Difference between revisions of "2013 AIME II Problems/Problem 5"

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Let <math>M</math> be the midpoint of <math>\overline{DE}</math>. Then <math>\Delta MCA</math> is a 30-60-90 triangle with <math>MC = \dfrac{3}{2}</math>, <math>AC = 3</math> and <math>AM = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}</math>. Since the triangle <math>\Delta AME</math> is right, then we can find the length of <math>\overline{AE}</math> by pythagorean theorem, <math>AE = \sqrt{7}</math>. Therefore, since <math>\Delta AME</math> is a right triangle, we can easily find <math>\sin(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{7}}</math> and <math>\cos(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{7}}</math>. So we can use the double angle formula for sine, <math>\sin(\angle EAD) = 2\sin(\angle EAM)\cos(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{14}</math>. Therefore, <math>a + b + c = 20</math>.
 
Let <math>M</math> be the midpoint of <math>\overline{DE}</math>. Then <math>\Delta MCA</math> is a 30-60-90 triangle with <math>MC = \dfrac{3}{2}</math>, <math>AC = 3</math> and <math>AM = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}</math>. Since the triangle <math>\Delta AME</math> is right, then we can find the length of <math>\overline{AE}</math> by pythagorean theorem, <math>AE = \sqrt{7}</math>. Therefore, since <math>\Delta AME</math> is a right triangle, we can easily find <math>\sin(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{7}}</math> and <math>\cos(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{7}}</math>. So we can use the double angle formula for sine, <math>\sin(\angle EAD) = 2\sin(\angle EAM)\cos(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{14}</math>. Therefore, <math>a + b + c = 20</math>.
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==See Also==
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{{AIME box|year=2013|n=II|num-b=4|num-a=6}}

Revision as of 15:36, 6 April 2013

In equilateral $\triangle ABC$ let points $D$ and $E$ trisect $\overline{BC}$. Then $\sin(\angle DAE)$ can be expressed in the form $\frac{a\sqrt{b}}{c}$, where $a$ and $c$ are relatively prime positive integers, and $b$ is an integer that is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $a+b+c$.

Solution

[asy] pair A = (1, sqrt(3)), B = (0, 0), C= (2, 0); pair M = (1, 0); pair D = (2/3, 0), E = (4/3, 0); draw(A--B--C--cycle); label("$A$", A, N); label("$B$", B, SW); label("$C$", C, SE); label("$D$", D, S); label("$E$", E, S); label("$M$", M, S); draw(A--D); draw(A--E); draw(A--M);[/asy]

Without loss of generality, assume the triangle sides have length 3. Then the trisected side is partitioned into segments of length 1, making your computation easier.

Let $M$ be the midpoint of $\overline{DE}$. Then $\Delta MCA$ is a 30-60-90 triangle with $MC = \dfrac{3}{2}$, $AC = 3$ and $AM = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}$. Since the triangle $\Delta AME$ is right, then we can find the length of $\overline{AE}$ by pythagorean theorem, $AE = \sqrt{7}$. Therefore, since $\Delta AME$ is a right triangle, we can easily find $\sin(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{7}}$ and $\cos(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2\sqrt{7}}$. So we can use the double angle formula for sine, $\sin(\angle EAD) = 2\sin(\angle EAM)\cos(\angle EAM) = \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{14}$. Therefore, $a + b + c = 20$.

See Also

2013 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 4
Followed by
Problem 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions