Difference between revisions of "2018 AIME II Problems/Problem 7"
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− | For each <math>k</math> between <math>2</math> and <math>2450</math>, the area of the trapezoid with <math>\overline{P_kQ_k}</math> as its bottom base is the difference between the areas of two triangles, both similar to <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>. Let <math>d_k</math> be the length of segment <math>\overline{P_kQ_k}</math>. The area of the trapezoid with bases <math>\overline{P_{k-1}Q_{k-1}}</math> and <math>P_kQ_k</math> is <math>(\frac{d_k}{5\sqrt{3}})^2 - (\frac{d_{k-1}}{5\sqrt{3}})^2 = \frac{d_k^2-d_{k-1}^2}{75}</math> times the area of <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>. (This logic also applies to the topmost triangle if we notice that <math>d_0 = 0</math>.) However, we also know that the area of each shape is <math>\frac{1}{2450}</math> times the area of <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>. We then have <math>\frac{d_k^2-d_{k-1}^2}{75} = \frac{1}{2450}</math>. Simplifying, <math>d_k^2-d_{k-1}^2 = \frac{3}{98}</math>. However, we know that <math>d_0^2 = 0</math>, so <math>d_1^2 = \frac{3}{98}</math>, and in general, <math>d_k^2 = \frac{3k}{98}</math> and <math>d_k = \frac{\sqrt{\frac{3k}{2}}}{7}</math>. The smallest <math>k</math> that gives a rational <math>d_k</math> is <math>6</math>, so <math>d_k</math> is rational if and only if <math>k = 6n^2</math> for some integer <math>n</math>.The largest <math>n</math> such that <math>6n^2</math> is less than <math>2450</math> is <math>20</math>, so <math>k</math> has <math>\boxed{020}</math> possible values. | + | For each <math>k</math> between <math>2</math> and <math>2450</math>, the area of the trapezoid with <math>\overline{P_kQ_k}</math> as its bottom base is the difference between the areas of two triangles, both similar to <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>. Let <math>d_k</math> be the length of segment <math>\overline{P_kQ_k}</math>. The area of the trapezoid with bases <math>\overline{P_{k-1}Q_{k-1}}</math> and <math>P_kQ_k</math> is <math>\left(\frac{d_k}{5\sqrt{3}}\right)^2 - \left(\frac{d_{k-1}}{5\sqrt{3}}\right)^2 = \frac{d_k^2-d_{k-1}^2}{75}</math> times the area of <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>. (This logic also applies to the topmost triangle if we notice that <math>d_0 = 0</math>.) However, we also know that the area of each shape is <math>\frac{1}{2450}</math> times the area of <math>\triangle{ABC}</math>. We then have <math>\frac{d_k^2-d_{k-1}^2}{75} = \frac{1}{2450}</math>. Simplifying, <math>d_k^2-d_{k-1}^2 = \frac{3}{98}</math>. However, we know that <math>d_0^2 = 0</math>, so <math>d_1^2 = \frac{3}{98}</math>, and in general, <math>d_k^2 = \frac{3k}{98}</math> and <math>d_k = \frac{\sqrt{\frac{3k}{2}}}{7}</math>. The smallest <math>k</math> that gives a rational <math>d_k</math> is <math>6</math>, so <math>d_k</math> is rational if and only if <math>k = 6n^2</math> for some integer <math>n</math>.The largest <math>n</math> such that <math>6n^2</math> is less than <math>2450</math> is <math>20</math>, so <math>k</math> has <math>\boxed{020}</math> possible values. |
Solution by zeroman | Solution by zeroman |
Revision as of 22:30, 23 February 2019
Contents
[hide]Problem 7
Triangle has side lengths , , and . Points are on segment with between and for , and points are on segment with between and for . Furthermore, each segment , , is parallel to . The segments cut the triangle into regions, consisting of trapezoids and triangle. Each of the regions has the same area. Find the number of segments , , that have rational length.
Solution 1
For each between and , the area of the trapezoid with as its bottom base is the difference between the areas of two triangles, both similar to . Let be the length of segment . The area of the trapezoid with bases and is times the area of . (This logic also applies to the topmost triangle if we notice that .) However, we also know that the area of each shape is times the area of . We then have . Simplifying, . However, we know that , so , and in general, and . The smallest that gives a rational is , so is rational if and only if for some integer .The largest such that is less than is , so has possible values.
Solution by zeroman
Solution 2
We have that there are trapezoids and triangle of equal area, with that one triangle being . Notice, if we "stack" the trapezoids on top of the way they already are, we'd create a similar triangle, all of which are similar to , and since the trapezoids and have equal area, each of these similar triangles, have area , and so . We want the ratio of the side lengths . Since area is a 2-dimensional unit of measurement, and side lengths are 1-dimensional, the ratio is simply the square root of the areas, or , so there are solutions.
Solution by ktong
Solution 3
Let stand for , and . All triangles are similar by AAA. Let the area of be . The next trapezoid will also have an area of , as given. Therefore, has an area of . The ratio of the areas is equal to the square of the scale factor for any plane figure and its image. Therefore, , and the same if is substituted for throughout. We want the side to be rational. Setting up proportions: which shows that . In order for to be rational, must be some rational multiple of . This is achieved at . We end there as . There are 20 numbers from 1 to 20, so there are solutions.
Solution by a1b2
2018 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
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