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2011 AMC 12B Problem 10

Problem 10 of 25EasierGeometry

Rectangle ABCDABCD has AB=6AB=6 and BC=3.BC=3. Point MM is chosen on side ABAB so that AMD=CMD.\angle AMD=\angle CMD. What is the degree measure of AMD?\angle AMD?

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Solution

Because ABCD,AB\parallel CD, we have CDM=AMD.\angle CDM=\angle AMD. Combined with AMD=CMD,\angle AMD=\angle CMD, this gives CDM=CMD,\angle CDM=\angle CMD, so CMD\triangle CMD is isosceles with CM=CD=6.CM=CD=6. Then MBC\triangle MBC is right-angled at BB with hypotenuse CM=6CM=6 and leg BC=3,BC=3, so it is a 3030-6060-9090^\circ triangle with BMC=30.\angle BMC=30^\circ. Finally, AMD+CMD\angle AMD+\angle CMD +BMC=180,+\angle BMC=180^\circ, so 2AMD+30=180,2\angle AMD+30^\circ=180^\circ, giving AMD=75.\angle AMD=75^\circ. Thus, the correct answer is E.

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Concepts: parallel lines · isosceles triangle · special right triangle

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