Difference between revisions of "2022 AIME I Problems/Problem 8"

(Solution 1)
(Solution 1)
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Since the diameter of the circle is the height of this triangle, the height of this triangle is <math>36</math>. We can use inradius or equilateral triangle properties to get the inradius of this triangle is <math>12</math> (The incenter is also a centroid in an equilateral triangle, and the distance from a side to the centroid is a third of the height). Therefore, the radius of each of the smaller circles is <math>12</math>.
 
Since the diameter of the circle is the height of this triangle, the height of this triangle is <math>36</math>. We can use inradius or equilateral triangle properties to get the inradius of this triangle is <math>12</math> (The incenter is also a centroid in an equilateral triangle, and the distance from a side to the centroid is a third of the height). Therefore, the radius of each of the smaller circles is <math>12</math>.
  
Let <math>O</math> be the center of the largest circle. We will set up a coordinate system with <math>O</math> as the origin. The center of <math>\omega_A</math> will be at <math>(0,-6)</math> because it is directly beneath <math>O</math> and is the length of the larger radius minus the smaller radius, or <math>18-12 = 6</math>. By rotating this point <math>120^{\circ}</math> around <math>O</math>, we get the center of <math>\omega_B</math>. This means that the magnitude of vector <math>\vec O\omega_B</math> is <math>6</math> and is at a <math>30</math> degree angle from the horizontal. Therefore, the coordinates of this point are <math>(3\sqrt{3},3)</math> and by symmetry the coordinates of the center of <math>\omega_C</math> is <math>(-3\sqrt{3},3)</math>.
+
Let <math>O</math> be the center of the largest circle. We will set up a coordinate system with <math>O</math> as the origin. The center of <math>\omega_A</math> will be at <math>(0,-6)</math> because it is directly beneath <math>O</math> and is the length of the larger radius minus the smaller radius, or <math>18-12 = 6</math>. By rotating this point <math>120^{\circ}</math> around <math>O</math>, we get the center of <math>\omega_B</math>. This means that the magnitude of vector <math>\vec{O\omega_B}</math> is <math>6</math> and is at a <math>30</math> degree angle from the horizontal. Therefore, the coordinates of this point are <math>(3\sqrt{3},3)</math> and by symmetry the coordinates of the center of <math>\omega_C</math> is <math>(-3\sqrt{3},3)</math>.
  
 
==Solution 2==
 
==Solution 2==

Revision as of 18:46, 18 February 2022

Problem

Equilateral triangle $\triangle ABC$ is inscribed in circle $\omega$ with radius $18.$ Circle $\omega_A$ is tangent to sides $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{AC}$ and is internally tangent to $\omega$. Circles $\omega_B$ and $\omega_C$ are defined analogously. Circles $\omega_A$, $\omega_B$, and $\omega_C$ meet in six points$-$two points for each pair of circles. The three intersection points closest to the vertices of $\triangle ABC$ are the vertices of a large equilateral triangle in the interior of $\triangle ABC$, and the other three intersection points are the vertices of a smaller equilateral triangle in the interior of $\triangle ABC$. The side length of the smaller equilateral triangle can be written as $\sqrt{a}-\sqrt{b}$, where $a$ and $b$ are positive integers. Find $a+b$.

Diagram

[asy] unitsize(0.3cm); draw(circle((0,0),18)); pair A = (9 * sqrt(3), -9); pair B = (-9 * sqrt(3), -9); pair C = (0,18); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(circle((0,-6),12), gray); draw(circle((3*sqrt(3),3),12), gray); draw(circle((-3*sqrt(3),3),12), gray);  pair X = (0, 3-sqrt(117)); pair Y = ( (sqrt(351)-sqrt(27))/2, (sqrt(117)-3)/2 ); pair Z = ( (sqrt(27) - sqrt(351))/2, (sqrt(117)-3)/2 ); dot(X); dot(Y); dot(Z);  draw(X--Y--Z--cycle, dashed); [/asy]

Solution 1

We can extend $AB$ and $AC$ to $B'$ and $C'$ respectively such that circle $\omega_A$ is the incircle of $\triangle AB'C'$.

[asy] unitsize(0.3cm); draw(circle((0,0),18)); pair C = (9 * sqrt(3), -9); pair B = (-9 * sqrt(3), -9); pair B2 = (-12 * sqrt(3), -18); pair C2 = (12 * sqrt(3), -18);  pair A = (0,18); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(circle((0,-6),12), gray); draw(circle((3*sqrt(3),3),12), gray); draw(circle((-3*sqrt(3),3),12), gray);  draw(B--B2,dashed); draw(C--C2,dashed); draw(B2--C2,dashed);  dot(B2); dot(C2);  pair X = (0, 3-sqrt(117)); pair Y = ( (sqrt(351)-sqrt(27))/2, (sqrt(117)-3)/2 ); pair Z = ( (sqrt(27) - sqrt(351))/2, (sqrt(117)-3)/2 ); dot(X); dot(Y); dot(Z);  label("$A$",A,N); label("$B$",B,W); label("$C$",C,E); label("$B'$",B2,W); label("$C'$",C2,E); label("$X$",X,S); label("$Y$",Y,E); label("$Z$",Z,W);   draw(X--Y--Z--cycle, dashed); [/asy]


Since the diameter of the circle is the height of this triangle, the height of this triangle is $36$. We can use inradius or equilateral triangle properties to get the inradius of this triangle is $12$ (The incenter is also a centroid in an equilateral triangle, and the distance from a side to the centroid is a third of the height). Therefore, the radius of each of the smaller circles is $12$.

Let $O$ be the center of the largest circle. We will set up a coordinate system with $O$ as the origin. The center of $\omega_A$ will be at $(0,-6)$ because it is directly beneath $O$ and is the length of the larger radius minus the smaller radius, or $18-12 = 6$. By rotating this point $120^{\circ}$ around $O$, we get the center of $\omega_B$. This means that the magnitude of vector $\vec{O\omega_B}$ is $6$ and is at a $30$ degree angle from the horizontal. Therefore, the coordinates of this point are $(3\sqrt{3},3)$ and by symmetry the coordinates of the center of $\omega_C$ is $(-3\sqrt{3},3)$.

Solution 2

Let bottom left point as the origin, the radius of each circle is $36/3=12$, note that three centers for circles are $(9\sqrt{3},3),(12\sqrt{3},12),(6\sqrt{3},12)$

It is not hard to find that one intersection point lies on $\frac{\sqrt{3}x}{3}$ since the intersection must lie on the angle bisector of the bigger triangle, plug it into equation $(x-9\sqrt{3})^2+(\frac{\sqrt{3}x}{3}-3)^2=12^2$, getting that $x=\frac{15\sqrt{3}+3\sqrt{39}}{2}$, the length is $2*(\frac{15\sqrt{3}+3\sqrt{39}-18\sqrt{3}}{2}=3\sqrt{39}-3\sqrt{3}$, leads to the answer $378$

~bluesoul

See Also

2022 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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