Positive Integers and Quadrilateral | AMC 10A 2015 | Sum 24

Pre College Mathematics

AMC-10A, 2015 Problem-24

$31$

Given that $ ABCD$ is a quadrilateral whose perimeter $p$, right angles at $B$ and $C, A B=2$, and $C D=A D$. we have to find out How many different values of $p<2015$ are possible.

Now draw a perpendicular $AE$ on $CD$ . Let us assume that $BC=AE=x$ Then $CE=2$ and $DE=y-2$

Now can you finish the problem?

Now from the \(\triangle ADE\) we can write $x^{2}+(y-2)^{2}=y^{2}$

\(\Rightarrow x^{2}-4 y+4=0\)

\(\Rightarrow x^2=4(y-1)\), Thus, $y$ is one more than a perfect square.

Therefore the perimeter will be $p=2+x+2 y=2 y+2 \sqrt{y-1}+2$

Now according to the problem $p<2015$

So, $p=2+x+2 y=2 y+2 \sqrt{y-1}+2 <2015$

Now Can you finish the Problem?

Now $y=31^{2}+1=962$ and $y=32^{2}+1=1025$

Here $y=31^{2}+1=962$ is valid but $y=32^{2}+1=1025$ is not. On the lower side, $y=1$ does not work (because $x>0$ ), but $y=1^{2}+1$ does work. Hence, there are $31$ valid $y$ (all $y$ such that $y=n^{2}+1$ for $1 \leq n \leq 31$ )

Therefore the correct answer is $31$