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Difference between revisions of "2016 AIME I Problems/Problem 9"

m (→‎Note on Problem Validity: added CAMC decision on accepting 744)
(→‎Solution 2)
 
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−
==Problem==
+
==Problem 9==
−
Triangle <math>ABC</math> has <math>AB=40,AC=31,</math> and <math>\sin{A}=\frac{1}{5}</math>. This triangle is inscribed in rectangle <math>AQRS</math> with <math>B</math> on <math>\overline{QR}</math> and <math>C</math> on <math>\overline{RS}</math>. Find the maximum possible area of <math>AQRS</math>.
+
Triangle <math>ABC</math> has <math>AB=40,AC=31,</math> and <math>\sin{A}=\frac{1}{5}</math>. This triangle is inscribed in rectangle <math>AQRS</math> with <math>B</math> on <math>\overline{QR}</math> and <math>C</math> on <math>\overline{RS}</math>. Find the maximum possible area of <math>AQRS</math>.  
−
==Solution==
 
  
−
===Solution 1===
+
==Solution 1==
 
Note that if angle <math>BAC</math> is obtuse, it would be impossible for the triangle to inscribed in a rectangle. This can easily be shown by drawing triangle ABC, where <math>A</math> is obtuse. Therefore, angle A is acute. Let angle <math>CAS=n</math> and angle <math>BAQ=m</math>. Then, <math>\overline{AS}=31\cos(n)</math> and <math>\overline{AQ}=40\cos(m)</math>. Then the area of rectangle <math>AQRS</math> is <math>1240\cos(m)\cos(n)</math>. By product-to-sum, <math>\cos(m)\cos(n)=\frac{1}{2}(\cos(m+n)+\cos(m-n))</math>. <math>\cos(m+n)=\sin(90-m-n)=\sin(BAC)=\frac{1}{5}</math>. The maximum possible value of <math>\cos(m-n)</math> is 1, which occurs when <math>m=n</math>. Thus the maximum possible value of <math>\cos(m)\cos(n)</math> is <math>\frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{5}+1)=\frac{3}{5}</math> so the maximum possible area of <math>AQRS</math> is <math>1240\times{\frac{3}{5}}=\fbox{744}</math>.
 
Note that if angle <math>BAC</math> is obtuse, it would be impossible for the triangle to inscribed in a rectangle. This can easily be shown by drawing triangle ABC, where <math>A</math> is obtuse. Therefore, angle A is acute. Let angle <math>CAS=n</math> and angle <math>BAQ=m</math>. Then, <math>\overline{AS}=31\cos(n)</math> and <math>\overline{AQ}=40\cos(m)</math>. Then the area of rectangle <math>AQRS</math> is <math>1240\cos(m)\cos(n)</math>. By product-to-sum, <math>\cos(m)\cos(n)=\frac{1}{2}(\cos(m+n)+\cos(m-n))</math>. <math>\cos(m+n)=\sin(90-m-n)=\sin(BAC)=\frac{1}{5}</math>. The maximum possible value of <math>\cos(m-n)</math> is 1, which occurs when <math>m=n</math>. Thus the maximum possible value of <math>\cos(m)\cos(n)</math> is <math>\frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{5}+1)=\frac{3}{5}</math> so the maximum possible area of <math>AQRS</math> is <math>1240\times{\frac{3}{5}}=\fbox{744}</math>.
−
-AkashD
 
  
−
===Solution 2===
+
==Solution 2==
 +
 
 +
We start by drawing a diagram;
 +
 
 +
<asy>
 +
 
 +
size(400);
 +
import olympiad;
 +
import geometry;
 +
 
 +
pair A = (0, 20) ,B=(30,10) ,C=(15,0), Q=(30,20) ,R=(30,0), S=(0,0);
 +
 
 +
draw(A--B--C--cycle);
 +
draw(A--Q);
 +
draw(Q--R);
 +
draw(R--S);
 +
draw(S--A);
 +
 
 +
label("$A$", A, W);
 +
label("$B$", B, E);
 +
label("$C$", C, N);
 +
label("$Q$", Q, E);
 +
label("$R$", R, E);
 +
label("$S$", S, W);
 +
 
 +
label("$w$", (-1,10));
 +
label("$l$", (15,21));
 +
label("$y$", (7.5,-1));
 +
label("$x$", (31,15));
 +
label("$31$",(7.5,10), E);
 +
label("$40$",(15,15), N);
 +
 
 +
markangle(Label("$\alpha$", Relative(0.5)), n=1, C, A, B);
 +
markangle(Label("$\beta$", Relative(0.5)), n=1, B, A, Q);
 +
markangle(Label("$\gamma$", Relative(0.5)), n=1, S, A, C);
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
</asy>
 +
 
 +
We know that <math>\sin \alpha = \frac{1}{5}</math>. Since <math>\sin \alpha = \cos (90- \alpha)</math>,
 +
<cmath> \cos (90- \alpha) = \frac{1}{5} \implies  \cos (\beta + \gamma) = \frac{1}{5}</cmath>
 +
 
 +
Using our angle sum identities, we expand this to <math>\cos \beta \cdot \cos \gamma - \sin \beta \cdot \sin \gamma = \frac{1}{5}</math>.
 +
We can now use the right triangle definition of cosine and sine to rewrite this equation as;
 +
 
 +
<cmath>\frac{l}{40} \cdot \frac{w}{31} - \frac{x}{40} \cdot \frac{y}{31} = \frac{1}{5} \implies lw- xy = 8 \cdot 31 \implies lw = xy + 31 \cdot 8</cmath>
 +
 
 +
Hang on; <math>lw</math> is the area we want to maximize! Therefore, to maximize this area we must maximize
 +
<math>xy = 40 \sin \beta \cdot 31 \sin \gamma = 31 \cdot 40 \cdot \frac{1}{2}( \cos (\beta - \gamma) - \cos ( \beta + \gamma)) = 31 \cdot 20 \cdot (\cos(\beta-\gamma)-\frac{1}{5})</math>.
 +
Since <math>\cos(\beta-\gamma)</math> is the only variable component of this expression, to maximize the expression we must maximize <math>\cos(\beta-\gamma)</math>. The cosine function has a maximum value of 1, so our equation evaluates to <math>xy = 31 \cdot 20 \cdot (1-\frac{1}{5}) = 31 \cdot 20 \cdot \frac{4}{5} = 31 \cdot 16</math> (Note that at this max value, since <math>\beta</math> and <math>\gamma</math> are both acute, <math>\beta-\gamma=0 \implies \beta=\gamma</math>).
 +
 
 +
Finally, <math>lw = xy + 31 \cdot 8 = 31 \cdot 16 + 31\cdot 8 = 31 \cdot 24 = \boxed{744}</math>
 +
 
 +
~KingRavi
 +
 
 +
==Solution 3==
 
As above, we note that angle <math>A</math> must be acute. Therefore, let <math>A</math> be the origin, and suppose that <math>Q</math> is on the positive <math>x</math> axis and <math>S</math> is on the positive <math>y</math> axis. We approach this using complex numbers. Let <math>w=\text{cis} A</math>, and let <math>z</math> be a complex number with <math>|z|=1</math>, <math>\text{Arg}(z)\ge 0^\circ</math>  and <math>\text{Arg}(zw)\le90^\circ</math>. Then we represent <math>B</math> by <math>40z</math> and <math>C</math> by <math>31zw</math>. The coordinates of <math>Q</math> and <math>S</math> depend on the real part of <math>40z</math> and the imaginary part of <math>31zw</math>. Thus
 
As above, we note that angle <math>A</math> must be acute. Therefore, let <math>A</math> be the origin, and suppose that <math>Q</math> is on the positive <math>x</math> axis and <math>S</math> is on the positive <math>y</math> axis. We approach this using complex numbers. Let <math>w=\text{cis} A</math>, and let <math>z</math> be a complex number with <math>|z|=1</math>, <math>\text{Arg}(z)\ge 0^\circ</math>  and <math>\text{Arg}(zw)\le90^\circ</math>. Then we represent <math>B</math> by <math>40z</math> and <math>C</math> by <math>31zw</math>. The coordinates of <math>Q</math> and <math>S</math> depend on the real part of <math>40z</math> and the imaginary part of <math>31zw</math>. Thus
 
<cmath>[AQRS]=\Re(40z)\cdot \Im(31zw)=1240\left(\frac{z+\overline{z}}{2}\right)\left(\frac{zw-\overline{zw}}{2i}\right).</cmath>
 
<cmath>[AQRS]=\Re(40z)\cdot \Im(31zw)=1240\left(\frac{z+\overline{z}}{2}\right)\left(\frac{zw-\overline{zw}}{2i}\right).</cmath>
Line 14: Line 69:
 
Now as <math>w=\text{cis}A</math>, we know that <math>\Im(w)=\frac15</math>. Also, <math>|z^2w|=1</math>, so the maximum possible imaginary part of <math>z^2w</math> is <math>1</math>. This is clearly achievable under our conditions on <math>z</math>. Therefore, the maximum possible area of <math>AQRS</math> is <math>620(1+\tfrac15)=\boxed{744}</math>.
 
Now as <math>w=\text{cis}A</math>, we know that <math>\Im(w)=\frac15</math>. Also, <math>|z^2w|=1</math>, so the maximum possible imaginary part of <math>z^2w</math> is <math>1</math>. This is clearly achievable under our conditions on <math>z</math>. Therefore, the maximum possible area of <math>AQRS</math> is <math>620(1+\tfrac15)=\boxed{744}</math>.
  
−
===Solution 3 (With Calculus)===
+
==Solution 4 (With Calculus)==
 
Let <math>\theta</math> be the angle <math>\angle BAQ</math>. The height of the rectangle then can be expressed as <math>h = 31 \sin (A+\theta)</math>, and the length of the rectangle can be expressed as <math>l = 40\cos \theta</math>. The area of the rectangle can then be written as a function of <math>\theta</math>, <math>[AQRS] = a(\theta) = 31\sin (A+\theta)\cdot 40 \cos \theta = 1240 \sin (A+\theta) \cos \theta</math>. For now, we will ignore the <math>1240</math> and focus on the function <math>f(\theta) = \sin (A+\theta) \cos \theta = (\sin A \cos \theta + \cos A \sin \theta)(\cos \theta) = \sin A \cos^2 \theta + \cos A \sin \theta \cos \theta = \sin A \cos^2 \theta + \frac{1}{2} \cos A \sin 2\theta</math>.
 
Let <math>\theta</math> be the angle <math>\angle BAQ</math>. The height of the rectangle then can be expressed as <math>h = 31 \sin (A+\theta)</math>, and the length of the rectangle can be expressed as <math>l = 40\cos \theta</math>. The area of the rectangle can then be written as a function of <math>\theta</math>, <math>[AQRS] = a(\theta) = 31\sin (A+\theta)\cdot 40 \cos \theta = 1240 \sin (A+\theta) \cos \theta</math>. For now, we will ignore the <math>1240</math> and focus on the function <math>f(\theta) = \sin (A+\theta) \cos \theta = (\sin A \cos \theta + \cos A \sin \theta)(\cos \theta) = \sin A \cos^2 \theta + \cos A \sin \theta \cos \theta = \sin A \cos^2 \theta + \frac{1}{2} \cos A \sin 2\theta</math>.
  
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<cmath>620 (\sin 90^\circ + \sin A) = 620 \cdot \frac{6}{5} = \boxed{744}</cmath>.
 
<cmath>620 (\sin 90^\circ + \sin A) = 620 \cdot \frac{6}{5} = \boxed{744}</cmath>.
  
−
===Note on Problem Validity===
+
==Solution 5==
 +
Let <math>\alpha</math> be the angle <math>\angle CAS</math> and <math>\beta</math> be the angle <math>\angle BAQ</math>. Then
 +
<cmath>\alpha + \beta + \angle A = 90^\circ \Rightarrow \alpha + \beta = 90^\circ - \angle A</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\cos(\alpha + \beta) = \cos(90^\circ - \angle A)</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\cos(\alpha + \beta) = \sin(\angle A) = \frac{1}{5}</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\cos\alpha\cos\beta - \sin\alpha\sin\beta = \frac{1}{5}</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\cos\alpha\cos\beta - \sqrt{(1-\cos^2\alpha)(1-\cos^2\beta)} = \frac{1}{5}</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\cos\alpha\cos\beta - \sqrt{1-\cos^2\alpha-\cos^2\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta} = \frac{1}{5}</cmath>
 +
However, by AM-GM:
 +
<cmath>\cos^2\alpha+\cos^2\beta \ge 2\cos\alpha\beta</cmath>
 +
Therefore,
 +
<cmath>1-\cos^2\alpha-\cos^2\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta \le 1-2\cos\alpha\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta = (1-\cos\alpha\cos\beta)^2</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\sqrt{1-\cos^2\alpha-\cos^2\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta} \le 1-\cos\alpha\cos\beta</cmath>
 +
So,
 +
<cmath>\frac{1}{5} \ge \cos\alpha\cos\beta - (1-\cos\alpha\cos\beta) = 2\cos\alpha\cos\beta-1</cmath>
 +
<cmath>\frac{3}{5} \ge \cos\alpha\cos\beta</cmath>.
 +
However, the area of the rectangle is just <math>AS \cdot AQ = 31\cos\alpha \cdot 40\cos\beta \le 31 \cdot 40 \cdot \frac{3}{5} = \boxed{744}</math>.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Note on Problem Validity==
  
 
It has been noted that this answer won't actually work. Let angle <math>QAB = m</math> and angle <math>CAS = n</math> as in Solution 1. Since we know (through that solution) that <math>m = n</math>, we can call them each <math>\theta</math>. The height of the rectangle is <math>AS = 31\cos\theta</math>, and the distance <math>BQ = 40\sin\theta</math>. We know that, if the triangle is to be inscribed in a rectangle, <math>AS \geq BQ</math>.
 
It has been noted that this answer won't actually work. Let angle <math>QAB = m</math> and angle <math>CAS = n</math> as in Solution 1. Since we know (through that solution) that <math>m = n</math>, we can call them each <math>\theta</math>. The height of the rectangle is <math>AS = 31\cos\theta</math>, and the distance <math>BQ = 40\sin\theta</math>. We know that, if the triangle is to be inscribed in a rectangle, <math>AS \geq BQ</math>.
Line 55: Line 129:
 
label("$S$",S,NW);
 
label("$S$",S,NW);
 
</asy>
 
</asy>
 +
 
The actual answer is a radical near <math>728</math> (letting the triangle be inside the rectangle). The CAMC, however, has decided to accept only the answer <math>744</math> despite the invalid problem statement.
 
The actual answer is a radical near <math>728</math> (letting the triangle be inside the rectangle). The CAMC, however, has decided to accept only the answer <math>744</math> despite the invalid problem statement.
  
−
=See Also=
+
==See Also==
 
{{AIME box|year=2016|n=I|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2016|n=I|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 01:31, 29 December 2021

Problem 9

Triangle $ABC$ has $AB=40,AC=31,$ and $\sin{A}=\frac{1}{5}$. This triangle is inscribed in rectangle $AQRS$ with $B$ on $\overline{QR}$ and $C$ on $\overline{RS}$. Find the maximum possible area of $AQRS$.

Solution 1

Note that if angle $BAC$ is obtuse, it would be impossible for the triangle to inscribed in a rectangle. This can easily be shown by drawing triangle ABC, where $A$ is obtuse. Therefore, angle A is acute. Let angle $CAS=n$ and angle $BAQ=m$. Then, $\overline{AS}=31\cos(n)$ and $\overline{AQ}=40\cos(m)$. Then the area of rectangle $AQRS$ is $1240\cos(m)\cos(n)$. By product-to-sum, $\cos(m)\cos(n)=\frac{1}{2}(\cos(m+n)+\cos(m-n))$. $\cos(m+n)=\sin(90-m-n)=\sin(BAC)=\frac{1}{5}$. The maximum possible value of $\cos(m-n)$ is 1, which occurs when $m=n$. Thus the maximum possible value of $\cos(m)\cos(n)$ is $\frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{5}+1)=\frac{3}{5}$ so the maximum possible area of $AQRS$ is $1240\times{\frac{3}{5}}=\fbox{744}$.

Solution 2

We start by drawing a diagram;

[asy] size(400); import olympiad; import geometry; pair A = (0, 20) ,B=(30,10) ,C=(15,0), Q=(30,20) ,R=(30,0), S=(0,0); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(A--Q); draw(Q--R); draw(R--S); draw(S--A); label("$A$", A, W); label("$B$", B, E); label("$C$", C, N); label("$Q$", Q, E); label("$R$", R, E); label("$S$", S, W); label("$w$", (-1,10)); label("$l$", (15,21)); label("$y$", (7.5,-1)); label("$x$", (31,15)); label("$31$",(7.5,10), E); label("$40$",(15,15), N); markangle(Label("$\alpha$", Relative(0.5)), n=1, C, A, B); markangle(Label("$\beta$", Relative(0.5)), n=1, B, A, Q); markangle(Label("$\gamma$", Relative(0.5)), n=1, S, A, C); [/asy]

We know that $\sin \alpha = \frac{1}{5}$. Since $\sin \alpha = \cos (90- \alpha)$, \[\cos (90- \alpha) = \frac{1}{5} \implies \cos (\beta + \gamma) = \frac{1}{5}\]

Using our angle sum identities, we expand this to $\cos \beta \cdot \cos \gamma - \sin \beta \cdot \sin \gamma = \frac{1}{5}$. We can now use the right triangle definition of cosine and sine to rewrite this equation as;

\[\frac{l}{40} \cdot \frac{w}{31} - \frac{x}{40} \cdot \frac{y}{31} = \frac{1}{5} \implies lw- xy = 8 \cdot 31 \implies lw = xy + 31 \cdot 8\]

Hang on; $lw$ is the area we want to maximize! Therefore, to maximize this area we must maximize $xy = 40 \sin \beta \cdot 31 \sin \gamma = 31 \cdot 40 \cdot \frac{1}{2}( \cos (\beta - \gamma) - \cos ( \beta + \gamma)) = 31 \cdot 20 \cdot (\cos(\beta-\gamma)-\frac{1}{5})$. Since $\cos(\beta-\gamma)$ is the only variable component of this expression, to maximize the expression we must maximize $\cos(\beta-\gamma)$. The cosine function has a maximum value of 1, so our equation evaluates to $xy = 31 \cdot 20 \cdot (1-\frac{1}{5}) = 31 \cdot 20 \cdot \frac{4}{5} = 31 \cdot 16$ (Note that at this max value, since $\beta$ and $\gamma$ are both acute, $\beta-\gamma=0 \implies \beta=\gamma$).

Finally, $lw = xy + 31 \cdot 8 = 31 \cdot 16 + 31\cdot 8 = 31 \cdot 24 = \boxed{744}$

~KingRavi

Solution 3

As above, we note that angle $A$ must be acute. Therefore, let $A$ be the origin, and suppose that $Q$ is on the positive $x$ axis and $S$ is on the positive $y$ axis. We approach this using complex numbers. Let $w=\text{cis} A$, and let $z$ be a complex number with $|z|=1$, $\text{Arg}(z)\ge 0^\circ$ and $\text{Arg}(zw)\le90^\circ$. Then we represent $B$ by $40z$ and $C$ by $31zw$. The coordinates of $Q$ and $S$ depend on the real part of $40z$ and the imaginary part of $31zw$. Thus \[[AQRS]=\Re(40z)\cdot \Im(31zw)=1240\left(\frac{z+\overline{z}}{2}\right)\left(\frac{zw-\overline{zw}}{2i}\right).\] We can expand this, using the fact that $z\overline{z}=|z|^2$, finding \[[AQRS]=620\left(\frac{z^2w-\overline{z^2w}+w-\overline{w}}{2i}\right)=620(\Im(z^2w)+\Im(w)).\] Now as $w=\text{cis}A$, we know that $\Im(w)=\frac15$. Also, $|z^2w|=1$, so the maximum possible imaginary part of $z^2w$ is $1$. This is clearly achievable under our conditions on $z$. Therefore, the maximum possible area of $AQRS$ is $620(1+\tfrac15)=\boxed{744}$.

Solution 4 (With Calculus)

Let $\theta$ be the angle $\angle BAQ$. The height of the rectangle then can be expressed as $h = 31 \sin (A+\theta)$, and the length of the rectangle can be expressed as $l = 40\cos \theta$. The area of the rectangle can then be written as a function of $\theta$, $[AQRS] = a(\theta) = 31\sin (A+\theta)\cdot 40 \cos \theta = 1240 \sin (A+\theta) \cos \theta$. For now, we will ignore the $1240$ and focus on the function $f(\theta) = \sin (A+\theta) \cos \theta = (\sin A \cos \theta + \cos A \sin \theta)(\cos \theta) = \sin A \cos^2 \theta + \cos A \sin \theta \cos \theta = \sin A \cos^2 \theta + \frac{1}{2} \cos A \sin 2\theta$.

Taking the derivative, $f'(\theta) = \sin A \cdot -2\cos \theta \sin \theta + \cos A \cos 2\theta = \cos A \cos 2\theta - \sin A \sin 2\theta = \cos(2\theta + A)$. Setting this equal to $0$, we get $\cos(2 \theta + A) = 0 \Rightarrow 2\theta +A = 90, 270 ^\circ$. Since we know that $A+ \theta < 90$, the $270^\circ$ solution is extraneous. Thus, we get that $\theta = \frac{90 - A}{2} = 45 - \frac{A}{2}$.

Plugging this value into the original area equation, $a(45 - \frac{A}{2}) = 1240 \sin (45 - \frac{A}{2} + A) \cos (45 - \frac{A}{2}) = 1240\sin( 45+ \frac{A}{2})\cos(45 - \frac{A}{2})$. Using a product-to-sum formula, we get that: \[1240\sin( 45+ \frac{A}{2})\cos(45 - \frac{A}{2}) =\] \[1240\cdot \frac{1}{2}\cdot(\sin((45 + \frac{A}{2}) + (45 -\frac{A}{2}))+\sin((45 +\frac{A}{2})-(45 - \frac{A}{2})))=\] \[620 (\sin 90^\circ + \sin A) = 620 \cdot \frac{6}{5} = \boxed{744}\].

Solution 5

Let $\alpha$ be the angle $\angle CAS$ and $\beta$ be the angle $\angle BAQ$. Then \[\alpha + \beta + \angle A = 90^\circ \Rightarrow \alpha + \beta = 90^\circ - \angle A\] \[\cos(\alpha + \beta) = \cos(90^\circ - \angle A)\] \[\cos(\alpha + \beta) = \sin(\angle A) = \frac{1}{5}\] \[\cos\alpha\cos\beta - \sin\alpha\sin\beta = \frac{1}{5}\] \[\cos\alpha\cos\beta - \sqrt{(1-\cos^2\alpha)(1-\cos^2\beta)} = \frac{1}{5}\] \[\cos\alpha\cos\beta - \sqrt{1-\cos^2\alpha-\cos^2\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta} = \frac{1}{5}\] However, by AM-GM: \[\cos^2\alpha+\cos^2\beta \ge 2\cos\alpha\beta\] Therefore, \[1-\cos^2\alpha-\cos^2\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta \le 1-2\cos\alpha\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta = (1-\cos\alpha\cos\beta)^2\] \[\sqrt{1-\cos^2\alpha-\cos^2\beta+\cos^2\alpha\cos^2\beta} \le 1-\cos\alpha\cos\beta\] So, \[\frac{1}{5} \ge \cos\alpha\cos\beta - (1-\cos\alpha\cos\beta) = 2\cos\alpha\cos\beta-1\] \[\frac{3}{5} \ge \cos\alpha\cos\beta\]. However, the area of the rectangle is just $AS \cdot AQ = 31\cos\alpha \cdot 40\cos\beta \le 31 \cdot 40 \cdot \frac{3}{5} = \boxed{744}$.


Note on Problem Validity

It has been noted that this answer won't actually work. Let angle $QAB = m$ and angle $CAS = n$ as in Solution 1. Since we know (through that solution) that $m = n$, we can call them each $\theta$. The height of the rectangle is $AS = 31\cos\theta$, and the distance $BQ = 40\sin\theta$. We know that, if the triangle is to be inscribed in a rectangle, $AS \geq BQ$.

\[AS \geq BQ\]

\[31\cos\theta \geq 40\sin\theta\]

\[\frac{31}{40} \geq \tan\theta\]

However, $\tan\theta = \tan(\frac{90-A}{2}) = \frac{\sin(90-A)}{\cos(90-A)+1} = \frac{\cos A}{\sin A + 1} = \frac{\frac{2\sqrt6}{5}}{\frac{6}{5}} = \frac{\sqrt6}{3} > \frac{31}{40}$, so the triangle does not actually fit in the rectangle: specifically, B is above R and thus in the line containing segment QR but not on the actual segment or in the rectangle.

[asy] size(200); pair A,B,C,Q,R,S; real r = (pi/2 - asin(1/5))/2; A = (0,0); B = 40*dir(r*180/pi); C = 31*dir(90-r*180/pi); draw(A--B--C--cycle); Q = (40*cos(r),0); R = (40*cos(r),31*cos(r)); S = (0, 31*cos(r)); draw(A--Q--R--S--cycle); label("$A$",A,SW); label("$B$",B,NE); label("$C$",C,N); label("$Q$",Q,SE); label("$R$",R,E); label("$S$",S,NW); [/asy]

The actual answer is a radical near $728$ (letting the triangle be inside the rectangle). The CAMC, however, has decided to accept only the answer $744$ despite the invalid problem statement.

See Also

2016 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 8 		Followed by
Problem 10
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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