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Difference between revisions of "1989 AIME Problems/Problem 12"
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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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Call the midpoint of <math>\overline{AB}</math> <math>M</math> and the midpoint of <math>\overline{CD}</math> <math>N</math>. <math>d</math> is the [[median]] of triangle <math>\triangle CDM</math>. The formula for the length of a median is <math>m=\sqrt{\frac{2a^2+2b^2-c^2}{4}}</math>, where <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are the side lengths of triangle, and <math>c</math> is the side that is bisected by median <math>m</math>. The formula is a direct result of the [[Law of Cosines]] applied twice with the angles formed by the median ([[Stewart's Theorem]]).  
+
Call the midpoint of <math>\overline{AB}</math> <math>M</math> and the midpoint of <math>\overline{CD}</math> <math>N</math>. <math>d</math> is the [[median]] of triangle <math>\triangle CDM</math>. The formula for the length of a median is <math>m=\sqrt{\frac{2a^2+2b^2-c^2}{4}}</math>, where <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are the side lengths of triangle, and <math>c</math> is the side that is bisected by median <math>m</math>. The formula is a direct result of the [[Law of Cosines]] applied twice with the angles formed by the median ([[Stewart's Theorem]]). We can also get this formula from the parallelogram law, that the sum of the squares of the diagonals is equal to the squares of the sides of a parallelogram (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallelogram_law).
  
 
We first find <math>CM</math>, which is the median of <math>\triangle CAB</math>.
 
We first find <math>CM</math>, which is the median of <math>\triangle CAB</math>.

Revision as of 21:51, 26 June 2019

Problem

Let $ABCD$ be a tetrahedron with $AB=41$, $AC=7$, $AD=18$, $BC=36$, $BD=27$, and $CD=13$, as shown in the figure. Let $d$ be the distance between the midpoints of edges $AB$ and $CD$. Find $d^{2}$.

AIME 1989 Problem 12.png

Solution

Call the midpoint of $\overline{AB}$ $M$ and the midpoint of $\overline{CD}$ $N$. $d$ is the median of triangle $\triangle CDM$. The formula for the length of a median is $m=\sqrt{\frac{2a^2+2b^2-c^2}{4}}$, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are the side lengths of triangle, and $c$ is the side that is bisected by median $m$. The formula is a direct result of the Law of Cosines applied twice with the angles formed by the median (Stewart's Theorem). We can also get this formula from the parallelogram law, that the sum of the squares of the diagonals is equal to the squares of the sides of a parallelogram (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallelogram_law).

We first find $CM$, which is the median of $\triangle CAB$.

\[CM=\sqrt{\frac{98+2592-1681}{4}}=\frac{\sqrt{1009}}{2}\]

Now we must find $DM$, which is the median of $\triangle DAB$.

\[DM=\frac{\sqrt{425}}{2}\]

Now that we know the sides of $\triangle CDM$, we proceed to find the length of $d$.

\[d=\frac{\sqrt{548}}{2} \Longrightarrow d^2=\frac{548}{4}=\boxed{137}\]

See also

1989 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 11 		Followed by
Problem 13
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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