Difference between revisions of "2001 AIME I Problems/Problem 7"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
Triangle <math>ABC</math> has <math>AB=21</math>, <math>AC=22</math> and <math>BC=20</math>. Points <math>D</math> and <math>E</math> are located on <math>\overline{AB}</math> and <math>\overline{AC}</math>, respectively, such that <math>\overline{DE}</math> is parallel to <math>\overline{BC}</math> and contains the center of the inscribed circle of triangle <math>ABC</math>. Then <math>DE=m/n</math>, where <math>m</math> and <math>n</math> are relatively prime positive integers. Find <math>m+n</math>.
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[[Triangle]] <math>ABC</math> has <math>AB=21</math>, <math>AC=22</math> and <math>BC=20</math>. Points <math>D</math> and <math>E</math> are located on <math>\overline{AB}</math> and <math>\overline{AC}</math>, respectively, such that <math>\overline{DE}</math> is [[parallel]] to <math>\overline{BC}</math> and contains the center of the [[incircle|inscribed circle]] of triangle <math>ABC</math>. Then <math>DE=m/n</math>, where <math>m</math> and <math>n</math> are relatively prime positive integers. Find <math>m+n</math>.
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
By Heron's formula, the area of the whole triangle is <math>21\sqrt{1311}/2</math>. Since the area of a triangle is the inradius times the semiperimeter, the inradius is <math>\sqrt{1311}/6</math>. The ratio of the heights of triangles ADE and ABC is equal to the ratio between sides DE and BC. Thus, we have <math>(21\sqrt{1311}/40-\sqrt{1311}/6)/(21\sqrt{1311}/40)=x/20</math>. Solving for x gives x=<math>860/63</math>, so the answer is <math>923</math>.
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<center><asy>
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pointpen = black; pathpen = black+linewidth(0.7);
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pair B=(0,0), C=(20,0), A=IP(CR(B,21),CR(C,22)), I=incenter(A,B,C), D=IP((0,I.y)--(20,I.y),A--B), E=IP((0,I.y)--(20,I.y),A--C);
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D(MP("A",A,N)--MP("B",B)--MP("C",C)--cycle); D(incircle(A,B,C)); D(MP("I",I,NE)); D(MP("E",E,NE)--MP("D",D,NW));
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D((A.x,0)--A,linetype("4 4")+linewidth(0.7)); D((I.x,0)--I,linetype("4 4")+linewidth(0.7)); D(rightanglemark(B,(A.x,0),A,30));
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MP("20",(B+C)/2); MP("21",(A+B)/2,NW); MP("22",(A+C)/2,NE);
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</asy></center>
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The [[semiperimeter]] of <math>ABC</math> is <math>s = \frac{20 + 21 + 22}{2} = \frac{63}{2}</math>. By [[Heron's formula]], the area of the whole triangle is <math>A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} = \frac{21\sqrt{1311}}2</math>. Using the formula <math>A = rs</math>, we find that the [[inradius]] is <math>r = \frac{A}{s} = \frac{\sqrt{1311}}6</math>. Since <math>\triangle ADE \sim \triangle ABC</math>, the ratio of the heights of triangles <math>ADE</math> and <math>ABC</math> is equal to the ratio between sides <math>DE</math> and <math>BC</math>. From <math>A=\frac{1}{2}bh</math>, we find <math>h_{ABC} = \frac{21\sqrt{1311}}{40}</math>. Thus, we have  
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<center><math>\frac{h_{ADE}}{h_{ABC}} = \frac{h_{ABC}-r}{h_{ABC}} = \frac{21\sqrt{1311}/40-\sqrt{1311}/6}{21\sqrt{1311}/40}=\frac{DE}{20}.</math></center> Solving for <math>DE</math> gives <math>DE=\frac{860}{63},</math> so the answer is <math>m+n=\boxed{923}</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AIME box|year=2001|n=I|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2001|n=I|num-b=6|num-a=8}}
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[[Category:Intermediate Geometry Problems]]

Revision as of 21:02, 11 June 2008

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ has $AB=21$, $AC=22$ and $BC=20$. Points $D$ and $E$ are located on $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{AC}$, respectively, such that $\overline{DE}$ is parallel to $\overline{BC}$ and contains the center of the inscribed circle of triangle $ABC$. Then $DE=m/n$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m+n$.

Solution

[asy] pointpen = black; pathpen = black+linewidth(0.7); pair B=(0,0), C=(20,0), A=IP(CR(B,21),CR(C,22)), I=incenter(A,B,C), D=IP((0,I.y)--(20,I.y),A--B), E=IP((0,I.y)--(20,I.y),A--C); D(MP("A",A,N)--MP("B",B)--MP("C",C)--cycle); D(incircle(A,B,C)); D(MP("I",I,NE)); D(MP("E",E,NE)--MP("D",D,NW)); D((A.x,0)--A,linetype("4 4")+linewidth(0.7)); D((I.x,0)--I,linetype("4 4")+linewidth(0.7)); D(rightanglemark(B,(A.x,0),A,30)); MP("20",(B+C)/2); MP("21",(A+B)/2,NW); MP("22",(A+C)/2,NE); [/asy]

The semiperimeter of $ABC$ is $s = \frac{20 + 21 + 22}{2} = \frac{63}{2}$. By Heron's formula, the area of the whole triangle is $A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} = \frac{21\sqrt{1311}}2$. Using the formula $A = rs$, we find that the inradius is $r = \frac{A}{s} = \frac{\sqrt{1311}}6$. Since $\triangle ADE \sim \triangle ABC$, the ratio of the heights of triangles $ADE$ and $ABC$ is equal to the ratio between sides $DE$ and $BC$. From $A=\frac{1}{2}bh$, we find $h_{ABC} = \frac{21\sqrt{1311}}{40}$. Thus, we have

$\frac{h_{ADE}}{h_{ABC}} = \frac{h_{ABC}-r}{h_{ABC}} = \frac{21\sqrt{1311}/40-\sqrt{1311}/6}{21\sqrt{1311}/40}=\frac{DE}{20}.$

Solving for $DE$ gives $DE=\frac{860}{63},$ so the answer is $m+n=\boxed{923}$.

See also

2001 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 6
Followed by
Problem 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions