Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2003 AIME I Problems/Problem 7"

(asymptote)
m (→‎See also: stewarts)
Line 18: Line 18:
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 +
*[[Stewart's Theorem]]
 
{{AIME box|year=2003|n=I|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2003|n=I|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
  
 
[[Category:Intermediate Geometry Problems]]
 
[[Category:Intermediate Geometry Problems]]

Revision as of 14:28, 10 June 2008

Problem

Point $B$ is on $\overline{AC}$ with $AB = 9$ and $BC = 21.$ Point $D$ is not on $\overline{AC}$ so that $AD = CD,$ and $AD$ and $BD$ are integers. Let $s$ be the sum of all possible perimeters of $\triangle ACD$. Find $s.$

Solution

[asy] size(220); pointpen = black; pathpen = black + linewidth(0.7); pair O=(0,0),A=(-15,0),B=(-6,0),C=(15,0),D=(0,8); D(D(MP("A",A))--D(MP("C",C))--D(MP("D",D,NE))--cycle); D(D(MP("B",B))--D); D((0,-4)--(0,12),linetype("4 4")+linewidth(0.7)); MP("6",B/2); MP("15",C/2); MP("9",(A+B)/2); [/asy]

Denote the height of $\triangle ACD$ as $h$, $x = AD = CD$, and $y = BD$. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we find that $h^2 = y^2 - 6^2$ and $h^2 = x^2 - 15^2$. Thus, $y^2 - 36 = x^2 - 225 \Longrightarrow x^2 - y^2 = 189$. The LHS is difference of squares, so $(x + y)(x - y) = 189$. As both $x,\ y$ are integers, $x+y,\ x-y$ must be integral divisors of $189$.

The pairs of divisors of $189$ are $(1,189)\ (3,63)\ (7,27)\ (9,21)$. This yields the four potential sets for $(x,y)$ as $(95,94)\ (33,30)\ (17,10)\ (15,6)$. The last is not a possibility since it simply degenerates into a line. The sum of the three possible perimeters of $\triangle ACD$ is equal to $3(AC) + 2(x_1 + x_2 + x_3) = 90 + 2(95 + 33 + 17) = \boxed{380}$.

See also

2003 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 6 		Followed by
Problem 8
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions
Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2003_AIME_I_Problems/Problem_7&oldid=26419"