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Problem 8 Geometry

In a trapezoid with bases 1000 and 2008 and angles of 37 and 53 degrees at the top and bottom vertices, the problem asks to find the length of the line segment between the midpoints of the bases. By extending the bases to form angles, the circumcenters of the triangles are the midpoints, allowing the length to be calculated as the difference between distances, resulting in a length of 504 for the line segment.

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120 views

Problem 8 Geometry

In a trapezoid with bases 1000 and 2008 and angles of 37 and 53 degrees at the top and bottom vertices, the problem asks to find the length of the line segment between the midpoints of the bases. By extending the bases to form angles, the circumcenters of the triangles are the midpoints, allowing the length to be calculated as the difference between distances, resulting in a length of 504 for the line segment.

Uploaded by

seansoni
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem 8: Geometry AIME 2008 #5

Problem: In trapezoid ABCD with BC k AD, let BC = 1000 and AD = 2008. Let
∠A = 37◦ , ∠D = 53◦ , and m and n be the midpoints of BC and AD, respectively. Find the
length M N .

Solution:
We extend segments AB and CD to meet at E, which is a 90◦ angle.
E

B C
M 500

A N 1004 D

Since M and N are midpoints, M is the circumcenter of 4EBC and N of 4EAD. Thus,
EN = N D = 1004 and EM = M C = 500, so M N = EN − EM = 504 .

Solution was written by Patrick Hulin and compiled from Art of Problem Solving Forums.

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