2013 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 19

Problem

In $\bigtriangleup ABC$ , $AB = 86$ , and $AC = 97$ . A circle with center $A$ and radius $AB$ intersects $\overline{BC}$ at points $B$ and $X$ . Moreover $\overline{BX}$ and $\overline{CX}$ have integer lengths. What is $BC$ ?

$\textbf{(A)} \ 11 \qquad \textbf{(B)} \ 28 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \ 33 \qquad \textbf{(D)} \ 61 \qquad \textbf{(E)} \ 72$

Solution

Solution 1 (Number theoretic power of a point)

[asy] //Made by samrocksnature size(8cm); pair A,B,C,D,E,X; A=(0,0); B=(-53.4,-67.4); C=(0,-97); D=(0,-86); E=(0,86); X=(-29,-81); draw(circle(A,86)); draw(E--C--B--A--X); label(" $A$ ",A,NE); label(" $B$ ",B,SW); label(" $C$ ",C,S); label(" $D$ ",D,NE); label(" $E$ ",E,NE); label(" $X$ ",X,dir(250)); dot(A^^B^^C^^D^^E^^X); [/asy]

Let $CX=x, BX=y$ . Let the circle intersect $AC$ at $D$ and the diameter including $AD$ intersect the circle again at $E$ . Use power of a point on point C to the circle centered at A.

So $CX*CB=CD*CE=>$ $x(x+y)=(97-86)(97+86)=>$ $x(x+y)=3*11*61$ .

Obviously $x+y>x$ so we have three solution pairs for $(x,x+y)=(1,2013),(3,671),(11,183),(33,61)$ . By the Triangle Inequality, only $x+y=61$ yields a possible length of $BX+CX=BC$ .

Therefore, the answer is D) 61.

Solution 2

Let $BX = q$ , $CX = p$ , and $AC$ meet the circle at $Y$ and $Z$ , with $Y$ on $AC$ . Then $AZ = AY = 86$ . Using the Power of a Point, we get that $p(p+q) = 11(183) = 11 * 3 * 61$ . We know that $p+q>p$ , and that $p>13$ by the triangle inequality on $\triangle ACX$ . Thus, we get that $BC = p+q = \boxed{\textbf{(D) }61}$

Solution 3

Let $x$ represent $CX$ , and let $y$ represent $BX$ . Since the circle goes through $B$ and $X$ , $AB = AX = 86$ . Then by Stewart's Theorem,

$xy(x+y) + 86^2 (x+y) = 97^2 y + 86^2 x.$

$x^2 y + xy^2 + 86^2 x + 86^2 y = 97^2 y + 86^2 x$

$x^2 + xy + 86^2 = 97^2$

(Since $y$ cannot be equal to $0$ , dividing both sides of the equation by $y$ is allowed.)

$x(x+y) = (97+86)(97-86)$

$x(x+y) = 2013$

The prime factors of $2013$ are $3$ , $11$ , and $61$ . Obviously, $x < x+y$ . In addition, by the Triangle Inequality, $BC < AB + AC$ , so $x+y < 183$ . Therefore, $x$ must equal $33$ , and $x+y$ must equal $\boxed{\textbf{(D) }61}$

Video Solution by Richard Rusczyk

https://artofproblemsolving.com/videos/amc/2013amc12a/357

~dolphin7

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/zxW3uvCQFls

~sugar_rush

2013 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 18	Followed by Problem 20
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