# Difference between revisions of "2007 AIME II Problems/Problem 3"

## Problem

Square $ABCD$ has side length $13$, and points $E$ and $F$ are exterior to the square such that $BE=DF=5$ and $AE=CF=12$. Find $EF^{2}$. $[asy]unitsize(0.2 cm); pair A, B, C, D, E, F; A = (0,13); B = (13,13); C = (13,0); D = (0,0); E = A + (12*12/13,5*12/13); F = D + (5*5/13,-5*12/13); draw(A--B--C--D--cycle); draw(A--E--B); draw(C--F--D); dot("A", A, W); dot("B", B, dir(0)); dot("C", C, dir(0)); dot("D", D, W); dot("E", E, N); dot("F", F, S);[/asy]$

## Solution

### Solution 1

Extend $\overline{AE}, \overline{DF}$ and $\overline{BE}, \overline{CF}$ to their points of intersection. Since $\triangle ABE \cong \triangle CDF$ and are both $5-12-13$ right triangles, we can come to the conclusion that the two new triangles are also congruent to these two (use ASA, as we know all the sides are $13$ and the angles are mostly complementary). Thus, we create a square with sides $5 + 12 = 17$.

$[asy]unitsize(0.25 cm); pair A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H; A = (0,13); B = (13,13); C = (13,0); D = (0,0); E = A + (12*12/13,5*12/13); F = D + (5*5/13,-5*12/13); G = rotate(90,(A + C)/2)*(E); H = rotate(90,(A + C)/2)*(F); draw(A--B--C--D--cycle); draw(E--G--F--H--cycle); dot("A", A, N); dot("B", B, dir(0)); dot("C", C, S); dot("D", D, W); dot("E", E, N); dot("F", F, S); dot("G", G, W); dot("H", H, dir(0));[/asy]$

$\overline{EF}$ is the diagonal of the square, with length $17\sqrt{2}$; the answer is $EF^2 = (17\sqrt{2})^2 = 578$.

### Solution 2

A slightly more analytic/brute-force approach:

Drop perpendiculars from $E$ and $F$ to $I$ and $J$, respectively; construct right triangle $EKF$ with right angle at K and $EK || BC$. Since $2[CDF]=DF*CF=CD*JF$, we have $JF=5\times12/13 = \frac{60}{13}$. Similarly, $EI=\frac{60}{13}$. Since $\triangle DJF \sim \triangle DFC$, we have $DJ=\frac{5JF}{12}=\frac{25}{13}$.

Now, we see that $FK=DC-(DJ+IB)=DC-2DJ=13-\frac{50}{13}=\frac{119}{13}$. Also, $EK=BC+(JF+IE)=BC+2JF=13+\frac{120}{13}=\frac{289}{13}$. By the Pythagorean Theorem, we have $EF=\sqrt{\left(\frac{289}{13}\right)^2+\left(\frac{119}{13} \right)^2}=\frac{\sqrt{(17^2)(17^2+7^2)}}{13}$$=\frac{17\sqrt{338}}{13}=\frac{17(13\sqrt{2})}{13}=17\sqrt{2}$. Therefore, $EF^2=(17\sqrt{2})^2=578$.

### Solution 3

Based on the symmetry, we know that $F$ is a reflection of $E$ across the center of the square, which we will denote as $O$. Since $\angle BEA$ and $\angle AOB$ are right, we can conclude that figure $AOBE$ is a cyclic quadrilateral. Pythagorean Theorem yields that $BO=AO=\frac{13\sqrt{2}}{2}$. Now, using Ptolemy's Theorem, we get that $$AO\cdot BE + BO\cdot AE = AB\cdot AO$$ $$\frac{13\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot 5+\frac{13\sqrt{2}}{2}\cdot 12 = 13\cdot OE$$ $$OE=\frac{17\sqrt{2}}{2}$$ Now, since we stated in the first step that $F$ is a reflection of $E$ across $O$, we can say that $EF=2EO=17\sqrt{2}$. This gives that $$EF^2=(17\sqrt{2})^2=578$$ AWD with this bash solution