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Difference between revisions of "1994 AIME Problems/Problem 8"

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== Solution Two ==
 
== Solution Two ==
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Using the Pythagorean theorem doesn't seem promising (you can look at the beastly numbers). It's better to use some properties of equilateral triangles. Thinking about the number <math>\sqrt{3}</math> and looking for perpendiculars gives this solution:
+
Using the Pythagorean theorem with these beastly numbers doesn't seem promising. How about properties of equilateral triangles? <math>\sqrt{3}</math> and perpendiculars inspires this solution:
  
 
First, drop a perpendicular from <math>O</math> to <math>AB</math>. Call this midpoint of <math>AB M</math>. Thus, <math>M=(\frac{a+b}{2}, 24)</math>. The vector from <math>O</math> to <math>M</math> is <math>[\frac{a+b}{2}, 24]</math>. Meanwhile from point <math>M</math> we can use a vector with <math>\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}</math> the distance; we have to switch the <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> and our displacement is <math>[8\sqrt{3}, \frac{(a+b)\sqrt{3}}{6}]</math>. (Do you see why we switched <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> due to the rotation of 90 degrees?)
 
First, drop a perpendicular from <math>O</math> to <math>AB</math>. Call this midpoint of <math>AB M</math>. Thus, <math>M=(\frac{a+b}{2}, 24)</math>. The vector from <math>O</math> to <math>M</math> is <math>[\frac{a+b}{2}, 24]</math>. Meanwhile from point <math>M</math> we can use a vector with <math>\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}</math> the distance; we have to switch the <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> and our displacement is <math>[8\sqrt{3}, \frac{(a+b)\sqrt{3}}{6}]</math>. (Do you see why we switched <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> due to the rotation of 90 degrees?)

Revision as of 16:15, 3 September 2017

Problem

The points $(0,0)\,$, $(a,11)\,$, and $(b,37)\,$ are the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Find the value of $ab\,$.

Solution

Consider the points on the complex plane. The point $b+37i$ is then a rotation of $60$ degrees of $a+11i$ about the origin, so:

\[(a+11i)\left(\text{cis}\,60^{\circ}\right) = (a+11i)\left(\frac 12+\frac{\sqrt{3}i}2\right)=b+37i.\]

Equating the real and imaginary parts, we have:

\begin{align*}b&=\frac{a}{2}-\frac{11\sqrt{3}}{2}\\37&=\frac{11}{2}+\frac{a\sqrt{3}}{2} \end{align*}

Solving this system, we find that $a=21\sqrt{3}, b=5\sqrt{3}$. Thus, the answer is $\boxed{315}$.

Note: There is another solution where the point $b+37i$ is a rotation of $-60$ degrees of $a+11i$; however, this triangle is just a reflection of the first triangle by the $y$-axis, and the signs of $a$ and $b$ are flipped. However, the product $ab$ is unchanged.

Solution Two

Using the Pythagorean theorem with these beastly numbers doesn't seem promising. How about properties of equilateral triangles? $\sqrt{3}$ and perpendiculars inspires this solution:

First, drop a perpendicular from $O$ to $AB$. Call this midpoint of $AB M$. Thus, $M=(\frac{a+b}{2}, 24)$. The vector from $O$ to $M$ is $[\frac{a+b}{2}, 24]$. Meanwhile from point $M$ we can use a vector with $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ the distance; we have to switch the $x$ and $y$ and our displacement is $[8\sqrt{3}, \frac{(a+b)\sqrt{3}}{6}]$. (Do you see why we switched $x$ and $y$ due to the rotation of 90 degrees?)


We see this displacement from $M$ to $A$ is $[\frac{a-b}{2}, 13]$ as well. Equating the two vectors, we get $a+b=26\sqrt{3}$ and $a-b=16\sqrt{3}$. Therefore, $a=21\sqrt{3}$ and $b=5\sqrt{3}$. And the answer is $\boxed{315}$.

Note: This solution was also present in Titu Andreescu and Zuming Feng's "103 Trigonometry Problems".

See also

1994 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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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