Problem 213

Solution 1

Let the point of tangency be $F$. By the Two Tangent Theorem $BC = FC = 2$ and $AE = EF = x$. Thus $DE = 2-x$. The Pythagorean Theorem on $\triangle CDE$ yields
\begin{align*} DE^2 + CD^2 &= CE^2\\ (2-x)^2 + 2^2 &= (2+x)^2\\ x^2 - 4x + 8 &= x^2 + 4x + 4\\ x &= \frac{1}{2}\end{align*}
Hence $CE = FC + x = \frac{5}{2} \Rightarrow\boxed{\mathrm{(D)}\ \frac{5}{2}}$.

Solution 2
Call the point of tangency point $F$ and the midpoint of $AB$ as $G$. $CF=2$ by Tangent Theorem. Notice that $\angle EGF=\frac{180-2\cdot\angle CGF}{2}=90-\angle CGF$. Thus, $\angle EGF=\angle FCG$ and $\tan EGF=\tan FCG=\frac{1}{2}$. Solving $EF=\frac{1}{2}$. Adding, the answer is $\frac{5}{2}$.

Solution 3
2004 AMC12A-18.png
Clearly, $EA = EF = BG$. Thus, the sides of right triangle $CDE$ are in arithmetic progression. Thus it is similar to the triangle $3 - 4 - 5$ and since $DC = 2$, $CE = \frac{5}{2} \Rightarrow\boxed{\mathrm{(D)}\ \frac{5}{2}}$.

Solution 4

Let us call the midpoint of side $AB$, point $G$. Since the semicircle has radius 1, we can do the Pythagorean theorem on sides $GB, BC, GC$. We get $GC=\sqrt{5}$. We then know that $CF=2$ by Pythagorean theorem. Then by connecting $EG$, we get similar triangles $EFG$ and $GFC$. Solving the ratios, we get $x=\frac{1}{2}$, so the answer is $\frac{5}{2} \Rightarrow\boxed{\mathrm{(D)}\ \frac{5}{2}}$.

Solution 5
Using the diagram as drawn in Solution 4, let the total area of square $ABCD$ be divided into the triangles $DCE$, $EAG$, $CGB$, and $EGC$. Let x be the length of AE. Thus, the area of each triangle can be determined as follows:
$$DCE = \frac{DC\cdot{DE}}{2} = \frac{2\cdot(2-x)}{2} = 2-x$$
$$EAG= \frac{AE\cdot{AG}}{2} = \frac{1\cdot{x}}{2} = \frac{x}{2}$$
$$CGB = \frac{GB\cdot{CB}}{2} = \frac{1\cdot(2)}{2} = 1$$
$$EGC= \frac{EG\cdot{GC}}{2} = \frac{\sqrt{5x^2 + 5}}{2}$$ (the length of CE is calculated with the Pythagorean Theorem, lines GE and
CE are perpendicular by definition of tangent)
Adding up the areas and equating to the area of the total square $$(2 \cdot 2=4)$$, we get
$$x = \frac{1}{2}$$
So, $$CE = 2 + \frac{1}{2} = 5/2$$.
~Typo Fix by doulai1

Video Solution
https://youtu.be/pM0zICtH6Lg
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