Difference between revisions of "2013 AIME II Problems/Problem 15"

Line 24: Line 24:
  
 
Therefore: <cmath>\sin C = \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{8}},\cos C = \sqrt{\dfrac{7}{8}}.</cmath> Similarly, <cmath>\sin A = \sqrt{\dfrac{4}{9}},\cos A = \sqrt{\dfrac{5}{9}}.</cmath> Note that the desired value is equivalent to <math>2-\sin^2B</math>, which is <math>2-\sin^2(A+C)</math>. All that remains is to use the sine addition formula and, after a few minor computations, we obtain a result of <math>\dfrac{111-4\sqrt{35}}{72}</math>. Thus, the answer is <math>111+4+35+72 = \boxed{222}</math>.
 
Therefore: <cmath>\sin C = \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{8}},\cos C = \sqrt{\dfrac{7}{8}}.</cmath> Similarly, <cmath>\sin A = \sqrt{\dfrac{4}{9}},\cos A = \sqrt{\dfrac{5}{9}}.</cmath> Note that the desired value is equivalent to <math>2-\sin^2B</math>, which is <math>2-\sin^2(A+C)</math>. All that remains is to use the sine addition formula and, after a few minor computations, we obtain a result of <math>\dfrac{111-4\sqrt{35}}{72}</math>. Thus, the answer is <math>111+4+35+72 = \boxed{222}</math>.
 +
 +
 +
==Alternate Solution==
 +
Let us use the identity <math>\cos^2A+\cos^2B+\cos^2C+2\cos A \cos B \cos C=1</math> .
 +
 +
Add <cmath>\begin{align*} \cos^2 C+2(\cos A\cos B-\sin A \sin B)\cos C \end{align*}</cmath> to both sides of the first given equation. Thus, as <cmath>\begin{align*} \cos A\cos B-\sin A\sin B=\cos (A+B)=-\cos C \end{align*}</cmath> , we have <cmath>\begin{align*} \dfrac{15}{8}-2\cos^2 C +\cos^2 C=1
 +
\end{align*}</cmath>, so <math>\cos C</math> is <math>\sqrt{\dfrac{7}{8}}</math> and therefore <math> \sin C</math> is

Revision as of 21:03, 5 April 2013

Let $A,B,C$ be angles of an acute triangle with \begin{align*} \cos^2 A + \cos^2 B + 2 \sin A \sin B \cos C &= \frac{15}{8} \text{ and} \\ \cos^2 B + \cos^2 C + 2 \sin B \sin C \cos A &= \frac{14}{9} \end{align*} There are positive integers $p$, $q$, $r$, and $s$ for which \[\cos^2 C + \cos^2 A + 2 \sin C \sin A \cos B = \frac{p-q\sqrt{r}}{s},\] where $p+q$ and $s$ are relatively prime and $r$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $p+q+r+s$.

Solution

Let's draw the triangle. Since the problem only deals with angles, we can go ahead and set one of the sides to a convenient value. Let $BC = \sin{A}$.

By the Law of Sines, we must have $CA = \sin{B}$ and $AB = \sin{C}$.

Now let us analyze the given:

\begin{align*}
\cos^2A + \cos^2B + 2\sinA\sinB\cosC &= 1-\sin^2A + 1-\sin^2B + 2\sinA\sinB\cosC \\
&= 2-(\sin^2A + \sin^2B - 2\sinA\sinB\cosC)
\end{align*} (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

Now we can use the Law of Cosines to simplify this:

\[= 2-\sin^2C\]


Therefore: \[\sin C = \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{8}},\cos C = \sqrt{\dfrac{7}{8}}.\] Similarly, \[\sin A = \sqrt{\dfrac{4}{9}},\cos A = \sqrt{\dfrac{5}{9}}.\] Note that the desired value is equivalent to $2-\sin^2B$, which is $2-\sin^2(A+C)$. All that remains is to use the sine addition formula and, after a few minor computations, we obtain a result of $\dfrac{111-4\sqrt{35}}{72}$. Thus, the answer is $111+4+35+72 = \boxed{222}$.


Alternate Solution

Let us use the identity $\cos^2A+\cos^2B+\cos^2C+2\cos A \cos B \cos C=1$ .

Add \begin{align*} \cos^2 C+2(\cos A\cos B-\sin A \sin B)\cos C \end{align*} to both sides of the first given equation. Thus, as \begin{align*} \cos A\cos B-\sin A\sin B=\cos (A+B)=-\cos C \end{align*} , we have \begin{align*} \dfrac{15}{8}-2\cos^2 C +\cos^2 C=1  \end{align*}, so $\cos C$ is $\sqrt{\dfrac{7}{8}}$ and therefore $\sin C$ is