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2008 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 19

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Problem

Rectangle PQRS lies in a plane with PQ=RS=2 and QR=SP=6. The rectangle is rotated 90^\circ clockwise about R, then rotated 90^\circ clockwise about the point S moved to after the first rotation. What is the length of the path traveled by point P?

\mathrm{(A)}\ \left(2\sqrt{3}+\sqrt{5}\right)\pi\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 6\pi\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ \left(3+\sqrt{10}\right)\pi\qquad...

Solution

size(220);pathpen=black+linewidth(0.65);pointpen=black;/* draw in rectangles */D(MP("R",(0,0))--MP("Q",(-...

We let P'Q'R'S' be the first rectangle after the rotation, and P''Q''R''S'' be the second rectangle after rotation. Point P pivots about R in an arc of a circle of radius \sqrt{2^2+6^2} = 2\sqrt{10}, and since \angle PRS,\, \angle P'RQ are complementary, it follows that the arc has a degree measure of 90^{\circ} (or 1/4 of the circumference). Thus, P travels \frac 14 \left(4\sqrt{10}\right)\pi = \sqrt{10}\pi in the first rotation.

Similarly, in the second rotation, P travels in a 90^{\circ} arc about S', with the radius being 6. It travels \frac 14(12)\pi = 3\pi. Therefore, the total distance it travels is \left(3+\sqrt{10}\right)\pi\ \mathrm{(C)}.

See also

2008 AMC 10A (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 18
Followed by
Problem 20
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