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2011 AIME I Problems/Problem 4

Revision as of 20:43, 4 January 2017 by Lucasxia01 (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem 4

In triangle $ABC$, $AB=125$, $AC=117$ and $BC=120$. The angle bisector of angle $A$ intersects $\overline{BC}$ at point $L$, and the angle bisector of angle $B$ intersects $\overline{AC}$ at point $K$. Let $M$ and $N$ be the feet of the perpendiculars from $C$ to $\overline{BK}$ and $\overline{AL}$, respectively. Find $MN$.


Solution 1

Extend ${CM}$ and ${CN}$ such that they intersects lines ${AB}$ at points $P$ and $Q$, respectively. Since ${BM}$ is the angle bisector of angle B,and ${CM}$ is perpendicular to ${BM}$ ,so , $BP=BC=120$, M is the midpoint of ${CP}$ .For the same reason,$AQ=AC=117$,N is the midpoint of ${CQ}$. Hence$MN=\frac{PQ}{2}$.But $PQ=BP+AQ-AB=120+117-125=112$,so$MN=\boxed{56}$.

Solution 2 (Bash)

Project $I$ onto $AC$ and $BC$ as $D$ and $E$. $ID$ and $IE$ are both in-radii of $\triangle ABC$ so we get right triangles with legs $r$ (the in-radius length) and $s - c = 56$. Since $IC$ is the hypotenuse for the 4 triangles ($\triangle INC, \triangle IMC, \triangle IDC,$ and $\triangle IEC$), $C, D, M, I, N, E$ are con-cyclic on a circle we shall denote as $\omega$ which is also the circumcircle of $\triangle CMN$ and $\triangle CDE$. To find $MN$, we can use the Law of Cosines on $\angle MON \implies MN^2 = 2R^2(1 - \cos{2\angle MCN})$ where $O$ is the center of $\omega$. Now, the circumradius $R$ can be found with Pythagorean Theorem with $\triangle CDI$ or $\triangle CEI$: $r^2 + 56^2 = (2R)^2$. To find $r$, we can use the formula $rs = [ABC]$ and by Heron's, $[ABC] = \sqrt{181 \cdot 61 \cdot 56 \cdot 64} \implies r = \sqrt{\frac{61 \cdot 56 \cdot 64}{181}} \implies 2R^2 = \frac{393120}{181}$. To find $\angle MCN$, we can find $\angle MIN$ since $\angle MCN = 180 - \angle MIN$. $\angle MIN = \angle MIC + \angle NIC = 180 - \angle BIC + 180 - \angle AIC = 180 - (180 - \frac{\angle A + \angle C}{2}) + 180 - (180 - \frac{\angle B + \angle C}{2}) = \frac{\angle A + \angle B + \angle C}{2} + \frac{\angle C}{2}$. Thus, $\angle MCN = 180 - \frac{\angle A + \angle B + \angle C}{2} - \frac{\angle C}{2}$ and since $\angle A + \angle B + \angle C = 180$, we have $\angle A + \angle B + \angle C - \frac{\angle A + \angle B + \angle C}{2} - \frac{\angle C}{2} = \frac{\angle A + \angle B}{2}$. Plugging this into our Law of Cosines formula gives $MN^2 = 2R^2(1 - \cos{\angle A + \angle B}) = 2R^2(1 + \cos{\angle C})$. To find $\cos{\angle C}$, we use LoC on $\triangle ABC \implies cos{\angle C} = \frac{120^2 + 117^2 - 125^2}{2 \cdot 117 \cdot 120} = \frac{41 \cdot 19}{117 \cdot 15}$. Our formula now becomes $MN^2 = \frac{393120}{181} + \frac{2534}{15 \cdot 117}$. After simplifying, we get $MN^2 = 3136 \implies MN = \boxed{056}$. $\square$

--lucasxia01

See also

2011 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 3 		Followed by
Problem 5
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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