Art of Problem Solving
Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

2014 AIME II Problems/Problem 11: Difference between revisions

← Older editNewer edit →
Blackhawk (talk | contribs)
41 edits
No edit summary
Expilncalc (talk | contribs)
261 edits
m →Solution 2: Fixed parts
Line 45: Line 45:
==Solution 2==
==Solution 2==


NOTE: Draw your own picture for this one! It requires some tenacity.
Call <math>MP</math> <math>x</math>. Meanwhile, because <math>\triangle RPM</math> is similar to <math>\triangle RCD</math> (angle, side, and side- <math>RP</math> and <math>RC</math> ratio), <math>CD</math> must be 2<math>x</math>. Now, notice that <math>AE</math> is <math>x</math>, because of the parallel segments <math>\overline A\overline E</math> and <math>\overline P\overline M</math>.


First, we are stuck, right? Nowhere to go. Wait a minute... there's medians and midpoints. Maybe we should draw auxiliary segment <math>MP</math>. For lack of better term, let's call the length <math>x</math>. Meanwhile, because <math>\triangle RPM</math> is similar to <math>\triangle RCD</math> (angle, side, and side- <math>RP</math> and <math>RC</math> ratio), <math>CD</math> must be 2<math>x</math>. Now, notice that <math>AE</math> is <math>x</math>, because of the parallel segments <math>\overline A\overline E</math> and <math>\overline P\overline M</math> (also using Midsegment Theorem).
Now we just have to calculate <math>ED</math>. Using the Law of Sines, or perhaps using altitude <math>\overline R\overline O</math>, we get <math>ED = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}</math>. <math>CA=RA</math>, which equals <math>ED - x</math>
 
Now we just have to calculate <math>ED</math>. Using the Law of Sines, or perhaps using altitude <math>\overline R\overline O</math>, we get <math>ED = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}</math>, thus <math>CA = RA</math>, which must be equal to <math>ED - x</math>. (That's minus <math>2x</math> and plus <math>x</math>.)


Finally, what is <math>RE</math>? It comes out to <math>\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}</math>.  
Finally, what is <math>RE</math>? It comes out to <math>\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}</math>.  


We got the three sides. Now all that is left is using the Law of Cosines.  
We got the three sides. Now all that is left is using the Law of Cosines. There we can equate <math>x</math> and solve for it.


Taking <math>\triangle AER</math> and using <math>\angle AER</math>, of course, we find out (after some calculation) that <math>AE = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}</math>.
Taking <math>\triangle AER</math> and using <math>\angle AER</math>, of course, we find out (after some calculation) that <math>AE = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}</math>. The step before? <math>x=\frac{1-\sqrt{3}}{4\sqrt{3}+2}</math>.


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 22:16, 16 February 2018

Problem 11

In $\triangle RED$, $\measuredangle DRE=75^{\circ}$ and $\measuredangle RED=45^{\circ}$. $RD=1$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of segment $\overline{RD}$. Point $C$ lies on side $\overline{ED}$ such that $\overline{RC}\perp\overline{EM}$. Extend segment $\overline{DE}$ through $E$ to point $A$ such that $CA=AR$. Then $AE=\frac{a-\sqrt{b}}{c}$, where $a$ and $c$ are relatively prime positive integers, and $b$ is a positive integer. Find $a+b+c$.

Solution

Let $P$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $A$ to $\overline{CR}$, so $\overline{AP}\parallel\overline{EM}$. Since triangle $ARC$ is isosceles, $P$ is the midpoint of $\overline{CR}$, and $\overline{PM}\parallel\overline{CD}$. Thus, $APME$ is a parallelogram and $AE = PM = \frac{CD}{2}$. We can then use coordinates. Let $O$ be the foot of altitude $RO$ and set $O$ as the origin. Now we notice special right triangles! In particular, $DO = \frac{1}{2}$ and $EO = RO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$, so $D(\frac{1}{2}, 0)$, $E(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, 0)$, and $R(0, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}).$ $M =$ midpoint$(D, R) = (\frac{1}{4}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4})$ and the slope of $ME = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}}{\frac{1}{4} + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}$, so the slope of $RC = -\frac{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}.$ Instead of finding the equation of the line, we use the definition of slope: for every $CO = x$ to the left, we go $\frac{x(1 + 2\sqrt{3})}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ up. Thus, $x = \frac{\frac{3}{2}}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}} = \frac{3}{4\sqrt{3} + 2} = \frac{3(4\sqrt{3} - 2)}{44} = \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22}.$ $DC = \frac{1}{2} - x = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22} = \frac{14 - 6\sqrt{3}}{22}$, and $AE = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}$, so the answer is $\boxed{056}$.

[asy] unitsize(8cm); pair a, o, d, r, e, m, cm, c,p; o =(0,0); d = (0.5, 0); r = (0,sqrt(3)/2); e = (-sqrt(3)/2,0); m = midpoint(d--r); draw(e--m); cm = foot(r, e, m); draw(L(r, cm,1, 1)); c = IP(L(r, cm, 1, 1), e--d); clip(r--d--e--cycle); draw(r--d--e--cycle); draw(rightanglemark(e, cm, c, 1.5)); a = -(4sqrt(3)+9)/11+0.5; dot(a); draw(a--r, dashed); draw(a--c, dashed); pair[] PPAP = {a, o, d, r, e, m, c}; for(int i = 0; i<7; ++i) { dot(PPAP[i]); } label("$A$", a, W); label("$E$", e, SW); label("$C$", c, S); label("$O$", o, S); label("$D$", d, SE); label("$M$", m, NE); label("$R$", r, N); p = foot(a, r, c); label("$P$", p, NE); draw(p--m, dashed); draw(a--p, dashed); dot(p); [/asy]

Solution 2

Call $MP$ $x$. Meanwhile, because $\triangle RPM$ is similar to $\triangle RCD$ (angle, side, and side- $RP$ and $RC$ ratio), $CD$ must be 2$x$. Now, notice that $AE$ is $x$, because of the parallel segments $\overline A\overline E$ and $\overline P\overline M$.

Now we just have to calculate $ED$. Using the Law of Sines, or perhaps using altitude $\overline R\overline O$, we get $ED = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}$. $CA=RA$, which equals $ED - x$

Finally, what is $RE$? It comes out to $\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}$.

We got the three sides. Now all that is left is using the Law of Cosines. There we can equate $x$ and solve for it.

Taking $\triangle AER$ and using $\angle AER$, of course, we find out (after some calculation) that $AE = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}$. The step before? $x=\frac{1-\sqrt{3}}{4\sqrt{3}+2}$.

See also

2014 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 10 		Followed by
Problem 12
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

These problems are copyrighted © by the Mathematical Association of America.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.aopstest.com/wiki/index.php?title=2014_AIME_II_Problems/Problem_11&oldid=91765"