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Mock AIME 6 2006-2007 Problems/Problem 13

Revision as of 02:20, 26 November 2023 by Tomasdiaz (talk | contribs)

Problem

Consider two circles of different sizes that do not intersect. The smaller circle has center $O$. Label the intersection of their common external tangents $P$. A common internal tangent intersects the common external tangents at points $A$ and $B$. Given that the radius of the larger circle is $11$, $PO=3$, and $AB=20\sqrt{2}$, what is the square of the area of triangle $PBA$?

Solution

Mock AIME 6 P13a.png

$|AB|=|CD|=20\sqrt{2}$

Let $d$ be the distance between centers, and $h=|PO|=3$

$|CD|^2+(r_2-r_1)^2=d^2$

$(20\sqrt{2})^2+(r_2-r_1)^2=d^2$

$800+(r_2-r_1)^2=d^2$ [Equation 1]

By similar triangles,

$\frac{r_1}{h}=\frac{r_2}{h+d}$

solving for $d$ we have:

$d=\frac{(r_2-r_1)h}{r_1}$



~Tomas Diaz. orders@tomasdiaz.com

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

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