2009 AIME II Problems/Problem 10

Problem

Four lighthouses are located at points $A$ , $B$ , $C$ , and $D$ . The lighthouse at $A$ is $5$ kilometers from the lighthouse at $B$ , the lighthouse at $B$ is $12$ kilometers from the lighthouse at $C$ , and the lighthouse at $A$ is $13$ kilometers from the lighthouse at $C$ . To an observer at $A$ , the angle determined by the lights at $B$ and $D$ and the angle determined by the lights at $C$ and $D$ are equal. To an observer at $C$ , the angle determined by the lights at $A$ and $B$ and the angle determined by the lights at $D$ and $B$ are equal. The number of kilometers from $A$ to $D$ is given by $\frac {p\sqrt{q}}{r}$ , where $p$ , $q$ , and $r$ are relatively prime positive integers, and $r$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $p$ + $q$ + $r$ .

Solution 1

Let $O$ be the intersection of $BC$ and $AD$ . By the Angle Bisector Theorem, $\frac {5}{BO}$ = $\frac {13}{CO}$ , so $BO$ = $5x$ and $CO$ = $13x$ , and $BO$ + $OC$ = $BC$ = $12$ , so $x$ = $\frac {2}{3}$ , and $OC$ = $\frac {26}{3}$ . Let $P$ be the foot of the altitude from $D$ to $OC$ . It can be seen that triangle $DOP$ is similar to triangle $AOB$ , and triangle $DPC$ is similar to triangle $ABC$ . If $DP$ = $15y$ , then $CP$ = $36y$ , $OP$ = $10y$ , and $OD$ = $5y\sqrt {13}$ . Since $OP$ + $CP$ = $46y$ = $\frac {26}{3}$ , $y$ = $\frac {13}{69}$ , and $AD$ = $\frac {60\sqrt{13}}{23}$ (by the pythagorean theorem on triangle $ABO$ we sum $AO$ and $OD$ ). The answer is $60$ + $13$ + $23$ = $\boxed{096}$ .

Solution 2

Extend $AB$ and $CD$ to intersect at $P$ . Note that since $\angle ACB=\angle PCB$ and $\angle ABC=\angle PBC=90^{\circ}$ by ASA congruency we have $\triangle ABC\cong \triangle PBC$ . Therefore $AC=PC=13$ .

By the angle bisector theorem, $PD=\dfrac{130}{23}$ and $CD=\dfrac{169}{23}$ . Now we apply Stewart's theorem to find $AD$ :

$\begin{align*}13\cdot \dfrac{130}{23}\cdot \dfrac{169}{23}+13\cdot AD^2&=13\cdot 13\cdot \dfrac{130}{23}+10\cdot 10\cdot \dfrac{169}{23}\\ 13\cdot \dfrac{130}{23}\cdot \dfrac{169}{23}+13\cdot AD^2&=\dfrac{169\cdot 130+169\cdot 100}{23}\\ 13\cdot \dfrac{130}{23}\cdot \dfrac{169}{23}+13\cdot AD^2&=1690\\ AD^2&=130-\dfrac{130\cdot 169}{23^2}\\ AD^2&=\dfrac{130\cdot 23^2-130\cdot 169}{23^2}\\ AD^2&=\dfrac{130(23^2-169)}{23^2}\\ AD^2&=\dfrac{130(360)}{23^2}\\ AD&=\dfrac{60\sqrt{13}}{23}\\ \end{align*}$

and our final answer is $60+13+23=\boxed{096}$ .

Solution 3

Notice that by extending $AB$ and $CD$ to meet at a point $E$ , $\triangle ACE$ is isosceles. Now we can do a straightforward coordinate bash. Let $C=(0,0)$ , $B=(12,0)$ , $E=(12,-5)$ and $A=(12,5)$ , and the equation of line $CD$ is $y=-\dfrac{5}{12}x$ . Let F be the intersection point of $AD$ and $BC$ , and by using the Angle Bisector Theorem: $\dfrac{BF}{AB}=\dfrac{FC}{AC}$ we have $FC=\dfrac{26}{3}$ . Then the equation of the line $AF$ through the points $(12,5)$ and $\left(\frac{26}{3},0\right)$ is $y=\frac32 x-13$ . Hence the intersection point of $AF$ and $CD$ is the point $D$ at the coordinates $\left(\dfrac{156}{23},-\dfrac{65}{23}\right)$ . Using the distance formula, $AD=\sqrt{\left(12-\dfrac{156}{23}\right)^2+\left(5+\dfrac{65}{23}\right)^2}=\dfrac{60\sqrt{13}}{23}$ for an answer of $60+13+23=\fbox{096}$ .

2009 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 9	Followed by Problem 11
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2009 AIME II Problems/Problem 10

Contents

Problem

Solution 1

Solution 2

Solution 3

See Also