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2006 AIME I Problems/Problem 9

Revision as of 14:39, 25 September 2007 by 1=2 (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

Circles $\mathcal{C}_1, \mathcal{C}_2,$ and $\mathcal{C}_3$ have their centers at (0,0), (12,0), and (24,0), and have radii 1, 2, and 4, respectively. Line $t_1$ is a common internal tangent to $\mathcal{C}_1$ and $\mathcal{C}_2$ and has a positive slope, and line $t_2$ is a common internal tangent to $\mathcal{C}_2$ and $\mathcal{C}_3$ and has a negative slope. Given that lines $t_1$ and $t_2$ intersect at $(x,y),$ and that $x=p-q\sqrt{r},$ where $p, q,$ and $r$ are positive integers and $r$ is not divisible by the square of any prime, find $p+q+r.$

Solution

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Call the centers $O_1, O_2, O_3$, the points of tangency $r_1, r_2, s_1, s_2$ (with $r$ on $t_1$ and $s$ on $t_2$, and $s_2$ on $\mathcal{C}_2$), and the intersection of each common internal tangent to the x axis $r, s$. $\triangle O_1r_1r \sim \triangle O_2r_2r$ since both triangles have a right angle and have vertical angles, and the same goes for $\triangle O_2s_2s \sim \triangle O_3s_1s$. By proportionality, we find that $O_1r = 4$; solving $\triangle O_1r_1r$ by the Pythagorean theorem yields $r_1r = \sqrt{15}$. On $\mathcal{C}_3$, we can do the same thing to get $O_3s_1 = 8$ and $s_1s = 4\sqrt{3}$.

The vertical altitude of each of $\triangle O_1r_1r$ and $\triangle O_3s_1s$ can each by found by the formula $c \cdot h = a \cdot b$ (as both products equal twice of the area of the triangle). Thus, the respective heights are $\frac{\sqrt{15}}{4}$ and $2\sqrt{3}$. The horizontal distance from each altitude to the intersection of the tangent with the x-axis can also be determined by the Pythagorean theorem: $\sqrt{15 - \frac{15}{16}} = \frac{15}{4}$, and by 30-60-90: $6$.

From this information, the slope of each tangent can be uncovered. The slope of $t_1 = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{15}}{5}}{\frac{15}{4}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{15}}$. The slope of $t_2 = -\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{6} = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$.

The equation of $t_1$ can be found by substituting the point $r (4,0)$ into $y = \frac{1}{\sqrt{15}}x + b$, so $y = \frac{1}{\sqrt{15}} - \frac{4}{\sqrt{15}}$. The equation of $t_2$, found by substituting point $s (16,0)$, is $y = \frac{-1}{\sqrt{3}} + \frac{16}{\sqrt{3}}$. Putting these two equations together results in the desired $\frac{1}{\sqrt{15}}x - \frac{4}{\sqrt{15}} = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}x + \frac{16}{\sqrt{3}} \Longrightarrow x = \frac{16\sqrt{5} + 4}{\sqrt{5} + 1} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{5}-1}{\sqrt{5}-1} = \frac{76 - 12\sqrt{5}}{4} = 19 - 3\sqrt{5}$. Thus, $p + q + r = 19 + 3 + 5 \Longrightarrow 027$.

See also

2006 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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
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