1987 AIME Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 1987 AIME below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1987 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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2.

What is the largest possible distance between two points, one on the sphere of radius 1919 centered at (2,10,5)(-2,-10,5) and the other on the sphere of radius 8787 centered at (12,8,16)?(12,8,-16)?

Answer: 137
Concepts:spheredistance formulatriangle inequality
Difficulty rating: 1340
Small Hint:

First find the distance between the two centers

Big Hint:

The maximum occurs along the line of centers, on the two outward sides

Solution:

The squared distance between the centers is 142+182+(21)2=961,14^2+18^2+(-21)^2=961, so they are 961=31\sqrt{961}=31 apart. By the triangle inequality, the greatest point-to-point distance is obtained on the line of centers and equals 19+31+87=137.19+31+87=137.

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