Difference between revisions of "2004 AIME II Problems/Problem 11"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
A [[right cone|right circular cone]] has a [[base]] with [[radius]] <math>600</math> and [[height]] <math> 200\sqrt{7}. </math> A fly starts at a point on the surface of the cone whose distance from the [[vertex]] of the cone is <math>125</math>, and crawls along the surface of the cone to a point on the exact opposite side of the cone whose distance from the vertex is <math> 375\sqrt{2}. </math> Find the least distance that the fly could have crawled.
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A [[right cone|right circular cone]] has a [[base]] with [[radius]] <math>600</math> and [[height]] <math> 200\sqrt{7}. </math> A fly starts at a point on the surface of the cone whose distance from the [[vertex]] of the cone is <math>125</math>, and crawls along the surface of the cone to a point on the exact opposite side of the cone whose distance from the vertex is <math>375\sqrt{2}.</math> Find the least distance that the fly could have crawled.
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Label the starting point of the fly as <math>A</math> and the ending as <math>B </math> and the vertex of the cone as <math>O</math>.  With the given information, <math>OA=125</math> and <math>OB=375\sqrt{2}</math>.  By the [[Pythagorean Theorem]], the slant height can be calculated by: <math>200\sqrt{7}^{2} + 600^2=640000 </math>, so the slant height of the cone is <math>800</math>.  The base of the cone has a circumference of <math>1200\pi</math>, so if we cut the cone along its slant height and through <math>A</math>, we get a sector of a circle <math>O</math> with radius <math>800</math>. Now the sector is <math>\frac{1200\pi}{1600\pi}=\frac{3}{4}</math> of the entire circle. So the degree measure of the sector is <math>270^\circ</math>. Now we know that <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> are on opposite sides. Therefore, since <math>A</math> lies on a radius of the circle that is the "side" of a 270 degree sector, <math>B</math> will lie exactly halfway between. Thus, the radius through <math>B</math> will divide the circle into two sectors, each with measure <math>135^\circ</math>. Draw in <math>BA</math> to create <math> \triangle{ABO}</math>. Now by the [[Law of Cosines]], <math>AB^{2}=(125)^{2}+(375\sqrt{2})^{2}-2(125\cdot375\sqrt{2})(\cos {135})</math>. From there we have <math>AB=\sqrt{ (125)^{2}+(375\sqrt{2})^{2}-2(125\cdot375\sqrt{2})(\cos {135})}=625</math>
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Label the starting point of the fly as <math>A</math> and the ending as <math>B </math> and the vertex of the cone as <math>O</math>.  With the given information, <math>OA=125</math> and <math>OB=375\sqrt{2}</math>.  By the [[Pythagorean Theorem]], the slant height can be calculated by: <math>200\sqrt{7}^{2} + 600^2=640000 </math>, so the slant height of the cone is <math>800</math>.  The base of the cone has a circumference of <math>1200\pi</math>, so if we cut the cone along its slant height and through <math>A</math>, we get a sector of a circle <math>O</math> with radius <math>800</math>. Now the sector is <math>\frac{1200\pi}{1600\pi}=\frac{3}{4}</math> of the entire circle. So the degree measure of the sector is <math>270^\circ</math>. Now we know that <math>A</math> and <math>B</math> are on opposite sides. Therefore, since <math>A</math> lies on a radius of the circle that is the "side" of a 270 degree sector, <math>B</math> will lie exactly halfway between. Thus, the radius through <math>B</math> will divide the circle into two sectors, each with measure <math>135^\circ</math>. Draw in <math>BA</math> to create <math> \triangle{ABO}</math>. Now, by the [[Law of Cosines]], <math>AB^{2}=(125)^{2}+(375\sqrt{2})^{2}-2(125\cdot375\sqrt{2})(\cos {135})</math>. From there we have <math>AB=\sqrt{ (125)^{2}+(375\sqrt{2})^{2}-2(125\cdot375\sqrt{2})(\cos {135})}=625</math>.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AIME box|year=2004|n=II|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2004|n=II|num-b=10|num-a=12}}

Revision as of 11:36, 19 April 2008

Problem

A right circular cone has a base with radius $600$ and height $200\sqrt{7}.$ A fly starts at a point on the surface of the cone whose distance from the vertex of the cone is $125$, and crawls along the surface of the cone to a point on the exact opposite side of the cone whose distance from the vertex is $375\sqrt{2}.$ Find the least distance that the fly could have crawled.

Solution

Label the starting point of the fly as $A$ and the ending as $B$ and the vertex of the cone as $O$. With the given information, $OA=125$ and $OB=375\sqrt{2}$. By the Pythagorean Theorem, the slant height can be calculated by: $200\sqrt{7}^{2} + 600^2=640000$, so the slant height of the cone is $800$. The base of the cone has a circumference of $1200\pi$, so if we cut the cone along its slant height and through $A$, we get a sector of a circle $O$ with radius $800$. Now the sector is $\frac{1200\pi}{1600\pi}=\frac{3}{4}$ of the entire circle. So the degree measure of the sector is $270^\circ$. Now we know that $A$ and $B$ are on opposite sides. Therefore, since $A$ lies on a radius of the circle that is the "side" of a 270 degree sector, $B$ will lie exactly halfway between. Thus, the radius through $B$ will divide the circle into two sectors, each with measure $135^\circ$. Draw in $BA$ to create $\triangle{ABO}$. Now, by the Law of Cosines, $AB^{2}=(125)^{2}+(375\sqrt{2})^{2}-2(125\cdot375\sqrt{2})(\cos {135})$. From there we have $AB=\sqrt{ (125)^{2}+(375\sqrt{2})^{2}-2(125\cdot375\sqrt{2})(\cos {135})}=625$.

See also

2004 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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All AIME Problems and Solutions