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Difference between revisions of "2018 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 15"

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Call center of the largest circle <math>X</math>. The circle that is tangent at point <math>A</math> will have point <math>Y</math> as the center. Similarly, the circle that is tangent at point <math>B</math> will have point <math>Z</math> as the center. Connect <math>AB</math>, <math>YZ</math>, <math>XA</math>, and <math>WY</math>. Now observe that <math>\triangle XYZ</math> is similar to <math>\triangle XAB</math>. Writing out the ratios, we get
 
Call center of the largest circle <math>X</math>. The circle that is tangent at point <math>A</math> will have point <math>Y</math> as the center. Similarly, the circle that is tangent at point <math>B</math> will have point <math>Z</math> as the center. Connect <math>AB</math>, <math>YZ</math>, <math>XA</math>, and <math>WY</math>. Now observe that <math>\triangle XYZ</math> is similar to <math>\triangle XAB</math>. Writing out the ratios, we get
 
<cmath>\frac{XY}{XA}=\frac{YZ}{AB} \Rightarrow \frac{13-5}{13}=\frac{5+5}{AB} \Rightarrow \frac{8}{13}=\frac{10}{AB} \Rightarrow AB=\frac{65}{4}.</cmath>
 
<cmath>\frac{XY}{XA}=\frac{YZ}{AB} \Rightarrow \frac{13-5}{13}=\frac{5+5}{AB} \Rightarrow \frac{8}{13}=\frac{10}{AB} \Rightarrow AB=\frac{65}{4}.</cmath>
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Therefore, our answer is <math>65+4=</math><math>\boxed{69}</math> which is choice <math>\boxed{D}</math>.
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Therefore, our answer is <math>65+4=</math><math>\boxed{69}</math>, which is choice <math>\boxed{D}</math>.
  
 
~Nivek
 
~Nivek

Revision as of 14:57, 8 February 2018

Two circles of radius 5 are externally tangent to each other and are internally tangent to a circle of radius 13 at points $A$ and $B$, as shown in the diagram. The distance $AB$ can be written in the form $\tfrac{m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. What is $m+n$?

[asy] draw(circle((0,0),13)); draw(circle((5,-6.2),5)); draw(circle((-5,-6.2),5)); label("$B$", (9.5,-9.5), S); label("$A$", (-9.5,-9.5), S); [/asy]

$\textbf{(A) } 21 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 29 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 58 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 69 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 93$

Solution

Call center of the largest circle $X$. The circle that is tangent at point $A$ will have point $Y$ as the center. Similarly, the circle that is tangent at point $B$ will have point $Z$ as the center. Connect $AB$, $YZ$, $XA$, and $WY$. Now observe that $\triangle XYZ$ is similar to $\triangle XAB$. Writing out the ratios, we get \[\frac{XY}{XA}=\frac{YZ}{AB} \Rightarrow \frac{13-5}{13}=\frac{5+5}{AB} \Rightarrow \frac{8}{13}=\frac{10}{AB} \Rightarrow AB=\frac{65}{4}.\] Therefore, our answer is $65+4=$$\boxed{69}$, which is choice $\boxed{D}$.

~Nivek

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