# Difference between revisions of "2019 AIME I Problems/Problem 11"

## Problem 11

In $\triangle ABC$, the sides have integer lengths and $AB=AC$. Circle $\omega$ has its center at the incenter of $\triangle ABC$. An excircle of $\triangle ABC$ is a circle in the exterior of $\triangle ABC$ that is tangent to one side of the triangle and tangent to the extensions of the other two sides. Suppose that the excircle tangent to $\overline{BC}$ is internally tangent to $\omega$, and the other two excircles are both externally tangent to $\omega$. Find the minimum possible value of the perimeter of $\triangle ABC$.

## Solution 1

Let the tangent circle be $\omega$. Some notation first: let $BC=a$, $AB=b$, $s$ be the semiperimeter, $\theta=\angle ABC$, and $r$ be the inradius. Intuition tells us that the radius of $\omega$ is $r+\frac{2rs}{s-a}$ (using the exradius formula). However, the sum of the radius of $\omega$ and $\frac{rs}{s-b}$ is equivalent to the distance between the incenter and the the $B/C$ excenter. Denote the B excenter as $I_B$ and the incenter as $I$. Lemma: $I_BI=\frac{2b*IB}{a}$ We draw the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$. Let the angle bisector of $\angle ABC$ hit the circumcircle at a second point $M$. By the incenter-excenter lemma, $AM=CM=IM$. Let this distance be $\alpha$. Ptolemy's theorem on $ABCM$ gives us $$a\alpha+b\alpha=b(\alpha+IB)\to \alpha=\frac{b*IB}{a}$$ Again, by the incenter-excenter lemma, $II_B=2IM$ so $II_b=\frac{2b*IB}{a}$ as desired. Using this gives us the following equation: $$\frac{2b*IB}{a}=r+\frac{2rs}{s-a}+\frac{rs}{s-b}$$ Motivated by the $s-a$ and $s-b$, we make the following substitution: $x=s-a, y=s-b$ This changes things quite a bit. Here's what we can get from it: $$a=2y, b=x+y, s=x+2y$$ It is known (easily proved with Heron's and a=rs) that $$r=\sqrt{\frac{(s-a)(s-b)(s-b)}{s}}=\sqrt{\frac{xy^2}{x+2y}}$$ Using this, we can also find $IB$: let the midpoint of $BC$ be $N$. Using Pythagorean's Theorem on $\triangle INB$, $$IB^2=r^2+(\frac{a}{2})^2=\frac{xy^2}{x+2y}+y^2=\frac{2xy^2+2y^3}{x+2y}=\frac{2y^2(x+y)}{x+2y}$$ We now look at the RHS of the main equation: $$r+\frac{2rs}{s-a}+\frac{rs}{s-b}=r(1+\frac{2(x+2y)}{x}+\frac{x+2y}{y})=r(\frac{x^2+5xy+4y^2}{xy})=\frac{r(x+4y)(x+y)}{xy}=\frac{2(x+y)IB}{2y}$$ Cancelling some terms, we have $$\frac{r(x+4y)}{x}=IB$$ Squaring, $$\frac{2y^2(x+y)}{x+2y}=\frac{(x+4y)^2*xy^2}{x^2(x+2y)}\to \frac{(x+4y)^2}{x}=2(x+y)$$ Expanding and moving terms around gives $$(x-8y)(x+2y)=0\to x=8y$$ Reverse substituting, $$s-a=8s-8b\to b=\frac{9}{2}a$$ Clearly the smallest solution is $a=2$ and $b=9$, so our answer is $2+9+9=\boxed{020}$ -franchester

## Solution 2 (Lots of Pythagorean Theorem)

$[asy] unitsize(1cm); var x = 9; pair A = (0,sqrt(x^2-1)); pair B = (-1,0); pair C = (1,0); dot(Label("A",A,NE),A); dot(Label("B",B,SW),B); dot(Label("C",C,SE),C); draw(A--B--C--cycle); var r = sqrt((x-1)/(x+1)); pair I = (0,r); dot(Label("I",I,SE),I); draw(circle(I,r)); draw(Label("r"),I--I+r*SSW,dashed); pair M = intersectionpoint(A--B,circle(I,r)); pair N = (0,0); pair O = intersectionpoint(A--C,circle(I,r)); dot(Label("M",M,W),M); dot(Label("N",N,S),N); dot(Label("O",O,E),O); var rN = sqrt((x+1)/(x-1)); pair EN = (0,-rN); dot(Label("E_N",EN,SE),EN); draw(circle(EN,rN)); draw(Label("r_N"),EN--EN+rN*SSW,dashed); pair AB = (-1-2/(x-1),-2rN); pair AC = (1+2/(x-1),-2rN); draw(B--AB,EndArrow); draw(C--AC,EndArrow); pair H = intersectionpoint(B--AB,circle(EN,rN)); dot(Label("H",H,W),H); var rM = sqrt(x^2-1); pair EM = (-x,rM); dot(Label("E_M",EM,SW),EM); draw(Label("r_M"),EM--EM+rM*SSE,dashed); pair CB = (-x-1,0); pair CA = (-2/x,sqrt(x^2-1)+2(sqrt(x^2-1)/x)); draw(B--CB,EndArrow); draw(A--CA,EndArrow); pair J = intersectionpoint(A--B,circle(EM,rM)); pair K = intersectionpoint(B--CB,circle(EM,rM)); dot(Label("J",J,W),J); dot(Label("K",K,S),K); draw(arc(EM,rM,-100,15),Arrows); [/asy]$

First, assume $BC=2$ and $AB=AC=x$. The triangle can be scaled later if necessary. Let $I$ be the incenter and let $r$ be the inradius. Let the points at which the incircle intersects $AB$, $BC$, and $CA$ be denoted $M$, $N$, and $O$, respectively.

Next, we calculate $r$ in terms of $x$. Note the right triangle formed by $A$, $I$, and $M$. The length $IM$ is equal to $r$. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the length $AN$ is $\sqrt{x^2-1}$, so the length $AI$ is $\sqrt{x^2-1}-r$. Note that $BN$ is half of $BC=2$, and by symmetry caused by the incircle, $BN=BM$ and $BM=1$, so $MA=x-1$. Applying the Pythagorean Theorem to $AIM$, we get $$r^2+(x-1)^2=\left(\sqrt{x^2-1}-r\right)^2.$$ Expanding yields $$r^2+x^2-2x+1=x^2-1-2r\sqrt{x^2-1}+r^2,$$ which can be simplified to $$2r\sqrt{x^2-1}=2x-2.$$ Dividing by $2$ and then squaring results in $$r^2(x^2-1)=(x-1)^2,$$ and isolating $r^2$ gets us $$r^2=\frac{(x-1)^2}{x^2-1}=\frac{(x-1)^2}{(x+1)(x-1)}=\frac{x-1}{x+1},$$ so $r=\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}$.

We then calculate the radius of the excircle tangent to $BC$. We denote the center of the excircle $E_N$ and the radius $r_N$.

Consider the quadrilateral formed by $M$, $I$, $E_N$, and the point at which the excircle intersects the extension of $AB$, which we denote $H$. By symmetry caused by the excircle, $BN=BH$, so $BH=1$.

Note that triangles $MBI$ and $NBI$ are congruent, and $HBE$ and $NBE$ are also congruent. Denoting the measure of angles $MBI$ and $NBI$ measure $\alpha$ and the measure of angles $HBE$ and $NBE$ measure $\beta$, straight angle $MBH=2\alpha+2\beta$, so $\alpha + \beta=90^\circ$. This means that angle $IBE$ is a right angle, so it forms a right triangle.

Setting the base of the right triangle to $IE$, the height is $BN=1$ and the base consists of $IN=r$ and $EN=r_N$. Triangles $INB$ and $BNE$ are similar to $IBE$, so $\frac{IN}{BN}=\frac{BN}{EN}$, or $\frac{r}{1}=\frac{1}{r_N}$. This makes $r_N$ the reciprocal of $r$, so $r_N=\sqrt{\frac{x+1}{x-1}}$.

Circle $\omega$'s radius can be expressed by the distance from the incenter $I$ to the bottom of the excircle with center $E_N$. This length is equal to $r+2r_N$, or $\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}+2\sqrt{\frac{x+1}{x-1}}$. Denote this value $r_\omega$.

Finally, we calculate the distance from the incenter $I$ to the closest point on the excircle tangent to $AB$, which forms another radius of circle $\omega$ and is equal to $r_\omega$. We denote the center of the excircle $E_M$ and the radius $r_M$. We also denote the points where the excircle intersects $AB$ and the extension of $BC$ using $J$ and $K$, respectively. In order to calculate the distance, we must find the distance between $I$ and $E_M$ and subtract off the radius $r_M$.

We first must calculate the radius of the excircle. Because the excircle is tangent to both $AB$ and the extension of $AC$, its center must lie on the angle bisector formed by the two lines, which is parallel to $BC$. This means that the distance from $E_M$ to $K$ is equal to the length of $AN$, so the radius is also $\sqrt{x^2-1}$.

Next, we find the length of $IE_M$. We can do this by forming the right triangle $IAE_M$. The length of leg $AI$ is equal to $AN$ minus $r$, or $\sqrt{x^2-1}-\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}$. In order to calculate the length of leg $AE_M$, note that right triangles $AJE_M$ and $BNA$ are congruent, as $JE_M$ and $NA$ share a length of $\sqrt{x^2-1}$, and angles $E_MAJ$ and $NAB$ add up to the right angle $NAE_M$. This means that $AE_M=BA=x$.

Using Pythagorean Theorem, we get $$IE_M=\sqrt{\left(\sqrt{x^2-1}-\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}\right)^2+x^2}.$$ Bringing back $$r_\omega=IE_M-r_M$$ and substituting in some values, the equation becomes $$r_\omega=\sqrt{\left(\sqrt{x^2-1}-\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}\right)^2+x^2}-\sqrt{x^2-1}.$$ Rearranging and squaring both sides gets $$\left(r_\omega+\sqrt{x^2-1}\right)^2=\left(\sqrt{x^2-1}-\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}\right)^2+x^2.$$ Distributing both sides yields $$r_\omega^2+2r_\omega\sqrt{x^2-1}+x^2-1=x^2-1-2\sqrt{x^2-1}\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}+\frac{x-1}{x+1}+x^2.$$ Canceling terms results in $$r_\omega^2+2r_\omega\sqrt{x^2-1}=-2\sqrt{x^2-1}\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}+\frac{x-1}{x+1}+x^2.$$ Since $$-2\sqrt{x^2-1}\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}=-2\sqrt{(x+1)(x-1)\frac{x-1}{x+1}}=-2(x-1),$$ We can further simplify to $$r_\omega^2+2r_\omega\sqrt{x^2-1}=-2(x-1)+\frac{x-1}{x+1}+x^2.$$ Substituting out $r_\omega$ gets $$\left(\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}+2\sqrt{\frac{x+1}{x-1}}\right)^2+2\left(\sqrt{\frac{x-1}{x+1}}+2\sqrt{\frac{x+1}{x-1}}\right)\sqrt{x^2-1}=-2(x-1)+\frac{x-1}{x+1}+x^2$$ which when distributed yields $$\frac{x-1}{x+1}+4+4\left(\frac{x+1}{x-1}\right)+2(x-1+2(x+1))=-2(x-1)+\frac{x-1}{x+1}+x^2.$$ After some canceling, distributing, and rearranging, we obtain $$4\left(\frac{x+1}{x-1}\right)=x^2-8x-4.$$ Multiplying both sides by $x-1$ results in $$4x+4=x^3-x^2-8x^2+8x-4x+4,$$ which can be rearranged into $$x^3-9x^2=0$$ and factored into $$x^2(x-9)=0.$$ This means that $x$ equals $0$ or $9$, and since a side length of $0$ cannot exist, $x=9$.

As a result, the triangle must have sides in the ratio of $9:2:9$. Since the triangle must have integer side lengths, and these values share no common factors greater than $1$, the triangle with the smallest possible perimeter under these restrictions has a perimeter of $9+2+9=\boxed{020}$. ~emerald_block