MathDB
AMC 8 2003 Problem 21

Source:

July 23, 2011
geometrytrapezoidAMCAMC 8rectanglePythagorean Theorem

Problem Statement

The area of trapezoid ABCD ABCD is 164cm2 164 \text{cm}^2. The altitude is 8cm 8 \text{cm}, AB AB is 10cm 10 \text{cm}, and CD CD is 17cm 17 \text{cm}. What is BC BC, in centimeters? [asy]/* AMC8 2003 #21 Problem */ size(4inch,2inch); draw((0,0)--(31,0)--(16,8)--(6,8)--cycle); draw((11,8)--(11,0), linetype("8 4")); draw((11,1)--(12,1)--(12,0)); label("AA", (0,0), SW); label("DD", (31,0), SE); label("BB", (6,8), NW); label("CC", (16,8), NE); label("10", (3,5), W); label("8", (11,4), E); label("17", (22.5,5), E);[/asy]
<spanclass=latexbold>(A)</span> 9<spanclass=latexbold>(B)</span> 10<spanclass=latexbold>(C)</span> 12<spanclass=latexbold>(D)</span> 15<spanclass=latexbold>(E)</span> 20 <span class='latex-bold'>(A)</span>\ 9\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(B)</span>\ 10\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(C)</span>\ 12\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(D)</span>\ 15\qquad<span class='latex-bold'>(E)</span>\ 20