2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 17

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Problem


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Square $ABCD$ has side length $s$, a circle centered at $E$ has radius $r$, and $r$ and $s$ are both rational. The circle passes through $D$, and $D$ lies on $\overline{BE}$. Point $F$ lies on the circle, on the same side of $\overline{BE}$ as $A$. Segment $AF$ is tangent to the circle, and $AF=\sqrt{9+5\sqrt{2}}$. What is $r/s$?

$\mathrm{(A) \ } \frac{1}{2}\qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } \frac{5}{9}\qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } \frac{3}{5}\qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } \frac{5}{3}\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ }  \frac{9}{5}$

Solution

One possibility is to use the coordinate plane, setting B at the origin. Point A will be ($s$, 0) and E will be ($(s + \frac{r}{\sqrt{2}}, s + \frac{r}{\sqrt{2}})$) since B, D, and E are collinear and contains the diagonal of ABCD. The Pythagorean theorem results in

$AF^2 + EF^2 = AE^2$

$r^2  + (\sqrt{9 + 5\sqrt{2}})^2  = ((s + \frac{r}{\sqrt{2}}) - 0)^2 + ((s + \frac{r}{\sqrt{2}}) - s)^2$

$r^2  + 9 + 5\sqrt{2} = s^2 + rs\sqrt{2} + \frac{r^2}{2} + \frac{r^2}{2}$

$9 + 5\sqrt{2} = s^2 + rs\sqrt{2}$

This implies that $rs = 5$ and $s^2 = 9$; dividing gives us $\frac{r}{s} = \frac{5}{9} \Rightarrow B$

See also


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Preceded by
Problem 16
AMC 12A
2006
Followed by
Problem 18