2013 AIME I Problems/Problem 12

Problem

Let $\bigtriangleup PQR$ be a triangle with $\angle P = 75^\circ$ and $\angle Q = 60^\circ$. A regular hexagon $ABCDEF$ with side length 1 is drawn inside $\triangle PQR$ so that side $\overline{AB}$ lies on $\overline{PQ}$, side $\overline{CD}$ lies on $\overline{QR}$, and one of the remaining vertices lies on $\overline{RP}$. There are positive integers $a, b, c,$ and $d$ such that the area of $\triangle PQR$ can be expressed in the form $\frac{a+b\sqrt{c}}{d}$, where $a$ and $d$ are relatively prime, and c is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $a+b+c+d$.

Solution 1

First, find that $\angle R = 45^\circ$. Draw $ABCDEF$. Now draw $\bigtriangleup PQR$ around $ABCDEF$ such that $Q$ is adjacent to $C$ and $D$. The height of $ABCDEF$ is $\sqrt{3}$, so the length of base $QR$ is $2+\sqrt{3}$. Let the equation of $\overline{RP}$ be $y = x$. Then, the equation of $\overline{PQ}$ is $y = -\sqrt{3} (x - (2+\sqrt{3})) \to y = -x\sqrt{3} + 2\sqrt{3} + 3$. Solving the two equations gives $y = x = \frac{\sqrt{3} + 3}{2}$. The area of $\bigtriangleup PQR$ is $\frac{1}{2} * (2 + \sqrt{3}) * \frac{\sqrt{3} + 3}{2} = \frac{5\sqrt{3} + 9}{4}$. $a + b + c + d = 9 + 5 + 3 + 4 = \boxed{021}$


Note (different ending): When you have the length of the base $QR$, you don't need to find the equations of the lines $QP$ and $PR$. Instead, make an altitude from $P$ to $QR$, and call the foot $M$. $QPM$ is a $45, 45, 90$ triangle and $PMR$ is a $30, 60, 90$ triangle. And, they both share $PM$. So, we can set $RM$ as $x$, so $PM$ is $x\sqrt{3}$. Since $QPM$ is a $45, 45, 90$ triangle, $PM=MQ=x\sqrt{3}$. The base $QR$ can be written as $QM+MR=x+x\sqrt{3}=2+\sqrt{3}$. Solve this equation and $x=\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}$ and $PM=x\sqrt{3}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+3}{2}$. Multiply this by base $QR$ and divide by $2$ to get the area of triangle $PQR$ which is $\frac{9+5\sqrt{3}}{4}$. So, $a + b + c + d = 9 + 5 + 3 + 4 = \boxed{021}$ -hwan

Solution 2 (Cartesian Variation)

Use coordinates. Call $Q$ the origin and $QP$ be on the x-axis. It is easy to see that $F$ is the vertex on $RP$. After labeling coordinates (noting additionally that $QBC$ is an equilateral triangle), we see that the area is $QP$ times $0.5$ times the coordinate of $R$. Draw a perpendicular of $F$, call it $H$, and note that $QP = 1 + \sqrt{3}$ after using the trig functions for $75$ degrees.

Now, get the lines for $QR$ and $RP$: $y=\sqrt{3}x$ and $y=-(2+\sqrt{3})x + (5+\sqrt{3})$, whereupon we get the ordinate of $R$ to be $\frac{3+2\sqrt{3}}{2}$, and the area is $\frac{5\sqrt{3} + 9}{4}$, so our answer is $\boxed{021}$.

Solution 3 (Trig)

Angle chasing yields that both triangles $PAF$ and $PQR$ are $75$-$60$-$45$ triangles. First look at triangle $PAF$. Using Law of Sines, we find:

$\frac{\frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4}}{1} = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}}{PA}$

Simplifying, we find $PA = \sqrt{3} - 1$. Since $\angle{Q} = 60^\circ$, WLOG assume triangle $BQC$ is equilateral, so $BQ = 1$. So $PQ = \sqrt{3} + 1$.

Apply Law of Sines again,

$\frac{\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}}{\sqrt{3} + 1} = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}{PR}$

Simplifying, we find $PR = \frac{\sqrt{6}}{2} \cdot (1 + \sqrt{3})$.

$[PQR] = \frac{1}{2} \cdot PQ \cdot PR \cdot \sin 75^\circ$.

Evaluating and reducing, we get $\frac{9 + 5\sqrt{3}}{4},$thus the answer is $\boxed{021}$

Solution 4 (Special Triangles)

Better photo for 2013 aime i problem 12.png

As we can see, the $75^\circ$ angle of $\angle P$ can be split into a $45^\circ$ angle and a $30^\circ$ angle. This allows us to drop an altitude from point $P$ for $\triangle RPQ$ which intersects $\overline{AF}$ at point $a$ and $\overline{RQ}$ at point $b$. The main idea of our solution is to obtain enough sides of $\triangle RPQ$ that we are able to directly figure out its area (specifically by figuring out side $\overline{RQ}$ and $\overline{Pb}$).

We first begin by figuring out the length of $\overline{PQ}$. This can be easily done, since $\overline{AB}$ is simply $1$ (given in the problem) and $\overline{BQ}=1$ because $\triangle BCQ$ is an equilateral after some simple angle calculations. Now we need to find $\overline{PA}$. This is when we bring in some simple algebra.

PREPARATION: $\overline{aF}=\overline{Pa}$ (45-45-90 Right Triangle)

$\overline{Pa}=\sqrt{3}\overline{Aa}$ (30-60-90 Right Triangle)

$\overline{PA}=2\overline{Aa}$

$\overline{Aa}+\overline{aF}=1$

SOLVING: $\overline{Aa}+\sqrt{3}\overline{aF}=1$

so $\overline{Aa}(\sqrt{3}+1)=1$

$\overline{Aa}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}+1}=\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{2}$

Finally, $\overline{PA}=2\cdot\frac{\sqrt{3}-1}{2}=\sqrt{3}-1$


Now, we can finally get the length of $\overline{PQ}$ by adding up $\overline{PA}+\overline{AB}+\overline{BQ}$, which is simply $(\sqrt{3}-1)+(1)+(1)=\sqrt{3}+1$


To get $\overline{RQ}$ and $\overline{Pb}$, we first work bit by bit.

$\overline{Qb}=\frac{\overline{PQ}}{2}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}$ (30-60-90 Right Triangle)

$\overline{Pb}=\sqrt{3}\overline{Qb}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+3}{2}$ (same 30-60-90 Right Triangle)

Since $\overline{Pb}=\overline{Rb}$ because of 45-45-90 right triangles,

$\overline{Rb}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+3}{2}$ too.

Now, we can finally calculate $\overline{RQ}$, and it is $\overline{Rb}+\overline{Qb}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+3}{2}+\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}=\sqrt{3}+2$.

Finally, the area of $\triangle PRQ$ can be calculated by $\frac{1}{2}\cdot\overline{RQ}\cdot\overline{Pb}$, which is equal to $[\triangle PRQ]=\frac{1}{2} \cdot (\sqrt{3}+2) \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}+3}{2} =\frac{9+5\sqrt{3}}{4}$. So the final answer is $9+5+3+4=\fbox{021}$.

-by What do Humanitarians Eat?

Solution 5 (Trig)

2013 AIME I Problem 12.png

With some simple angle chasing we can show that $\triangle OJL$ and $\triangle MPL$ are congruent. This means we have a large equilateral triangle with side length $3$ and quadrilateral $OJQN$. We know that $[OJQN] = [\triangle NQL] - [\triangle OJL]$. Using Law of Sines and the fact that $\angle N = 45^{\circ}$ we know that $\overline{NL} = \sqrt{6}$ and the height to that side is $\frac{\sqrt{3} -1}{\sqrt{2}}$ so $[\triangle NQL] = \frac{3-\sqrt{3}}{2}$. Using an extremely similar process we can show that $\overline{OJ} = 2-\sqrt{3}$ which means the height to $\overline{LJ}$ is $\frac{2\sqrt{3}-3}{2}$. So the area of $\triangle OJL = \frac{2\sqrt{3}-3}{4}$. This means the area of quadrilateral $OJQN = \frac{3-\sqrt{3}}{2} - \frac{2\sqrt{3}-3}{4} = \frac{9-4\sqrt{3}}{4}$. So the area of our larger triangle is $\frac{9-4\sqrt{3}}{4} + \frac{9\sqrt{3}}{4} = \frac{9+5\sqrt{3}}{4}$. Therefore $9+5+3+4=\fbox{021}$.

Solution 6 (Elementary Geo)

We can find that $AF || CD || QR$. This means that the perpendicular from $P$ to $QR$ is perpendicular to $AF$ as well, so let that perpendicular intersect $AF$ at $G$, and the perpendicular intersect $QR$ at $H$. Set $AP=x$. Note that $\angle {PAG} = 60^\circ$, so $AG=\frac{x}{2}$ and $PG = GF = \frac{x\sqrt3}{2}$. Also, $1=AF=AG+GF=\frac{x}{2} + \frac{x\sqrt{3}}{2}$, so $x=\sqrt{3} - 1$. It's easy to calculate the area now, because the perpendicular from $P$ to $QR$ splits $\triangle{PQR}$ into a $30-60-90$ (PHQ) and a $45-45-90$ (PHR). From these triangles' ratios, it should follow that $QH=\frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2}, PH=HR=\frac{\sqrt{3}+3}{2}$, so the area is $\frac{1}{2} * PH * QR = \frac{1}{2} * PH * (QH + HR) = \frac{1}{2} * \frac{\sqrt{3} + 3}{2} * \frac{2\sqrt{3}+4}{2} = \boxed{\frac{9+5\sqrt{3}}{4}}$. $9+5+3+4=021$. By Mathscienceclass

Solution 7 (Combination of 1 & 2)

We can observe that $RD=DF$ (because $\angle R$ & $\angle RFD$ are both $45^\circ$). Thus we know that $RD$ is equivalent to the height of the hexagon, which is $\sqrt3$. Now we look at triangle $\triangle AFP$ and apply the Law of Sines to it. $\frac{1}{\sin{75}}=\frac{AP}{\sin{45}}$. From here we can solve for $AP$ and get that $AP=\sqrt{3}-1$. Now we use the Sine formula for the area of a triangle with sides $RQ$, $PQ$, and $\angle {RQP}$ to get the answer. Setting $PQ=\sqrt{3}+1$ and $QR=\sqrt{3}+2$ we get the expression $\frac{(\sqrt{3}+1)(\sqrt{3}+2)(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2})}{2}$ which is $\frac{9 + 5\sqrt{3}}{4}$. Thus our final answer is $9+5+3+4=\fbox{021}$. By AwesomeLife_Math

See also

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

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