1989 AMC 12 Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 1989 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 1989 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

4.

In the figure, ABCDABCD is an isosceles trapezoid with side lengths AD=BC=5,AD=BC=5, AB=4,AB=4, and DC=10.DC=10. The point CC is on DF‾\overline{DF} and BB is the midpoint of hypotenuse DE‾\overline{DE} in the right triangle DEF.DEF. Then CF=CF=
3.253.25
3.53.5
3.753.75
4.04.0
4.254.25
Answer: D
Concepts:trapezoidmidpointsimilarity
Small hint:
Drop perpendiculars from AA and BB to DF‾\overline{DF}
Big hint:
The segment through midpoint BB parallel to EFEF reaches the midpoint of DFDF
Solution:
Drop perpendiculars AGAG and BHBH to DF.DF. In the isosceles trapezoid, GH=AB=4GH=AB=4 and DG=HC=DC−AB2=3. DG=HC=\frac{DC-AB}{2}=3. Since BB is the midpoint of DEDE and BH∥EF,BH\parallel EF, the midpoint theorem makes HH the midpoint of DF.DF. Hence DH=DG+GH=7,DH=DG+GH=7, so DF=14DF=14 and CF=14−10=4.CF=14-10=4.
Thus the correct answer is D.
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