2006 iTest Problems/Problem 32

Problem

Triangle $ABC$ is scalene. Points $P$ and $Q$ are on segment $BC$ with $P$ between $B$ and $Q$ such that $BP=21$ , $PQ=35$ , and $QC=100$ . If $AP$ and $AQ$ trisect $\angle A$ , then $\tfrac{AB}{AC}$ can be written uniquely as $\tfrac{p\sqrt q}r$ , where $p$ and $r$ are relatively prime positive integers and $q$ is a positive integer not divisible by the square of any prime. Determine $p+q+r$ .

Solution

Let $a = AB$ and $b = AC$ . Since $\angle BAP = \angle PAQ = \angle QAC$ , by the Angle Bisector Theorem, we have $AP = \tfrac{7}{20}b$ and $AQ = \tfrac{5}{3}a$ .

By using the Law of Cosines on $\triangle BAP$ and $\triangle PAQ$ , we have $\begin{align*} \frac{a^2 + \frac{49}{400}b^2 - 21^2}{2ab \cdot \frac{7}{20}} &= \frac{\frac{49}{400}b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 35^2}{2ab \cdot \frac{7}{20} \cdot \frac{5}{3}} \\ \frac{5}{3} \cdot \left( a^2 + \frac{49}{400}b^2 - 21^2 \right) &= \frac{49}{400}b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 35^2 \\ \frac53 a^2 + \frac{49}{240}b^2 - 21 \cdot 35 &= \frac{49}{400}b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 35^2 \\ \frac{98}{1200} b^2 + 35 \cdot 14 &= \frac{10}{9} a^2 \\ \frac{49}{600} b^2 + 35 \cdot 14 &= \frac{40}{36} a^2. \end{align*}$ By using the Law of Cosines on $\triangle PAQ$ and $\triangle QAC$ , we have $\begin{align*} \frac{\frac{49}{400}b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 35^2}{2ab \cdot \frac{7}{20} \cdot \frac{5}{3}} &= \frac{b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 100^2}{2ab \cdot \frac{5}{3}} \\ \frac{49}{400}b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 35^2 &= \frac{7}{20} \cdot \left( b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 100^2 \right) \\ \frac{49}{400}b^2 + \frac{25}{9}a^2 - 35^2 &= \frac{7}{20} b^2 + \frac{35}{36} a^2 - 100 \cdot 35 \\ \frac{65}{36} a^2 + 65 \cdot 35 &= \frac{91}{400}b^2 \\ \frac{5}{36} a^2 + 5 \cdot 35 &= \frac{7}{400}b^2. \end{align*}$ Multiplying the second equation by $-8$ and adding the two equations results in $\begin{align*} -\frac{40}{36} a^2 - 40 \cdot 35 &= -\frac{7}{50} b^2 \\ \frac{40}{36} a^2 &= \frac{49}{600} b^2 + 35 \cdot 14 \\ -40 \cdot 35 &= -\frac{35}{600} b^2 + 35 \cdot 14 \\ -40 &= -\frac{1}{600} b^2 + 14 \\ \frac{b^2}{600} &= 54 \\ b^2 &= 600 \cdot 9 \cdot 6 \\ b &= 6 \cdot 10 \cdot 3 \\ &= 180. \end{align*}$ After substituting $b$ back, solve for $a$ to get $\begin{align*} \frac{49}{600} \cdot 180 \cdot 180 + 35 \cdot 14 &= \frac{40}{36} a^2 \\ 49 \cdot 54 + 35 \cdot 14 &= \frac{40}{36} a^2 \\ 49 \cdot 54 + 49 \cdot 10 &= \frac{40}{36} a^2 \\ 49 \cdot 64 &= \frac{10}{9} a^2 \\ a^2 &= \frac{49 \cdot 9 \cdot 64}{10} \\ a &= \frac{168}{\sqrt{10}} \\ &= \frac{84\sqrt{10}}{5} \end{align*}$ Thus, $\tfrac{AB}{AC} = \tfrac{84\sqrt{10}}{5} \cdot \tfrac{1}{180} = \tfrac{7\sqrt{10}}{75}$ , so $p+q+r = \boxed{92}$ .

2006 iTest (Problems, Answer Key)
Preceded by: Problem 31	Followed by: Problem 33
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2006 iTest Problems/Problem 32

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