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2008 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 10

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Problem

Points A and B are on a circle of radius 5 and AB=6. Point C is the midpoint of the minor arc AB. What is the length of the line segment AC?

\mathrm{(A)}\ \sqrt{10}\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ \frac{7}{2}\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ \sqrt{14}\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ \sqrt{15}\qquad\mathrm...

Solution

Let the center of the circle be O, and let D be the intersection of \overline{AB} and \overline{OC} (then D is the midpoint of \overline{AB}). OA=OB=5, since they are both radii.

By the Pythagorean Theorem, OD = \sqrt{OA^2 - DA^2} = 4, and by subtraction, CD=OC - OD = 1.

Using the Pythagorean Theorem again, AC= \sqrt{AD^2 + CD^2} = \sqrt{3^2+1^2}=\sqrt{10} \Longrightarrow \textbf{(A)}.

pen d = linewidth(0.7); pathpen = d; pointpen = black; pen f = fontsize(9);path p = CR((0,0),5);pair O = (0,0), A=(5,0), B = ...

See also

2008 AMC 10B (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 9
Followed by
Problem 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Want to learn how to tackle those tough MATHCOUNTS and AMC counting and probability problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Counting & Probability by David Patrick.
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