Difference between revisions of "2014 AIME II Problems/Problem 11"

(Solution)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
==Problem 11==
 
==Problem 11==
In <math>\triangle RED</math>, <math>\measuredangle DRE=75^{\circ}</math> and <math>\measuredangle RED=45^{\circ}</math>. <math>\abs{RD}=1</math>. Let <math>M</math> be the midpoint of segment <math>\overline{RD}</math>. Point <math>C</math> lies on side <math>\overline{ED}</math> such that <math>\overline{RC}\perp\overline{EM}</math>. Extend segment <math>\overline{DE}</math> through <math>E</math> to point <math>A</math> such that <math>CA=AR</math>. Then <math>AE=\frac{a-\sqrt{b}}{c}</math>, where <math>a</math> and <math>c</math> are relatively prime positive integers, and <math>b</math> is a positive integer. Find <math>a+b+c</math>.
+
In <math>\triangle RED</math>, <math>\measuredangle DRE=75^{\circ}</math> and <math>\measuredangle RED=45^{\circ}</math>. <math>|RD|=1</math>. Let <math>M</math> be the midpoint of segment <math>\overline{RD}</math>. Point <math>C</math> lies on side <math>\overline{ED}</math> such that <math>\overline{RC}\perp\overline{EM}</math>. Extend segment <math>\overline{DE}</math> through <math>E</math> to point <math>A</math> such that <math>CA=AR</math>. Then <math>AE=\frac{a-\sqrt{b}}{c}</math>, where <math>a</math> and <math>c</math> are relatively prime positive integers, and <math>b</math> is a positive integer. Find <math>a+b+c</math>.
  
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==

Revision as of 22:42, 28 February 2015

Problem 11

In $\triangle RED$, $\measuredangle DRE=75^{\circ}$ and $\measuredangle RED=45^{\circ}$. $|RD|=1$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of segment $\overline{RD}$. Point $C$ lies on side $\overline{ED}$ such that $\overline{RC}\perp\overline{EM}$. Extend segment $\overline{DE}$ through $E$ to point $A$ such that $CA=AR$. Then $AE=\frac{a-\sqrt{b}}{c}$, where $a$ and $c$ are relatively prime positive integers, and $b$ is a positive integer. Find $a+b+c$.

Solution

Let $P$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $A$ to $\overline{CR}$, so $\overline{AP}\parallel\overline{EM}$. Since triangle $ARC$ is isosceles, $P$ is the midpoint of $\overline{CR}$, and $\overline{PM}\parallel\overline{CD}$. Thus, $APME$ is a parallelogram and $AE = PM = \frac{CD}{2}$. We can then use coordinates. Let $O$ be the foot of altitude $RO$ and set $O$ as the origin. Now we notice special right triangles! In particular, $DO = \frac{1}{2}$ and $EO = RO = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$, so $D(\frac{1}{2}, 0)$, $E(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, 0)$, and $R(0, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}).$ $M =$ midpoint$(D, R) = (\frac{1}{4}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4})$ and the slope of $ME = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}}{\frac{1}{4} + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{1 + \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}}$, so the slope of $RC = -\frac{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}.$ Instead of finding the equation of the line, we use the definition of slope: for every $CO = x$ to the left, we go $\frac{x(1 + 2\sqrt{3})}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ up. Thus, $x = \frac{\frac{3}{2}}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}} = \frac{3}{4\sqrt{3} + 2} = \frac{3(4\sqrt{3} - 2)}{44} = \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22}.$ $DC = \frac{1}{2} - x = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22} = \frac{14 - 6\sqrt{3}}{22}$, and $AE = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}$, so the answer is $\boxed{056}$.

See also

2014 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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