1954 AMC 12 Problem 8

Attempt Problem 8 of the 1954 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1954 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

8.

The base of a triangle is twice as long as a side of a square and their areas are the same. Then the ratio of the altitude of the triangle to the side of the square is:
14\dfrac14
12\dfrac12
11
22
44
Answer: C
Concepts:triangle areasquare (geometry)ratio and proportion
Small hint:
Let the square’s side be ss and the triangle’s altitude be hh
Big hint:
Equate s2s^2 with 12(2s)h\tfrac12(2s)h
Solution:
If the square side is s,s, the triangle base is 2s.2s. Equal areas give s2=12(2s)h=sh. s^2=\frac12(2s)h=sh. Thus h=s,h=s, so the requested ratio is 1.1.
The correct answer is C.
LIVE by Po-Shen Loh
Programs

LIVE Classes

Self-Paced Classes

Stars

Scholarship

About Us

Who Is Po-Shen Loh?

Email Contact

Newsletter

Jobs

Become a Star

For a more Thought Full world.

© 2026 Expii, Inc.