Difference between revisions of "1995 AIME Problems/Problem 9"

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Triangle <math>ABC</math> is [[isosceles triangle|isosceles]], with <math>AB=AC</math> and [[altitude]] <math>AM=11.</math>  Suppose that there is a point <math>D</math> on <math>\overline{AM}</math> with <math>AD=10</math> and <math>\angle BDC=3\angle BAC.</math>  Then the perimeter of <math>\triangle ABC</math> may be written in the form <math>a+\sqrt{b},</math> where <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are integers.  Find <math>a+b.</math>
 
Triangle <math>ABC</math> is [[isosceles triangle|isosceles]], with <math>AB=AC</math> and [[altitude]] <math>AM=11.</math>  Suppose that there is a point <math>D</math> on <math>\overline{AM}</math> with <math>AD=10</math> and <math>\angle BDC=3\angle BAC.</math>  Then the perimeter of <math>\triangle ABC</math> may be written in the form <math>a+\sqrt{b},</math> where <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are integers.  Find <math>a+b.</math>
  
[[Image:AIME_1995_Problem_9.png|center]]
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<asy>
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import graph; size(5cm); real lsf=0.5; pen dps=linewidth(0.7)+fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); pen ds=black; real xmin=-1.55,xmax=7.95,ymin=-4.41,ymax=5.3;
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draw((1,3)--(0,0)); draw((0,0)--(2,0)); draw((2,0)--(1,3)); draw((1,3)--(1,0)); draw((1,0.7)--(0,0)); draw((1,0.7)--(2,0)); label("$11$",(1,1.63),W);
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dot((1,3),ds); label("$A$",(1,3),N); dot((0,0),ds); label("$B$",(0,0),SW); dot((2,0),ds); label("$C$",(2,0),SE); dot((1,0),ds); label("$M$",(1,0),S); dot((1,0.7),ds); label("$D$",(1,0.7),NE);
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clip((xmin,ymin)--(xmin,ymax)--(xmax,ymax)--(xmax,ymin)--cycle);</asy>
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<!-- [[Image:AIME_1995_Problem_9.png|center]] -->
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==

Revision as of 23:08, 20 August 2012

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ is isosceles, with $AB=AC$ and altitude $AM=11.$ Suppose that there is a point $D$ on $\overline{AM}$ with $AD=10$ and $\angle BDC=3\angle BAC.$ Then the perimeter of $\triangle ABC$ may be written in the form $a+\sqrt{b},$ where $a$ and $b$ are integers. Find $a+b.$

[asy] import graph; size(5cm); real lsf=0.5; pen dps=linewidth(0.7)+fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); pen ds=black; real xmin=-1.55,xmax=7.95,ymin=-4.41,ymax=5.3;  draw((1,3)--(0,0)); draw((0,0)--(2,0)); draw((2,0)--(1,3)); draw((1,3)--(1,0)); draw((1,0.7)--(0,0)); draw((1,0.7)--(2,0)); label("$11$",(1,1.63),W);  dot((1,3),ds); label("$A$",(1,3),N); dot((0,0),ds); label("$B$",(0,0),SW); dot((2,0),ds); label("$C$",(2,0),SE); dot((1,0),ds); label("$M$",(1,0),S); dot((1,0.7),ds); label("$D$",(1,0.7),NE);  clip((xmin,ymin)--(xmin,ymax)--(xmax,ymax)--(xmax,ymin)--cycle);[/asy]

Solution

Let $x=\angle CAM$, so $3x=\angle CDM$. Then, $\frac{\tan 3x}{\tan x}=\frac{CM/1}{CM/11}=11$. Expanding $\tan 3x$ using the angle sum identity gives \[\tan 3x=\tan(2x+x)=\frac{3\tan x-\tan^3x}{1-3\tan^2x}.\] Thus, $\frac{3-\tan^2x}{1-3\tan^2x}=11$. Solving, we get $\tan x= \frac 12$. Hence, $CM=\frac{11}2$ and $AC= \frac{11\sqrt{5}}2$ by the Pythagorean Theorem. The total perimeter is $2(AC + CM) = \sqrt{605}+11$. The answer is thus $a+b=\boxed{616}$.

See also

1995 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions