2023 AIME II Problems/Problem 3

Revision as of 16:52, 16 February 2023 by Sahanwijetunga (talk | contribs) (Solution)

Problem

Let $\triangle ABC$ be an isosceles triangle with $\angle A = 90^\circ.$ There exists a point $P$ inside $\triangle ABC$ such that $\angle PAB = \angle PBC = \angle PCA$ and $AP = 10.$ Find the area of $\triangle ABC.$

Solution 1

Since the triangle is a right isosceles triangle, angles B and C are $45$

Let the common angle be $\theta$

Note that angle PAC is $90-\theta$, thus angle APC is $90$. From there, we know that AC is $\frac{10}{\sin\theta}$

Note that ABP is $45-\theta$, so from law of sines we have: \[\frac{10}{\sin\theta \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}}=\frac{10}{\sin(45-\theta)}\]

Dividing by 10 and multiplying across yields: \[\sqrt{2}\sin(45-\theta)=\sin\theta\]

From here use the sin subtraction formula, and solve for $\sin\theta$

\[\cos\theta-\sin\theta=\sin\theta\] \[2\sin\theta=\cos\theta\] \[4\sin^2\theta=cos^2\theta\] \[4\sin^2\theta=1-\sin^2\theta\] \[5\sin^2\theta=1\] \[\sin\theta=\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}\]

Substitute this to find that AC=$10\sqrt{5}$, thus the area is $\frac{(10\sqrt{5})^2}{2}=\boxed{250}$ ~SAHANWIJETUNGA

See also

2023 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
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