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2019 AMC 12B Problem 24

Problem 24 of 25HarderAlgebraGeometry

Let ω=12+12i3.\omega=-\dfrac12+\dfrac12 i\sqrt3. Let SS denote all points in the complex plane of the form a+bω+cω2,a+b\omega+c\omega^2, where 0a1,0\le a\le1, 0b1,0\le b\le1, and 0c1.0\le c\le1. What is the area of S?S?

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Solution

As a,b,ca,b,c range over [0,1],[0,1], the set SS is the Minkowski sum of the three unit segments along v1=1=(1,0),v_1=1=(1,0),  v2=ω=(12,32),\ v_2=\omega=\left(-\dfrac12,\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}\right),  v3=ω2=(12,32).\ v_3=\omega^2=\left(-\dfrac12,-\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}\right). This is a zonogon whose area is the sum of the cross-product magnitudes over pairs. Each pair gives vi×vj=32.|v_i\times v_j|=\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}. Therefore the area is 332=332.3\cdot\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}=\dfrac{3\sqrt3}{2}. Thus, C is the correct answer.

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Concepts: complex number · vector · area

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