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2025 AMC 12A Problem 8

Problem 8 of 25EasierGeometry

Pentagon ABCDEABCDE is inscribed in a circle, and BEC=CED=30.\angle BEC = \angle CED = 30^\circ. Let ACAC and BDBD intersect at point F,F, and suppose that AB=9AB = 9 and AD=24.AD = 24. What is BF?BF?

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Solution

The inscribed angle BEC=30\angle BEC = 30^\circ subtends arc BC=60,BC = 60^\circ, so BAC,\angle BAC, which also subtends arc BC,BC, equals 30.30^\circ. Likewise CAD=30.\angle CAD = 30^\circ. Thus ACAC bisects BAD=60.\angle BAD = 60^\circ. In ABD,\triangle ABD, BD2=92+2422(9)(24)cos60=657216=441, \begin{aligned} BD^2 &= 9^2 + 24^2 \\ &\quad {}- 2(9)(24)\cos 60^\circ \\ &= 657 - 216 = 441, \end{aligned} so BD=21.BD = 21. Since AFAF (along ACAC) bisects BAD,\angle BAD, the Angle Bisector Theorem gives BFFD=ABAD=924=38.\dfrac{BF}{FD} = \dfrac{AB}{AD} = \dfrac{9}{24} = \dfrac{3}{8}. Hence BF=31121=6311.BF = \dfrac{3}{11}\cdot 21 = \dfrac{63}{11}. Thus, the correct answer is E.

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Concepts: inscribed angle · angle bisector theorem · law of cosines

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