Difference between revisions of "2015 AIME I Problems/Problem 11"

(Solution 2 (Trig))
Line 27: Line 27:
  
 
Thus the perimeter of <math>\triangle ABC</math> must be <math>2(x+y) = \boxed{108}</math>.
 
Thus the perimeter of <math>\triangle ABC</math> must be <math>2(x+y) = \boxed{108}</math>.
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
==Solution 3==
 +
Let <math>AB=x</math>, call the midpoint of <math>BC</math> point <math>E</math>, call the point where the incircle meets <math>AB</math> point <math>D</math>, and let <math>BE=y</math>. We are looking for the minimum value of <math>2(x+y)</math>. <math>AE</math> is an altitude because the triangle is isosceles. By Pythagoras on <math>BEI</math>, the inradius is <math>\sqrt{64-y^2}</math> and by Pythagoras on <math>ABE</math>, <math>AE</math> is <math>\sqrt{x^2-y^2}</math>. By equal tangents, <math>BE=BD=y</math>, so <math>AD=x-y</math>. Since <math>ID</math> is an inradius, <math>ID=IE</math> and using pythagoras on <math>ADI</math> yields <math>AI=</math><math>\sqrt{x^2-2xy+64}</math>. <math>ADI</math> is similar to <math>AEB</math> by <math>AA</math>, so we can write <math>\frac{x-y}{\sqrt{x^2-2xy+64}}=\frac{\sqrt{x^2-y^2}}{x}</math>. Simplifying, <math>\frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2-2xy+64}}=\sqrt{\frac{x+y}{x-y}}</math>. Squaring, subtracting 1 from both sides, and multiplying everything out, we get <math>yx^2-2xy^2+64y=yx^2 -32x+32y-xy^2</math>, which turns into <math>32y=x(y^2-32)</math>. Finish as above.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Revision as of 22:39, 26 February 2018

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ has positive integer side lengths with $AB=AC$. Let $I$ be the intersection of the bisectors of $\angle B$ and $\angle C$. Suppose $BI=8$. Find the smallest possible perimeter of $\triangle ABC$.

Solution 1 (No Trig)

Let $AB=x$ and the foot of the altitude from $A$ to $BC$ be point $E$ and $BE=y$. Since ABC is isosceles, $I$ is on $AE$. By Pythagorean Theorem, $AE=\sqrt{x^2-y^2}$. Let $IE=a$ and $IA=b$. By Angle Bisector theorem, $\frac{y}{a}=\frac{x}{b}$. Also, $a+b=\sqrt{x^2-y^2}$. Solving for $a$, we get $a=\frac{\sqrt{x^2-y^2}}{1+\frac{x}{y}}$. Then, using Pythagorean Theorem on $\triangle BEI$ we have $y^2+\left(\frac{\sqrt{x^2-y^2}}{1+\frac{x}{y}}\right)^2=8^2=64$. Simplifying, we have $y^2+y^2\frac{x^2-y^2}{(x+y)^2}=64$. Factoring out the $y^2$, we have $y^2\left(1+\frac{x^2-y^2}{(x+y)^2}\right)=64$. Adding 1 to the fraction and simplifying, we have $\frac{y^2x(x+y)}{(x+y)^2}=32$. Crossing out the $x+y$, and solving for $x$ yields $32y = x(y^2-32)$. Then, we continue as Solution 2 does.


Solution 2 (Trig)

Let $D$ be the midpoint of $\overline{BC}$. Then by SAS Congruence, $\triangle ABD \cong \triangle ACD$, so $\angle ADB = \angle ADC = 90^o$.

Now let $BD=y$, $AB=x$, and $\angle IBD = \dfrac{\angle ABD}{2} = \theta$.

Then $\mathrm{cos}{(\theta)} = \dfrac{y}{8}$

and $\mathrm{cos}{(2\theta)} = \dfrac{y}{x} = 2\mathrm{cos^2}{(\theta)} - 1 = \dfrac{y^2-32}{32}$.

Cross-multiplying yields $32y = x(y^2-32)$.

Since $x,y>0$, $y^2-32$ must be positive, so $y > 5.5$.

Additionally, since $\triangle IBD$ has hypotenuse $\overline{IB}$ of length $8$, $BD=y < 8$.

Therefore, given that $BC=2y$ is an integer, the only possible values for $y$ are $6$, $6.5$, $7$, and $7.5$.

However, only one of these values, $y=6$, yields an integral value for $AB=x$, so we conclude that $y=6$ and $x=\dfrac{32(6)}{(6)^2-32}=48$.

Thus the perimeter of $\triangle ABC$ must be $2(x+y) = \boxed{108}$.



Solution 3

Let $AB=x$, call the midpoint of $BC$ point $E$, call the point where the incircle meets $AB$ point $D$, and let $BE=y$. We are looking for the minimum value of $2(x+y)$. $AE$ is an altitude because the triangle is isosceles. By Pythagoras on $BEI$, the inradius is $\sqrt{64-y^2}$ and by Pythagoras on $ABE$, $AE$ is $\sqrt{x^2-y^2}$. By equal tangents, $BE=BD=y$, so $AD=x-y$. Since $ID$ is an inradius, $ID=IE$ and using pythagoras on $ADI$ yields $AI=$$\sqrt{x^2-2xy+64}$. $ADI$ is similar to $AEB$ by $AA$, so we can write $\frac{x-y}{\sqrt{x^2-2xy+64}}=\frac{\sqrt{x^2-y^2}}{x}$. Simplifying, $\frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2-2xy+64}}=\sqrt{\frac{x+y}{x-y}}$. Squaring, subtracting 1 from both sides, and multiplying everything out, we get $yx^2-2xy^2+64y=yx^2 -32x+32y-xy^2$, which turns into $32y=x(y^2-32)$. Finish as above.

See Also

2015 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png