0∘2A-B=0^\circ and A+B=90∘.A+B=90^\circ. Solving, A=30∘A=30^\circ and B=60∘,B=60^\circ, so △ABC\triangle ABC is a 30-60-9030\text{-}60\text{-}90 right triangle with the right angle at C.C. With hypotenuse AB=4,AB=4, the side BCBC opposite the 30∘30^\circ angle is half the hypotenuse, so BC=2.BC=2. Thus, the correct answer is C.
AoPS wiki

Tagged: trigonometry · special right triangle · bounding to limit cases

More practice