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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 AB∥CD,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 3030-6060-90∘90^\circ triangle with ∠BMC=30∘.\angle BMC=30^\circ. Finally, ∠AMD+∠CMD\angle AMD+\angle CMD +∠BMC=180∘,+\angle BMC=180^\circ, so 2∠AMD+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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Tagged: parallel lines · isosceles triangle · special right triangle

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