1956 AMC 12 Problem 50

Attempt Problem 50 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).

50.

In triangle ABC,ABC, CA=CB.CA=CB. On CBCB square BCDEBCDE is constructed away from the triangle. If xx is the number of degrees in angle DAB,DAB, then
xx depends upon triangle ABCABC
xx is independent of the triangle
xx may equal angle CADCAD
xx can never equal angle CABCAB
xx is greater than 45∘45^\circ but less than 90∘90^\circ
Answer: B
Concepts:isosceles trianglesquare constructioncoordinate geometry
Small hint:
Scale CA=CBCA=CB to 1,1, and place C=(0,0),C=(0,0), B=(1,0),B=(1,0), A=(cos⁡θ,sin⁡θ)A=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)
Big hint:
Because the square is outside the triangle, take D=(0,−1)D=(0,-1) and compare vectors AB→\overrightarrow{AB} and AD→\overrightarrow{AD}
Solution:
Scale the equal sides to 11 and place C=(0,0),B=(1,0),A=(cos⁡θ,sin⁡θ). \begin{aligned} C&=(0,0),\qquad B=(1,0),\\ A&=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta). \end{aligned} Since square BCDEBCDE is constructed away from the triangle, D=(0,−1).D=(0,-1). Put c=cos⁡θc=\cos\theta and s=sin⁡θ.s=\sin\theta. Then AB→=(1−c,−s),AD→=(−c,−1−s). \begin{aligned} \overrightarrow{AB}&=(1-c,-s),\\ \overrightarrow{AD}&=(-c,-1-s). \end{aligned} Their dot product is 1+s−c,1+s-c, while the absolute value of their two-dimensional cross product is also 1+s−c.1+s-c. Therefore tan⁡∠DAB=1, \tan\angle DAB=1, so ∠DAB=45∘,\angle DAB=45^\circ, independent of θ\theta and hence independent of the triangle’s shape.
Thus, the correct answer is B.
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.