1978 AMC 12 Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 1978 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 1978 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

10.

If BB is a point on circle CC with center P,P, then the set of all points AA in the plane of circle CC such that the distance between AA and BB is less than or equal to the distance between AA and any other point on circle CC is
the line segment from PP to BB
the ray beginning at PP and passing through BB
a ray beginning at BB
a circle whose center is PP
a circle whose center is BB
Answer: B
Concepts:circleextremal argument
Small hint:
For A≠P,A\ne P, the nearest point of the circle lies on the ray from PP through AA
Big hint:
Require that this radial nearest point be the fixed point BB
Solution:
For any A≠P,A\ne P, the closest point of the circle to AA is where the ray from PP through AA meets the circle. This point is BB exactly when AA lies on the ray from PP through B.B. The center PP also qualifies because every point on the circle is equally distant from it. Thus the locus is that ray.
Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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