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Difference between revisions of "1994 AIME Problems/Problem 14"

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At each point of reflection, we pretend instead that the light continues to travel straight.  
 
At each point of reflection, we pretend instead that the light continues to travel straight.  
  

Revision as of 22:45, 26 March 2011

Problem

A beam of light strikes $\overline{BC}\,$ at point $C\,$ with angle of incidence $\alpha=19.94^\circ\,$ and reflects with an equal angle of reflection as shown. The light beam continues its path, reflecting off line segments $\overline{AB}\,$ and $\overline{BC}\,$ according to the rule: angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. Given that $\beta=\alpha/10=1.994^\circ\,$ and $AB=AC,\,$ determine the number of times the light beam will bounce off the two line segments. Include the first reflection at $C\,$ in your count.

AIME 1994 Problem 14.png

Solution

Solution

At each point of reflection, we pretend instead that the light continues to travel straight.

[asy] pathpen = linewidth(0.7); size(250); real alpha = 28, beta = 36; pair B = D(MP("B",(0,0))), C = MP("C",D((1,0))), A = MP("A",D(expi(alpha * pi/180)),N); path r = C + .4 * expi(beta * pi/180) -- C - 2*expi(beta * pi/180); D(A--B--(1.5,0));D(r);D(anglemark(C,B,A));D(anglemark((1.5,0),C,C+.4*expi(beta*pi/180)));MP("\beta",B,(5,1.2),fontsize(9));MP("\alpha",C,(4,1.2),fontsize(9)); for(int i = 0; i < 180/alpha; ++i){ path l = B -- (1+i/2)*expi(-i * alpha * pi / 180); D(l, linetype("4 4")); D(IP(l,r)); } [/asy]

Note that after $k$ reflections (excluding the first one at $C$) the extended line will form an angle $k \beta$ at point $B$. For the $k$th reflection to be just inside or at the point $C$, we must have $k\beta \le 180 - 2\alpha \Longrightarrow k \le \frac{180 - 2\alpha}{\beta} = 70.27$. Thus, our answer is, including the first intersection, $\left\lfloor \frac{180 - 2\alpha}{\beta} \right\rfloor + 1 = \boxed{071}$.

See also

1994 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 13 		Followed by
Problem 15
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions
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