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2022 AMC 12A Problem 12

Problem 12 of 25IntermediateGeometry

Let MM be the midpoint of AB\overline{AB} in regular tetrahedron ABCD.ABCD. What is cos(CMD)?\cos(\angle CMD)?

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Solution

Take edge length 1.1. Since MM is the midpoint of AB,\overline{AB}, segments CMCM and DMDM are altitudes of the equilateral faces, each of length 32.\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}. Also CD=1.CD=1. By the Law of Cosines in CMD,\triangle CMD, cos(CMD)=34+341234=1232=13. \begin{aligned} \cos(\angle CMD) &=\frac{\frac34+\frac34-1}{2\cdot\frac34} \\ &=\frac{\frac{1}{2}}{\frac{3}{2}}=\frac13. \end{aligned} Thus, the correct answer is B.

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Concepts: 3D geometry · median (geometry) · law of cosines

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