Difference between revisions of "2013 AIME I Problems/Problem 13"

(Solution 3)
(Solution 3)
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 25: Line 25:
  
 
==Solution 3==
 
==Solution 3==
For this problem, the key is to find the <math>\frac{[\triangle{B_nB_n-1C_n}]}{[\triangle{AB_n-1C_n-1}]}</math>.
+
For this problem, the key is to find the <math>\frac{[\triangle{B_nB_{n-1}C_n}]}{[\triangle{AB_{n-1}C_{n-1}}]}</math>.
  
 
The area of the biggest triangle is <math>90</math> according to the Heron's formula easily
 
The area of the biggest triangle is <math>90</math> according to the Heron's formula easily
Line 35: Line 35:
 
Getting that <math>C_1C_0=\frac{289}{25}</math>, which is not hard to find that <math>AC_1=\frac{336}{25}</math>, Since <math>\frac{AB_1}{AB_0}=\frac{AC_1}{AC_0}=\frac{336}{625}</math>,
 
Getting that <math>C_1C_0=\frac{289}{25}</math>, which is not hard to find that <math>AC_1=\frac{336}{25}</math>, Since <math>\frac{AB_1}{AB_0}=\frac{AC_1}{AC_0}=\frac{336}{625}</math>,
  
we can find the ratio of <math>\frac{[\triangle{B_0B_1C_1}]}{[\triangle{AB_0C_0}]}=\frac{336}{625}*\frac{289}{625}</math>, the common ratio between two similar triangles is <math>(\frac{336}{625})^2</math>, the similar triangles means two consecutive <math>\triangle{AB_nC_n}&\triangle{AB_n+1C_n+1}</math>
+
we can find the ratio of <math>\frac{[\triangle{B_0B_1C_1}]}{[\triangle{AB_0C_0}]}=\frac{336}{625}*\frac{289}{625}</math>, the common ratio between two similar triangles is <math>(\frac{336}{625})^2</math>, the similar triangles means two consecutive <math>(\triangle{AB_nC_n});(\triangle{AB_{n+1}C_{n+1}})</math>
  
 
Now the whole summation of <math>S=1+(\frac{336}{625})^2+(\frac{336}{625})^3+....+(\frac{336}{625})^n=\frac{625^2}{961*289}</math>
 
Now the whole summation of <math>S=1+(\frac{336}{625})^2+(\frac{336}{625})^3+....+(\frac{336}{625})^n=\frac{625^2}{961*289}</math>

Revision as of 04:36, 23 December 2021

Problem

Triangle $AB_0C_0$ has side lengths $AB_0 = 12$, $B_0C_0 = 17$, and $C_0A = 25$. For each positive integer $n$, points $B_n$ and $C_n$ are located on $\overline{AB_{n-1}}$ and $\overline{AC_{n-1}}$, respectively, creating three similar triangles $\triangle AB_nC_n \sim \triangle B_{n-1}C_nC_{n-1} \sim \triangle AB_{n-1}C_{n-1}$. The area of the union of all triangles $B_{n-1}C_nB_n$ for $n\geq1$ can be expressed as $\tfrac pq$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $q$.

Solution 1

Note that every $B_nC_n$ is parallel to each other for any nonnegative $n$. Also, the area we seek is simply the ratio $k=\frac{B_0B_1C_1}{B_0B_1C_1+C_1C_0B_0}$, because it repeats in smaller and smaller units. Note that the area of the triangle, by Heron's formula, is 90.

For ease, all ratios I will use to solve this problem are with respect to the area of $AB_0C_0$. For example, if I say some area has ratio $\frac{1}{2}$, that means its area is 45.

Now note that $k=$ 1 minus ratio of $B_1C_1A$ minus ratio $B_0C_0C_1$. We see by similar triangles given that ratio $B_0C_0C_1$ is $\frac{17^2}{25^2}$. Ratio $B_1C_1A$ is $(\frac{336}{625})^2$, after seeing that $C_1C_0 = \frac{289}{625}$, . Now it suffices to find 90 times ratio $B_0B_1C_1$, which is given by 1 minus the two aforementioned ratios. Substituting these ratios to find $k$ and clearing out the $5^8$, we see that the answer is $90\cdot \frac{5^8-336^2-17^2\cdot 5^4}{5^8-336^2}$, which gives $q= \boxed{961}$.

Solution 2

Using Heron's Formula we can get the area of the triangle $\Delta AB_0C_0 = 90$.

Since $\Delta AB_0C_0 \sim \Delta B_0C_1C_0$ then the scale factor for the dimensions of $\Delta B_0C_1C_0$ to $\Delta AB_0C_0$ is $\dfrac{17}{25}.$

Therefore, the area of $\Delta B_0C_1C_0$ is $(\dfrac{17}{25})^2(90)$. Also, the dimensions of the other sides of the $\Delta B_0C_1C_0$ can be easily computed: $\overline{B_0C_1}= \dfrac{17}{25}(12)$ and $\overline{C_1C_0} = \dfrac{17^2}{25}$. This allows us to compute one side of the triangle $\Delta AB_0C_0$, $\overline{AC_1} = 25 - \dfrac{17^2}{25} = \dfrac{25^2 - 17^2}{25}$. Therefore, the scale factor $\Delta AB_1C_1$ to $\Delta AB_0C_0$ is $\dfrac{25^2 - 17^2}{25^2}$ , which yields the length of $\overline{B_1C_1}$ as $\dfrac{25^2 - 17^2}{25^2}(17)$. Therefore, the scale factor for $\Delta B_1C_2C_1$ to $\Delta B_0C_1C_0$ is $\dfrac{25^2 - 17^2}{25^2}$. Some more algebraic manipulation will show that $\Delta B_nC_{n+1}C_n$ to $\Delta B_{n-1}C_nC_{n-1}$ is still $\dfrac{25^2 - 17^2}{25^2}$. Also, since the triangles are disjoint, the area of the union is the sum of the areas. Therefore, the area is the geometric series $\dfrac{90 \cdot 17^2}{25^2} \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (\dfrac{25^2-17^2}{25^2})^2$ At this point, it may be wise to "simplify" $25^2 - 17^2 = (25-17)(25+17) = (8)(42) = 336$. So the geometric series converges to $\dfrac{90 \cdot 17^2}{25^2} \dfrac{1}{1 - \dfrac{336^2}{625^2}} = \dfrac{90 \cdot 17^2}{25^2} \dfrac{625^2}{625^2 - 336^2}$. Using the difference of squares, we get $\dfrac{90 \cdot 17^2}{25^2}\dfrac{625^2}{(625 - 336)(625 + 336)}$, which simplifies to $\dfrac{90 \cdot 17^2}{25^2} \dfrac{625^2}{(289)(961)}$. Cancelling all common factors, we get the reduced fraction $= \dfrac{90 \cdot 25^2}{31^2}$. So $\frac{p}{q}=1-\frac{90 \cdot 25^2}{31^2}=\frac{90 \cdot 336}{961}$, yielding the answer $\fbox{961}$.

Solution 3

For this problem, the key is to find the $\frac{[\triangle{B_nB_{n-1}C_n}]}{[\triangle{AB_{n-1}C_{n-1}}]}$.

The area of the biggest triangle is $90$ according to the Heron's formula easily

Firstly, we discuss the ratio of $\frac{[\triangle{B_0C_1C_0}]}{[\triangle{AB_0C_0}]}$

Since the problem said that two triangles are similar, so $\frac{C_1C_0}{B_0C_0}=\frac{17}{25}$,

Getting that $C_1C_0=\frac{289}{25}$, which is not hard to find that $AC_1=\frac{336}{25}$, Since $\frac{AB_1}{AB_0}=\frac{AC_1}{AC_0}=\frac{336}{625}$,

we can find the ratio of $\frac{[\triangle{B_0B_1C_1}]}{[\triangle{AB_0C_0}]}=\frac{336}{625}*\frac{289}{625}$, the common ratio between two similar triangles is $(\frac{336}{625})^2$, the similar triangles means two consecutive $(\triangle{AB_nC_n});(\triangle{AB_{n+1}C_{n+1}})$

Now the whole summation of $S=1+(\frac{336}{625})^2+(\frac{336}{625})^3+....+(\frac{336}{625})^n=\frac{625^2}{961*289}$

The desired answer is $90*\frac{336*289*625^2}{625^2*961*289}=\frac{30240}{961}$ Which our answer is $\fbox{961}$

~bluesoul

AIME13.png

See also

2013 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 12
Followed by
Problem 14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png