Difference between revisions of "2017 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 16"

(Solution)
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\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{11}{12} </math>
 
\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{11}{12} </math>
  
==Solution==
+
==Solution 1==
 
Connect the centers of the tangent circles! (call the center of the large circle <math>C</math>)
 
Connect the centers of the tangent circles! (call the center of the large circle <math>C</math>)
  
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NOTICE to proficient editors: please label the points on the diagrams, thanks!
 
NOTICE to proficient editors: please label the points on the diagrams, thanks!
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 +
==Solution 2==
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 +
<asy>
 +
size(5cm);
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draw(arc((0,0),3,0,180));
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draw(arc((2,0),1,0,180));
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draw(arc((-1,0),2,0,180));
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draw((-3,0)--(3,0));
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pair P = (9/7,12/7);
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draw(circle(P,6/7));
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dot((-1,0)); dot((2,0)); dot((0,0)); dot(P);
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draw((-1,0)--P);
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draw((2,0)--P);
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draw((0,0)--(9/5,12/5));
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</asy>
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 +
Like the solution above, connecting the centers of the circles results in triangle <math>\Delta ABP</math> with cevian <math>PC</math>. The two triangles <math>\Delta APC</math> and <math>\Delta ABP</math> share angle <math>A</math>, which means we can use Law of Cosines to set up a system of 2 equations that solve for <math>r</math> respectively:
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 +
<math>(2 + r)^2 + 1^2 - 2(2 + r)(1)cosA = (3 - r)^2</math> (notice that the diameter of the largest semicircle is 6, so its radius is 3 and <math>PC</math> is 3 - r)
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 +
<math>(2 + r)^2 + 3^2 - 2(2 + r)(3)cosA = (r+1)^2</math>
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We can eliminate the extra variable of angle <math>A</math> by multiplying the first equation by 3 and subtracting the second from it. Then, expand to find <math>r</math>:
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<math>2(r^2 + 4r + 4) - 6 = 2r^2 - 20r + 26</math>
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<math>8r + 2 = -20r + 26</math>
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<math>28r = 24</math>, so <math>r</math> = <math>6/7</math> {\textbf{(B)}}
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2017|ab=A|num-b=15|num-a=17}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2017|ab=A|num-b=15|num-a=17}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 20:12, 8 February 2017

Problem

In the figure below, semicircles with centers at $A$ and $B$ and with radii 2 and 1, respectively, are drawn in the interior of, and sharing bases with, a semicircle with diameter $JK$. The two smaller semicircles are externally tangent to each other and internally tangent to the largest semicircle. A circle centered at $P$ is drawn externally tangent to the two smaller semicircles and internally tangent to the largest semicircle. What is the radius of the circle centered at $P$?

[asy] size(5cm); draw(arc((0,0),3,0,180)); draw(arc((2,0),1,0,180)); draw(arc((-1,0),2,0,180)); draw((-3,0)--(3,0)); pair P = (-1,0)+(2+6/7)*dir(36.86989); draw(circle(P,6/7)); dot((-1,0)); dot((2,0)); dot(P); [/asy]

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{3}{4} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{6}{7} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{1}{2}\sqrt{3} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{5}{8}\sqrt{2} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{11}{12}$

Solution 1

Connect the centers of the tangent circles! (call the center of the large circle $C$)

[asy] size(5cm); draw(arc((0,0),3,0,180)); draw(arc((2,0),1,0,180)); draw(arc((-1,0),2,0,180)); draw((-3,0)--(3,0)); pair P = (9/7,12/7); draw(circle(P,6/7)); dot((-1,0)); dot((2,0)); dot((0,0)); dot(P); draw((-1,0)--P); draw((2,0)--P); draw((0,0)--(9/5,12/5)); [/asy]

Notice that we don't even need the circles anymore; thus, draw triangle $\Delta ABP$ with cevian $PC$:

[asy] size(5cm); draw((-1,0)--(2,0)); pair P = (9/7,12/7); dot((-1,0)); dot((2,0)); dot((0,0)); dot(P); draw((-1,0)--P); draw((2,0)--P); draw((0,0)--P); [/asy]

and use Stewart's Theorem:

\[AB \cdot AC \cdot BC + AB \cdot {CP}^2 = AC \cdot {BP}^2 + BC \cdot {AP}^2\]

From what we learned from the tangent circles, we have $AB = 3$, $AC = 1$, $BC = 2$, $AP = 2 + r$, $BP = 1 + r$, and $CP = 3 - r$, where $r$ is the radius of the circle centered at $P$ that we seek.

Thus:

\[3 \cdot 1 \cdot 2 + 3 {\left(3-r\right)}^2 = 1 {\left(1+r\right)}^2 + 2 {\left(2+r\right)}^2\] \[6 + 3\left(9 - 6r + r^2\right) = \left(1 + 2r + r^2\right) + 2\left(4 + 4r + r^2\right)\] \[33 - 18r + 3r^2 = 9 + 10r + 3r^2\] \[28r = 24\] \[r = \boxed{\frac{6}{7}} \to \boxed{\textbf{(B)}}\]

NOTICE to proficient editors: please label the points on the diagrams, thanks!

Solution 2

[asy] size(5cm); draw(arc((0,0),3,0,180)); draw(arc((2,0),1,0,180)); draw(arc((-1,0),2,0,180)); draw((-3,0)--(3,0)); pair P = (9/7,12/7); draw(circle(P,6/7)); dot((-1,0)); dot((2,0)); dot((0,0)); dot(P); draw((-1,0)--P); draw((2,0)--P); draw((0,0)--(9/5,12/5)); [/asy]

Like the solution above, connecting the centers of the circles results in triangle $\Delta ABP$ with cevian $PC$. The two triangles $\Delta APC$ and $\Delta ABP$ share angle $A$, which means we can use Law of Cosines to set up a system of 2 equations that solve for $r$ respectively:

$(2 + r)^2 + 1^2 - 2(2 + r)(1)cosA = (3 - r)^2$ (notice that the diameter of the largest semicircle is 6, so its radius is 3 and $PC$ is 3 - r)

$(2 + r)^2 + 3^2 - 2(2 + r)(3)cosA = (r+1)^2$

We can eliminate the extra variable of angle $A$ by multiplying the first equation by 3 and subtracting the second from it. Then, expand to find $r$:

$2(r^2 + 4r + 4) - 6 = 2r^2 - 20r + 26$ $8r + 2 = -20r + 26$ $28r = 24$, so $r$ = $6/7$ {\textbf{(B)}}

See Also

2017 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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