Mock AIME I 2012 Problems/Problem 1

Problem

A circle of maximal area is inscribed in the region bounded by the graph of $y=-x^2 -7x + 12$ and the $x$-axis. The radius of this circle is $\dfrac{\sqrt{p} + q}{r}$, where $p$, $q$, and $r$ are integers and $q$ and $r$ are relatively prime. What is $p+q+r$?

Solution

Let $C$ be the circle of maximal area, and $P$ be the given parabola. By symmetry, the center of $C$ will be on the axis of $P$, at $x=-7/2$. Because $C$ is tangent to the $x$-axis, the y-coordinate of its center will be at $y=r$ (where $r$ is the radius). So $C$ has equation $(x+\frac{7}{2})^2+(y-r)^2=r^2$. Now suppose that $(a,b)$ is one of the two intersections of $C$ and $P$. Then \[(a+\frac{7}{2})^2+(b-r)^2=r^2\] \[-a^2-7a+12=b\] Adding these two equations and simplifying gives $b^2-(2r+1)b+\frac{97}{4}=0$. By symmetry, there should only be one solution for $b$, so the discriminant of this quadratic in $b$ is zero: $(2r+1)^2-97=0\Longrightarrow r=\frac{\sqrt{97}-1}{2}$. The answer is $97-1+2=\boxed{098}$.