# Difference between revisions of "2011 AIME I Problems/Problem 3"

## Problem

Let $L$ be the line with slope $\frac{5}{12}$ that contains the point $A=(24,-1)$, and let $M$ be the line perpendicular to line $L$ that contains the point $B=(5,6)$. The original coordinate axes are erased, and line $L$ is made the $x$-axis and line $M$ the $y$-axis. In the new coordinate system, point $A$ is on the positive $x$-axis, and point $B$ is on the positive $y$-axis. The point $P$ with coordinates $(-14,27)$ in the original system has coordinates $(\alpha,\beta)$ in the new coordinate system. Find $\alpha+\beta$.

## Solution

Given that $L$ has slope $\frac{5}{12}$ and contains the point $A=(24,-1)$, we may write the point-slope equation for $L$ as $y+1=\frac{5}{12}(x-24)$. Since $M$ is perpendicular to $L$ and contains the point $B=(5,6)$, we have that the slope of $M$ is $-\frac{12}{5}$, and consequently that the point-slope equation for $M$ is $y-6=-\frac{12}{5}(x-5)$.

Converting both equations to the form $0=Ax+By+C$, we have that $L$ has the equation $0=5x-12y-132$ and that $M$ has the equation $0=12x+5y-90$. Applying the point-to-line distance formula, $\frac{|Ax+By+C|}{\sqrt{A^2+B^2}}$, to point $P$ and lines $L$ and $M$, we find that the distance from $P$ to $L$ and $M$ are $\frac{526}{13}$ and $\frac{123}{13}$, respectively.

Since $A$ and $B$ lie on the positive axes of the shifted coordinate plane, we may show by graphing the given system that point P will lie in the second quadrant in the new coordinate system. Therefore, the abscissa of $P$ is negative, and is therefore $-\frac{123}{13}$; similarly, the ordinate of $P$ is positive and is therefore $\frac{526}{13}$.

Thus, we have that $\alpha=-\frac{123}{13}$ and that $\beta=\frac{526}{13}$. It follows that $\alpha+\beta=-\frac{123}{13}+\frac{526}{13}=\frac{403}{13}=\boxed{031}$.