1995 AMC 12 Problem 28

Attempt Problem 28 of the 1995 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 1995 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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28.

Two parallel chords in a circle have lengths 1010 and 14,14, and the distance between them is 6.6. The chord parallel to these chords and midway between them is of length a,\sqrt a, where aa is
144144
156156
168168
176176
184184
Answer: E
Concepts:circle chordscoordinate geometry
Small hint:
If a chord is at signed distance yy from the center, its half-length satisfies h2+y2=r2h^2+y^2=r^2
Big hint:
Let the signed distances of the 1414- and 1010-chords differ by 66, and subtract their equations
Solution:
Let the signed distances from the center to the 1414- and 1010-chords be uu and v,v, with u−v=6.u-v=6. Then r2−u2=72,r2−v2=52. r^2-u^2=7^2,\qquad r^2-v^2=5^2. Hence v2−u2=24,v^2-u^2=24, so (v−u)(v+u)=24.(v-u)(v+u)=24. Since v−u=−6,v-u=-6, we get u+v=−4,u+v=-4, and therefore u=1u=1 and v=−5.v=-5. The midway chord is at signed distance −2,-2, while r2=49+1=50.r^2=49+1=50. Its squared length is 4(50−4)=184,4(50-4)=184, so a=184.a=184. Thus the correct answer is E.
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