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2010 AMC 12B Problem 13

Problem 13 of 25IntermediateAlgebraGeometry

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

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Solution

A cosine plus a sine equals 22 only when each equals 1.1. So cos(2AB)=1\cos(2A-B)=1 and sin(A+B)=1,\sin(A+B)=1, giving 2AB=02A-B=0^\circ and A+B=90.A+B=90^\circ. Solving, A=30A=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 3030^\circ angle is half the hypotenuse, so BC=2.BC=2. Thus, the correct answer is C.

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

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