# 2009 AIME I Problems/Problem 12

## Problem

In right $\triangle ABC$ with hypotenuse $\overline{AB}$, $AC = 12$, $BC = 35$, and $\overline{CD}$ is the altitude to $\overline{AB}$. Let $\omega$ be the circle having $\overline{CD}$ as a diameter. Let $I$ be a point outside $\triangle ABC$ such that $\overline{AI}$ and $\overline{BI}$ are both tangent to circle $\omega$. The ratio of the perimeter of $\triangle ABI$ to the length $AB$ can be expressed in the form $\frac {m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m + n$.

## Solution 1

Let $O$ be center of the circle and $P$,$Q$ be the two points of tangent such that $P$ is on $BI$ and $Q$ is on $AI$. We know that $AD:CD = CD:BD = 12:35$.

Since the ratios between corresponding lengths of two similar diagrams are equal, we can let $AD = 144, CD = 420$ and $BD = 1225$. Hence $AQ = 144, BP = 1225, AB = 1369$ and the radius $r = OD = 210$.

Since we have $\tan OAB = \frac {35}{24}$ and $\tan OBA = \frac{6}{35}$ , we have $\sin {(OAB + OBA)} = \frac {1369}{\sqrt {(1801*1261)}},$$\cos {(OAB + OBA)} = \frac {630}{\sqrt {(1801*1261)}}$.

Hence $\sin I = \sin {(2OAB + 2OBA)} = \frac {2*1369*630}{1801*1261}$. let $IP = IQ = x$ , then we have Area$(IBC)$ = $(2x + 1225*2 + 144*2)*\frac {210}{2}$ = $(x + 144)(x + 1225)* \sin {\frac {I}{2}}$. Then we get $x + 1369 = \frac {3*1369*(x + 144)(x + 1225)}{1801*1261}$.

Now the equation looks very complex but we can take a guess here. Assume that $x$ is a rational number (If it's not then the answer to the problem would be irrational which can't be in the form of $\frac {m}{n}$) that can be expressed as $\frac {a}{b}$ such that $(a,b) = 1$. Look at both sides; we can know that $a$ has to be a multiple of $1369$ and not of $3$ and it's reasonable to think that $b$ is divisible by $3$ so that we can cancel out the $3$ on the right side of the equation.

Let's see if $x = \frac {1369}{3}$ fits. Since $\frac {1369}{3} + 1369 = \frac {4*1369}{3}$, and $\frac {3*1369*(x + 144)(x + 1225)}{1801*1261} = \frac {3*1369* \frac {1801}{3} * \frac {1261*4}{3}} {1801*1261} = \frac {4*1369}{3}$. Amazingly it fits!

Since we know that $3*1369*144*1225 - 1369*1801*1261 < 0$, the other solution of this equation is negative which can be ignored. Hence $x = 1369/3$.

Hence the perimeter is $1225*2 + 144*2 + \frac {1369}{3} *2 = 1369* \frac {8}{3}$, and $BC$ is $1369$. Hence $\frac {m}{n} = \frac {8}{3}$, $m + n = 11$.

## Solution 2

As in Solution $1$, let $P$ and $Q$ be the intersections of $\omega$ with $BI$ and $AI$ respectively.

First, by pythagorean theorem, $AB = \sqrt{12^2+35^2} = 37$. Now the area of $ABC$ is $1/2*12*35 = 1/2*37*CD$, so $CD=\frac{420}{37}$ and the inradius of $\triangle ABI$ is $r=\frac{210}{37}$.

Now from $\triangle CDB \sim \triangle ACB$ we find that $\frac{BC}{BD} = \frac{AB}{BC}$ so $BD = BC^2/AB = 35^2/37$ and similarly, $AD = 12^2/37$.

Note $IP=IQ=x$, $BP=BD$, and $AQ=AD$. So we have $AI = 144/37+x$, $BI = 1225/37+x$. Now we can compute the area of $\triangle ABI$ in two ways: by heron's formula and by inradius times semiperimeter, which yields

$rs=210/37(37+x) = \sqrt{(37+x)(37-144/37)(37-1225/37)x}$

$210/37(37+x) = 12*35/37 \sqrt{x(37+x)}$

$37+x = 2 \sqrt{x(x+37)}$

$x^2+74x+1369 = 4x^2 + 148x$

$3x^2 + 74x - 1369 = 0$

The quadratic formula now yields $x=37/3$. Plugging this back in, the perimeter of $ABI$ is $2s=2(37+x)=2(37+37/3) = 37(8/3)$ so the ratio of the perimeter to $AB$ is $8/3$ and our answer is $8+3=\boxed{011}$

## Solution 3

As in Solution $2$, let $P$ and $Q$ be the intersections of $\omega$ with $BI$ and $AI$ respectively.

Recall that the distance from a point outside a circle to that circle is the same along both tangent lines to the circle drawn from the point.

Recall also that the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right-angle triangle is the geometric mean of the two segments into which it cuts the hypotenuse.

Let $x = \overline{AD} = \overline{AQ}$. Let $y = \overline{BD} = \overline{BP}$. Let $z = \overline{PI} = \overline{QI}$. The semi-perimeter of $ABI$ is $x + y + z$. Since the lengths of the sides of $ABI$ are $x + y$, $y + z$ and $x + z$, the square of its area by Heron's formula is $(x+y+z)xyz$.

The radius $r$ of $\omega$ is $\overline{CD}/2$. Therefore $r^2 = xy/4$. As $\omega$ is the in-circle of $ABI$, the area of $ABI$ is also $r(x+y+z)$, and so the square area is $r^2(x+y+z)^2$.

Therefore $$(x+y+z)xyz = r^2(x+y+z)^2 = \frac{xy(x+y+z)^2}{4}$$ Dividing both sides by $xy(x+y+z)/4$ we get: $$4z = (x+y+z),$$ and so $z = (x+y)/3$. The semi-perimeter of $ABI$ is therefore $\frac{4}{3}(x+y)$ and the whole perimeter is $\frac{8}{3}(x+y)$. Now $x + y = \overline{AB}$, so the ratio of the perimeter of $ABI$ to the hypotenuse $\overline{AB}$ is $8/3$ and our answer is $8+3=\boxed{011}$

## Solution 4

$[asy] size(300); defaultpen(linewidth(0.4)+fontsize(10)); pen s = linewidth(0.8)+fontsize(8); pair A,B,C,D,O,X; C=origin; A=(0,12); B=(18,0); D=foot(C,A,B); O = (C+D)/2; real r = length(D-C)/2; path c = CR(O, r); pair OA = (O+A)/2; real rA = length(A-O)/2; pair Ap = OP(CR(OA,rA), c); pair OB = (O+B)/2; real rB = length(B-O)/2; pair Bp = OP(CR(OB,rB), c); X=extension(A,Ap,B,Bp); draw(A--B--C--A, s); draw(C--D^^B--O--A^^Ap--O--X, gray+0.25); draw(c^^A--X--B); dot("A", A, N); dot("B", B, SE); dot("C", C, SW); dot("D", D, 0.2*(D-C)); dot("I", X, 0.5*(X-C)); dot("P", Ap, 0.3*(Ap-O)); dot("Q", Bp, 0.3*(Bp-O)); dot("O", O, W); label("\beta",B,10*dir(157)); label("\alpha",A,5*dir(-55)); label("\theta",X,5*dir(55)); [/asy]$ Let $AP=AD=x$, let $BQ=BD=y$, and let $IP=IQ=z$. Let $OD=r$. We find $AB=37$. Let $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\theta$ be the angles $OAD$, $OBD$, and $OPI$ respectively. Then $\alpha + \beta + \theta = 90^\circ$, so $$\theta = 90^\circ - (\alpha+\beta).$$ The perimeter of $\triangle ABI$ is $2(x+y+z)=2(37+z)$. The desired ratio is then $$\rho = 2\left(1+\frac z{37}\right)$$ We need to find $z$. In $\triangle OPI$, $z=r\cot\theta = r\tan (\alpha+\beta)$. We get $$\tan\alpha = \frac{OD}{AD} = \frac 12 \frac{CD}{AD} = \frac 12 \tan A = \frac 12 \frac{BC}{AC} = \frac{35}{24}.$$ Similarly, $\tan\beta = \tfrac 6{35}$. Then $$z = r\cdot \tan (\alpha+\beta) = r\cdot \frac{\tan\alpha + \tan\beta}{1-\tan\alpha\tan\beta}= \frac{37^2\cdot r}{18\cdot 35}$$ Computing $[ABC]$ in two ways we get $CD = \tfrac{12\cdot 35}{37}$, so $r=\tfrac{6\cdot 35}{37}$. Using this value of $r$ we get $z=\tfrac {37}3$. Thus $$\rho = 2\left(1+\frac 1{3}\right) = \frac 8{3},$$ and $8+3=\boxed{011}$.

## Solution 5

This solution is not a real solution and is solving the problem with a ruler and compass.

Draw $AC = 4.8, BC = 14, AB = 14.8$. Then, drawing the tangents and intersecting them, we get that $IA$ is around $6.55$ and $IB$ is around $18.1$. We then find the ratio to be around $\frac{39.45}{14.8}$. Using long division, we find that this ratio is approximately 2.666, which you should recognize as $\frac{8}{3}$. Since this seems reasonable, we find that the answer is $\boxed{11}$ ~ilp

## Solution 6

Denoting three tangents has length $h_1,h_2,h_3$ while $h_1,h_3$ lies on $AB$ with $h_1>h_3$.The area of $ABC$ is $1/2*12*35 = 1/2*37*CD$, so $CD=\frac{420}{37}$ and the inradius of $\triangle ABI$ is $r=\frac{210}{37}$.As we know that the diameter of the circle is the height of $\triangle ACB$ from $C$ to $AB$. Assume that $\tan\alpha=\frac{h_1}{r}$ and $\tan\beta=\frac{h_3}{r}$ and $\tan\omega=\frac{h_2}{r}$. But we know that $\tan(\alpha+\beta)=-\tan(180-\alpha-\beta)=-\tan\omega$ According to the basic computation, we can get that $\tan(\alpha)=\frac{35}{6}$; $\tan(\beta)=\frac{24}{35}$ So we know that $\tan(\omega)=\frac{1369}{630}$ according to the tangent addition formula. Hence, it is not hard to find that the length of $h_2$ is $\frac{37}{3}$. According to basic addition and division, we get the answer is $\frac{8}{3}$ which leads to $8+3=\boxed{11}$ ~bluesoul