The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes

Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

Instructions

Try to do as many of these problems as you can. Show your work, and if you can’t solve a
problem, please show us what you tried on the problem. If you get stuck, remember the general
problem solving technique of making up a similar simpler problem and solving that one first.
There are two groups of problems in this assignment separated by a horizontal line (you’ll see it
when you get to it). You should be able to solve almost all of the problems in the first group. The
problems below the line are especially challenging and will require more thought. Do your best,
but don’t expect to solve all of them.
When you write up and submit your solutions, please follow these instructions:

1. You can write your solutions by hand or by computer. If you write them by hand, please
write NEATLY in pen on only one side of the paper.

2. You can upload your solutions from the My Classes page. You can also email, fax, or mail
your solutions. If you upload or email them, they must be in a single PDF file. Do not email
us multiple files, an MS Word document, or a list of numerical answers. Make sure you keep
a copy of the solutions for yourself! Once we file your solutions, you will get a confirmation
email and it will appear on your My Classes page.

Email: classes@artofproblemsolving.com
Fax: (619) 659-8146
Mail: AoPS Incorporated
PO Box 2185
Alpine, CA 91903-2185

3. A completed cover sheet must be included with your solutions. A sample cover sheet follows
these instructions. All the information on this sheet must be included on your cover sheet.
You may use the sample cover sheet as your cover sheet.

4. Put your answers in order.

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 The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

Tips for mathematical writing in general

• Write in complete sentences. An equation by itself is not a sentence. For example, suppose
you want to prove that for all positive a, we have 2a > 0.

BAD GOOD
a>0 For positive a, we have a > 0.
2a > a > 0 This means 2a = a + a > a + 0 > 0.

• Show your work. The following rule of thumb is useful: if you show your solution to a
classmate do you think your classmate would understand it without having to do any extra
work?

• Make it obvious what your final answers are. A good way to do this is to put boxes around
them.

More suggestions can be found in Art of Problem Solving’s article How to Write a Solution:

http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Resources/articles.php?page=howtowrite

You are encouraged to work with your classmates. Get together in the classroom during free
class time to work with others (post on the message board if you don’t know what this means).
However, if you work with others, please credit them appropriately when turning in your solutions.
(In other words, say with whom you worked, and on which problems you worked together.)

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 The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

Cover Sheet

Class Name:

Username:

Class ID:

User ID:
(Your Class ID and User ID can be found in the “My Classes” section of the website)

Challenge Set Number:

Number of pages (including cover sheet):

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 The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

Problems

1. BE and CF are angle bisectors that meet at I as shown below. CE = 4, AE = 6, and AB = 8.

F E
I
C
B

(a) Prove that ∠EIC = 90◦ − ∠A

2 .
(b) Find BC.
(c) Find BF .
2. In parallelogram ABCD, point E is the midpoint of side CD. Segment BE is drawn and
intersects AC at F . Calculuate the ratio CF/AC.
3. A square and an equilateral triangle have the same perimeter. Let A be the area of the circle
circumscribed about the square and B be the area of the circle circumscribed about the triangle.
A
Find .
B
4. ABCD is a square. Parallel lines m, n, and p pass through vertices A, B, and C, respectively.
The distance between m and n is 12 units, and the distance between n and p is 17 units. Find
the number of square units in the area of square ABCD.
5. Trapezoid ABCD has sides AB = 6, CD = 8, and BC = DA = 2. Segments are drawn from
the midpoint P of AB to points Q and R on side CD so that P Q and P R are parallel to AD
PX
and BC, as shown. Diagonal DB intersects P Q at X and P R at Y . Evaluate .
YR
A P B

X Y

D Q R C

6. Point D is on BC of 4ABC such that AD bisects ∠BAC. BM is a median of 4ABC, and

AD and BM intersect at X such that BX/XM = AC/AM . Prove that AB = AC.
7. Prove that the segment connecting the midpoints of the diagonals of a trapezoid is parallel to
the bases of the trapezoid. (Assume that a parallelogram is not a trapezoid.)

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 The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

8. The isosceles trapezoid pictured below has base of length 8, congruent sides with length 7, and
a diagonal of length 9. Determine its area. Hints: 4

7 9 7

9. In 4JKL, we have JK = JL = 17 and KL = 16. Find the following:

(a) the area of 4JKL.
(b) the inradius of 4JKL.
(c) the circumradius of 4JKL.

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 The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

The following problems are extra challenging. Do your best, but don’t expect to solve all of them.
10. Quadrilateral W XY Z has right angles at ∠W and ∠Y and an acute angle at ∠X. Altitudes
are dropped from X and Z to diagonal W Y , meeting W Y at O and P as shown. Prove that
WO = PY .
W
Z

P O

11. In 4ABC, D, E, and F are midpoints of the sides AC, AB, and BC, respectively. BG is an
altitude of 4ABC. Prove that ∠EGF ∼
= ∠EDF . Hints: 5, 3
C

D F

A E B

12. Point G is the midpoint of median XM of 4XY Z. Point H is the midpoint of XY , and point
T is the intersection of HM and Y G. Find the area of 4M T G if [XY Z] = 150. Hints: 1, 2

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 The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Introduction to Geometry
Challenge Set 3
www.artofproblemsolving.com

Below are hints to the problems. Work on the problems for a while before resorting to the hints.
Note that the hint numbers do not correspond to the problem numbers!

1. What is [XY M ]?

2. What are segments Y G and M H in 4XY M ?

3. What type of quadrilateral is DF BE?

4. We need a height to find the area. Where should we draw it?

5. In triangle CGB, what type of segment is F G?

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