2001 AIME I Problems/Problem 4

Problem

In triangle $ABC$ , angles $A$ and $B$ measure $60$ degrees and $45$ degrees, respectively. The bisector of angle $A$ intersects $\overline{BC}$ at $T$ , and $AT=24$ . The area of triangle $ABC$ can be written in the form $a+b\sqrt{c}$ , where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are positive integers, and $c$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $a+b+c$ .

Solution

After chasing angles, $\angle ATC=75^{\circ}$ and $\angle TCA=75^{\circ}$ , meaning $\triangle TAC$ is an isosceles triangle and $AC=24$ .

Using law of sines on $\triangle ABC$ , we can create the following equation:

$\frac{24}{\sin(\angle ABC)}$ $=$ $\frac{BC}{\sin(\angle BAC)}$

$\angle ABC=45^{\circ}$ and $\angle BAC=60^{\circ}$ , so $BC = 12\sqrt{6}$ .

We can then use the Law of Sines area formula $\frac{1}{2} \cdot BC \cdot AC \cdot \sin(\angle BCA)$ to find the area of the triangle.

$\sin(75)$ can be found through the sin addition formula.

$\sin(75)$ $=$ $\frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4}$

Therefore, the area of the triangle is $\frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4}$ $\cdot$ $24$ $\cdot$ $12\sqrt{6}$ $\cdot$ $\frac{1}{2}$

$72\sqrt{3} + 216$

$72 + 3 + 216 =$ $\boxed{291}$

2001 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 3	Followed by Problem 5
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2001 AIME I Problems/Problem 4

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