1956 AMC 12 Problem 24

Attempt Problem 24 of the 1956 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 1956 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

24.

In the figure AB=AC,AB=AC, angle BAD=30∘,BAD=30^\circ, and AE=AD.AE=AD. Then angle CDECDE equals:
712∘7\dfrac12^\circ
10∘10^\circ
1212∘12\dfrac12^\circ
15∘15^\circ
20∘20^\circ
Answer: D
Concepts:isosceles trianglesangle chasingsupplementary angles
Small hint:
Let ∠DAE=α\angle DAE=\alpha and express the base angle at CC using isosceles triangle ABCABC
Big hint:
Use AE=ADAE=AD to express ∠ADE,\angle ADE, then split the straight angle at DD
Solution:
Let ∠DAE=α.\angle DAE=\alpha. Since AB=ACAB=AC and AE=AD,AE=AD, ∠ACB=75∘−α2,∠ADE=90∘−α2. \begin{aligned} \angle ACB&=75^\circ-\frac\alpha2,\\ \angle ADE&=90^\circ-\frac\alpha2. \end{aligned} Triangle ACDACD gives ∠ADC=180∘−α−∠ACB,\angle ADC=180^\circ-\alpha-\angle ACB, so ∠ADC=105∘−α2.\angle ADC=105^\circ-\frac\alpha2. Since ∠ADC=∠ADE+x,\angle ADC=\angle ADE+x, x=(105∘−α2)−(90∘−α2)=15∘. \begin{aligned} x&=\left(105^\circ-\frac\alpha2\right) -\left(90^\circ-\frac\alpha2\right)\\ &=15^\circ. \end{aligned}
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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