1972 AMC 12 Problem 18

Attempt Problem 18 of the 1972 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 1972 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

18.

Let ABCDABCD be a trapezoid with the measure of base ABAB twice that of base DC,DC, and let EE be the point of intersection of the diagonals. If the measure of diagonal ACAC is 11,11, then that of segment ECEC is equal to:
3233\frac23
3343\frac34
44
3123\frac12
33
Answer: A
Concepts:trapezoidsimilarityratio and proportion
Small hint:
Triangles ABEABE and CDECDE are similar
Big hint:
The base ratio AB:DC=2:1AB:DC=2:1 also equals AE:ECAE:EC
Solution:
Since AB∥DC,AB\parallel DC, triangles ABEABE and CDECDE are similar. Hence AE:EC=AB:DC=2:1. AE:EC=AB:DC=2:1. Thus AC=AE+EC=3EC=11,AC=AE+EC=3EC=11, so EC=113=323. EC=\frac{11}{3}=3\frac23.
Therefore, the correct answer is A.
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.