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Difference between revisions of "2005 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 24"

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<math>a+c</math> = the slope of <math>AC</math>.  
 
<math>a+c</math> = the slope of <math>AC</math>.  
  
−
So the value that we need to find is the sum of the slopes of the three sides of the triangle divided by <math>2</math>. Without loss of generality, let <math>AB</math> be the side that has the smallest angle with the positive <math>x</math>-axis. Let <math>J</math> be an arbitrary point with the coordinates <math>(1, 0)</math>. Translate the triangle so <math>A</math> is at the origin. Then <math>tan(BOJ) = 2</math>. Since the slope of a line is equal to the tangent of the angle formed by the line and the positive x- axis, the answer is <math>\dfrac{tan(BOJ) + tan(BOJ+60) + tan(BOJ-60)}{2}</math>.  
+
So the value that we need to find is the sum of the slopes of the three sides of the triangle divided by <math>2</math>. Without loss of generality, let <math>AB</math> be the side that has the smallest angle with the positive <math>x</math>-axis. Let <math>J</math> be an arbitrary point with the coordinates <math>(1, 0)</math>. Translate the triangle so <math>A</math> is at the origin. Then <math>\tan(BOJ) = 2</math>. Since the slope of a line is equal to the tangent of the angle formed by the line and the positive x- axis, the answer is <math>\dfrac{\tan(BOJ) + \tan(BOJ+60) + \tan(BOJ-60)}{2}</math>.  
  
−
Using <math>tan(BOJ) = 2</math>, and the tangent addition formula, this simplifies to <math>\dfrac{3}{11}</math>, so the answer is <math>3 + 11 = \boxed{\mathrm{(A)}\ 14}</math>
+
Using <math>\tan(BOJ) = 2</math>, and the tangent addition formula, this simplifies to <math>\dfrac{3}{11}</math>, so the answer is <math>3 + 11 = \boxed{\mathrm{(A)}\ 14}</math>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2005|ab=B|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2005|ab=B|num-b=23|num-a=25}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 14:12, 15 July 2018

Problem

All three vertices of an equilateral triangle are on the parabola $y = x^2$, and one of its sides has a slope of $2$. The $x$-coordinates of the three vertices have a sum of $m/n$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. What is the value of $m + n$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ {{{14}}}\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ {{{15}}}\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ {{{16}}}\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ {{{17}}}\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ {{{18}}}$

Solution

[asy] import graph; real f(real x) {return x^2;} unitsize(1 cm); pair A, B, C; real a, b, c; a = (-5*sqrt(3) + 11)/11; b = (5*sqrt(3) + 11)/11; c = -19/11; A = (a,f(a)); B = (b,f(b)); C = (c,f(c)); draw(graph(f,-2,2)); draw((-2,0)--(2,0),Arrows); draw((0,-0.5)--(0,4),Arrows); draw(A--B--C--cycle); label("$x$", (2,0), NE); label("$y$", (0,4), NE); dot("$A(a,a^2)$", A, S); dot("$B(b,b^2)$", B, E); dot("$C(c,c^2)$", C, W); [/asy]

Using the slope formula and differences of squares, we find:

$a+b$ = the slope of $AB$,

$b+c$ = the slope of $BC$,

$a+c$ = the slope of $AC$.

So the value that we need to find is the sum of the slopes of the three sides of the triangle divided by $2$. Without loss of generality, let $AB$ be the side that has the smallest angle with the positive $x$-axis. Let $J$ be an arbitrary point with the coordinates $(1, 0)$. Translate the triangle so $A$ is at the origin. Then $\tan(BOJ) = 2$. Since the slope of a line is equal to the tangent of the angle formed by the line and the positive x- axis, the answer is $\dfrac{\tan(BOJ) + \tan(BOJ+60) + \tan(BOJ-60)}{2}$.

Using $\tan(BOJ) = 2$, and the tangent addition formula, this simplifies to $\dfrac{3}{11}$, so the answer is $3 + 11 = \boxed{\mathrm{(A)}\ 14}$

See also

2005 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 23 		Followed by
Problem 25
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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