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Mock AIME 4 2006-2007 Problems/Problem 15

Revision as of 22:45, 26 December 2009 by Aimesolver (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ has sides $\overline{AB}$, $\overline{BC}$, and $\overline{CA}$ of length 43, 13, and 48, respectively. Let $\omega$ be the circle circumscribed around $\triangle ABC$ and let $D$ be the intersection of $\omega$ and the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{AC}$ that is not on the same side of $\overline{AC}$ as $B$. The length of $\overline{AD}$ can be expressed as $m\sqrt{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are positive integers and $n$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find the greatest integer less than or equal to $m + \sqrt{n}$.

Solution

Solution 1

The perpendicular bisector of any chord of any circle passes through the center of that circle. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $\overline{AC}$, and $R$ be the length of the radius of $\omega$. By the Power of a Point Theorem, $MD \cdot (2R - MD) = AM \cdot MC = 24^2$ or $0 = MD^2 -2R\cdot MD 24^2$. By the Pythagorean Theorem, $AD^2 = MD^2 + AM^2 = MD^2 + 24^2$.

Let's compute the circumradius $R$: By the Law of Cosines, $\cos B = \frac{AB^2 + BC^2 - CA^2}{2\cdot AB\cdot BC} = \frac{43^2 + 13^2 - 48^2}{2\cdot43\cdot13} = -\frac{11}{43}$. By the Law of Sines, $2R = \frac{AC}{\sin B} = \frac{48}{\sqrt{1 - \left(-\frac{11}{43}\right)^2}} = \frac{86}{\sqrt 3}$ so $R = \frac{43}{\sqrt 3}$.

Now we can use this to compute $MD$ and thus $AD$. By the quadratic formula, $MD = \frac{2R + \sqrt{4R^2 - 4\cdot24^2}}{2} = \frac{43}{\sqrt 3} + \frac{11}{\sqrt3} = 18\sqrt{3}$. (We only take the positive sign because angle $B$ is obtuse so $\overline{MD}$ is the longer of the two segments into which the chord $\overline{AC}$ divides the diameter.) Then $AD^2 = MD^2 + 24^2 = 1548$ so $AD = 6\sqrt{43}$, and $12 < 6 + \sqrt{43} < 13$ so the answer is $012$.


Solution 2

Let angle $ABC$ = $a$, angle $ADC$ = $b$, and $AD$ = $DC$ = $x$. Since ABCD is cyclic, $a$ + $b$ = 180 degrees. Using the Law of Cosines, $48^2$ = $43^2$ + $13^2$ - $(2)(43)(13)cos a$, so $cos a$ = $-\frac{11}{43}$. Since $cos a$ = $-\frac{11}{43}$, then $cos b$ is $\frac{11}{43}$. Using the Law of Cosines on triangle ADC, $48^2$ = $2x^2$ - $2x^2 cos b$ = $2x^2$($1$ - $cos b$) = $2x^2$($\frac{32}{43}$). Solving for $x$, we get $x$ = $6 + {\sqrt 43}$ which is between $12$ and $13$, so the answer is $\boxed{012}$.


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