Skip to main content

2021 Fall AMC 12B Problem 10

Problem 10 of 25EasierGeometry

What is the sum of all possible values of tt between 00 and 360360 such that the triangle in the coordinate plane whose vertices are (cos40,sin40), (\cos 40^\circ, \sin 40^\circ),\ (cos60,sin60),(\cos 60^\circ, \sin 60^\circ), and   (cost,sint)\ \ (\cos t^\circ, \sin t^\circ) is isosceles?

Answer choices

Show solution

Solution

The three points lie on the unit circle at angles 40,40^\circ, 60,60^\circ, and t.t^\circ. A chord’s length depends only on the angular separation of its endpoints. If the third point is equidistant from the other two, it lies on the perpendicular bisector: t=50t = 50 or t=230.t = 230. If its distance to 4040^\circ equals the fixed chord (separation 2020^\circ), then t=20t = 20 (since t=60t = 60 is degenerate). If its distance to 6060^\circ matches, then t=80t = 80 (since t=40t = 40 is degenerate). The valid values are 50,230,20,80,50, 230, 20, 80, summing to 380.380. Thus, the correct answer is E.

More practice

Concepts: circle · chord · isosceles triangle

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