Symmetry in the AMC10/12

(7/2016)

Most problems shown could have appeared on either the

AMC10 or AMC12. Some can be solved without resorting to
symmetry, but symmetry is essential for solving them
efficiently and without error.

Problem 1 1999 AMC 12

Problem 2 2016 AMC 10A 12A

Problem 3 2003 AMC 12B

Problem 4 2000 AMC 12

Problem 5 2003 AMC 12A

Problem 6 2014 AMC 10B

Problem 7 2000 AMC 12

Problem 8 2005 AMC 12B

Problem 9 2008 AMC 12A

Problem 10 2011 AMC 12A

Problem 11 2016 AMC10B 12B

Problem 12 2016 AMC 12B

Symmetry in the AMC10/12
Answers
(7/2016)

Problem 1 (C)

Problem 2 (D)

Problem 3 (B)

Problem 4 (E)

Problem 5 (C)

Problem 6 (D)

Problem 7 (B)

Problem 8 (D)

Problem 9 (A)

Problem 10 (D)

Problem 11 (B)

Problem 12 (A)
 Symmetry in the AMC10/12
(Solutions, 7/2016)

Problem 1 1999 AMC 12

y
13 Computing the triangle area two ways:
5 r x ½(5 • 12) = ½(r • 13)
12
r = 60/13

ANSWER (C). A rhombus has mirror symmetry across both perpendicular

diagonals, so draw these diagonals along the x- and y-axes to help exploit this
symmetry. Since all quadrants are congruent, we need only focus on one
quadrant of the rhombus, a simple (5, 12, 13) right triangle. The radius of the
inscribed circle is an altitude to the hypotenuse of this right triangle, and we can
find the radius by computing the shaded triangle area two ways as shown.

Problem 2 2016 AMC 10A 12A

ANSWER (D). The shaded region is an odd shape until we notice the symmetry
about the center point, so we need only focus on the lower right quadrant. Split
the shaded region into two smaller triangles, compute the two areas, add and
multiply by two to arrive at the final answer of 6½.
Problem 3 2003 AMC 12B

ANSWER (B). A fairly easy problem for most students, but it illustrates an
important concept that will help in later problems.

The starting pentagon has several symmetries and no preferred orientation, so we

can place the first triangle arbitrarily to set the orientation. Once the first triangle
is placed, the rotation symmetry is broken, and we can place the second triangle.

The second triangle can be placed in four possible locations relative to the first
triangle. If the two triangles were actually numbered as shown, then the four
configurations would be counted as distinct. In this problem, the two triangles are
not labeled, so configurations A and D are congruent and configurations B and C
are congruent, and the total number of non-congruent figures is two.
Problem 4 2000 AMC 12

ANSWER (E). These counting issues come up in recent AMC exams. Imagine
an octagon fixed in space so that each face is considered distinct. The number of
color arrangements is a simple permutation of eight objects (colors) within eight
slots (faces) or 8!. This permutation overcounts our problem by a multiple of the
number of equivalent ways to rotate an octagon in 3D space. Follow the three
step process above to determine the number of equivalent 2-axis rotation positions
as (6)(4) = 24, so the count we seek is 8!/24 = 1680.

The number 24 can also be calculated by first choosing one of the eight faces to
orient in the negative z-direction, followed by three symmetric rotations around
the z-axis to completely set the orientation. (8)(3) = 24 as before.

Compute the overcount factor for a cube using both methods:

By Vertex Orientation: (8)(3) = 24
By Face Orientation: (6)(4) = 24

Compute the overcount factor for a tetrahedron using both methods:

By Vertex Orientation: (4)(3) = 12
By Face Orientation: (4)(3) = 12

The tetrahedron overcount factor leads to a surprising result:

The number of ways to color a tetrahedron in 4 colors = 4!/12 = 2

Try to visualize the two distinct color arrangements for a tetrahedron. It’s a
striking example to help remember these symmetry techniques.
Problem 5 2003 AMC 12A

C C

hc > ha
hb and
P ha hc > hb
P
hc

A B A B

ANSWER (C). Without resorting to symmetry, we can find the areas of the three
triangles in question in terms of altitudes drawn to the three sides of the
equilateral triangle. If ▲ABP has the largest area, then hc must be larger than
both ha and hb so point P must lie in the top shaded region determined by the
medians to sides AC and BC. The shaded area is 1/3 of the total area, so the
probability we seek is 1/3.

C B A

P P P

∆ ABP ∆ ACP ∆ BCP

Largest Largest Largest
A B C A B C

Symmetry analysis offers a faster answer. Note that we can rotate the labels of
the equilateral triangle to pose similar questions for sides AB, CA or BC, and
given the rotation symmetry of the triangle, it is exactly the same question, so the
probability is the same for all three questions. For any placement of point P, one
of the three triangles must be the largest, so the three probabilities add to one. If
three equal probabilities add to one, then the probability is 1/3.
Problem 6 2014 AMC 10B

B
P
D Second
Point
1
for AP to
First 30° 60°
A E intersect
Point 2 C inner
circle

ANSWER (D). Just as in previous problem with the pentagon, the circle has
many symmetries and no preferred orientation. The locations for both points are
independent and uniformly random, so the placement of the first point can be
chosen for convenience at location A. This sets the orientation of the circle, and it
is the relative position of the second point that really matters.

Define points B and F such that chords AB and AF are tangent to the inner circle.
If the second point, P, lies anywhere on arc BF, then chord AP insects the inner
circle. We need to find the arc angle of BF to determine the required probability.

Add radius CD to form right triangle ▲DAC.

AC 2
= so angle DAC = 30° which gives central angle BCE = 60°.
CD 1

The entire figure has mirror symmetry across line AE, so angle BCF = 120°.
120° is one third of full circle, so the probability that the second point falls along
arc BF is 1/3.
Problem 7 2000 AMC 12

ANSWER (B). Given three equations in three unknowns, it may be possible to

solve for x, y and z individually, but that’s usually not a good idea in the AMC.
Only try that for simpler equations in two unknowns. This solution involves
algebra guided by symmetry. The three equations have no obvious symmetry, but
the expressions on the left all involve a (a + 1/b) term where a and b are two
distinct variables selected from the set of (x, y, z). These are sometimes called
cyclic terms because the two selected variables cycle among all possible pairs.

The xyz term we seek is symmetric with respect to the interchange of any pair of
variables, e.g. xyz = yxz, so we should try to manipulate the set of equations to
create expressions with this symmetry. Addition is one obvious choice, so adding
all three equations gives,

1 1 1 22
x+ y+z+ + + = (Eq. 1)
x y z 3

This does not give the xyz term that we want, but it does produce the desired
symmetry, so it’s probably a step in the right direction. Multiplication is another
operation that can produce the desired symmetry, so multiply all three equations
and expand the binomial product to find,

⎛ 1 ⎞⎛ 1 ⎞⎛ 1⎞ 7 28
⎜⎜ x + ⎟⎟⎜ y + ⎟⎜ z + ⎟ = 4 • 1 • = (Eq. 2)
⎝ y ⎠⎝ z ⎠⎝ x⎠ 3 3

1 1 1 1 28
xyz + x + y + z + + + + = (Eq. 3)
x y z xyz 3

Substitute Eq. 1 for the middle six terms of Eq. 3 gives,

1 28 22
xyz + = − =2 (Eq. 4)
xyz 3 3

Substitute p = xyz into Eq. 4, reduce to a simple quadratic equation, and factor to
solve for p,

p + 1/p = 2

p² – 2p + 1 = 0 → (p – 1)² = 0 → p = 1 = xyz
Problem 8 2005 AMC 12B

ANSWER (D). Absolute value signs are difficult to handle, so let’s examine the
symmetry of the left hand side of the equation. Substituting x↔ –x leaves the
equation unchanged, so the graph of the equation is symmetric about the y-axis.
Substituting y↔ –y also leaves the equation unchanged, so the graph is also
symmetric about the x-axis. These two symmetries leave all quadrants identical,
so we need only focus on the first quadrant where the equation reduces to a
simple linear equation with intercepts at x = 4 and y = 3 and Area = 6. Total area
for the enclosed graph is then 4•6 = 24.

y
3x+4y = 12

Area =
-y y ½(3•4) = 6 x

-x x

Problem 9 2008 AMC 12A

ANSWER (A). The “<” sign is a bit confusing, so replace with “=”
understanding that we seek the area enclosed by the graph. The resulting equation
has no obvious symmetry to allow a quick solution, but symmetry is so powerful
that we often try to impose symmetry wherever possible. In this equation, we
notice that the “–18” and “+7” in the equation merely shift the graph right and
down in the same way that y = f (x–18) is a right shifted version of y = f (x).
Shifting the original equation toward the origin,

|3x – 18| + |2y – 7| = 3 → |3x| + |2y| = 3

leaves the area of the graph unchanged and produces a graph with symmetries
about the x- and y-axis just like in the previous problem. We need only focus on
the first quadrant where the line 3x+2y=3 has intercepts at x = 1 and y = 3/2 and
Area = ½(1•3/2) = ¾ , so the total area enclosed by the graph is 4•¾ = 3.
Problem 10 2011 AMC 12A

y
(-1, 1) x+y>0
x y and

x=1
x-y>0
-y y
x

-x x

ANSWER (D). The two sets of absolute value signs are confusing, so let’s use
symmetry to help graph this equation. Substituting x↔ –x leaves the equation
unchanged, so the graph of the equation is symmetric about the y-axis.
Substituting y↔ –y also leaves the equation unchanged, so the graph is symmetric
about the x-axis. Finally, substituting x↔ y leaves the equation unchanged, so the
graph is symmetric about the line y = x. With all this symmetry, we can choose a
small region that is easy to graph and use symmetry to fill in the rest of the graph.
The gray region is easy because the absolute value signs drop out and the equation
quickly reduces to x = 1, short segment drawn in black. Apply the symmetry
operations to fill out the rest of the graph and reveal a square of side length 2.

We want to maximize x² – 6x + y² along the edge of this square. The linear and
square terms in x indicate that completing the square can make this task easier, so
add and subtract (6/3)² = 9 to the expression and factor,

Maximize: x² – 6x +9 + y² – 9

Maximize: (x – 3)² + y² – 9

We can maximize the (y² – 9) term by selecting y = ±1 and we can maximize the
(x – 3)² term by selecting x = –1, giving a total maximum value of,

(–1 –3)² + (±1)² – 9 = 4² + 1 – 9 = 8

Problem 11 2016 AMC10B 12B

y
x² + y² = x + y

(½, ½)
r² = ½

-y y
x

-x x

ANSWER (B). Effective use of symmetry is required in this problem.

Substituting x↔ –x leaves the equation unchanged, so the graph of the equation
is symmetric about the y-axis. Substituting y↔ –y also leaves the equation
unchanged, so the graph is symmetric about the x-axis. We can graph this
equation in the first quadrant and use symmetry to fill in the rest of the graph.
The first quadrant is easy because the absolute value signs drop out,

x² + y² – x – y = 0 (Eq. 1)

Complete the squares, x² – x + ¼ + y² – y + ¼ = ½ (Eq. 2)

(x – ½)² + (y – ½)² = ½ (Eq. 3)

to reveal a circle of r² = ½ centered at (x, y) = (½, ½), dark circle segment. Note
that the dashed part of the circle is not a valid part of the graph because this
region is not consistent with the | x| → x and | y| → y assignment used for the first
quadrant. The two symmetries quickly fill in the rest of the graph, gray circle
segments, to reveal a total figure area made of four semicircles of r² = ½ and one
square of side length √2. Area is then simple to calculate,

Area = 2 (π r²) + s² = 2 (π ½) + (√2)² = π + 2

Problem 12 2016 AMC 12B

|x| + |y| + |z - 1| = 1

z
1 1
x+y+z=1

1 1
y y
1
x
|x| + |y| + |z| = 1

ANSWER (A). Effective use of symmetry is essential to solve this problem. The
“<” signs are a bit confusing, so replace with “=” understanding that we seek the
volume enclosed by both solid surfaces. The first equation is unchanged with the
negation in any of three variables: x↔ –x, y↔ –y, z↔ –z, so we know the solid
surface has mirror symmetry with respect to all three coordinate planes: y-z, x-z
and x-y. We can graph this equation where it is easiest, the positive x-y-z region,
and use the mirror symmetries to fill out the rest.

For positive x, y and z, the absolute values signs drop out, and the first equation
reduces to the gray-shaded plane section intersecting the three coordinate axes,
left figure. Mirror this plane section to the other octants to reveal an octahedron
of diagonal length 2 and volume 23/6 = 4/3.

The |1 – z| term in the second equation shifts the graph up by +1 units in the z-
direction. The volume intersection is difficult to visualize, so we can examine a
y-z cross section to see the two overlapping diamond shapes create an overlapping
diamond of one-half scale. Other cross sections show the same scaling factor, so
the intersection of the two octahedral is just a shrunken octahedron of diagonal
length = 1. Volume of the shrunken octahedron is 13/6 = 1/6