1995 AIME Problem 7

Attempt Problem 7 of the 1995 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 1995 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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7.

Given that (1+sint)(1+cost)=54(1+\sin t)(1+\cos t)=\frac54 and (1sint)(1cost)=mnk,\begin{aligned}(1-\sin t)&(1-\cos t)\\&=\frac mn-\sqrt k,\end{aligned} where k,k, m,m, and nn are positive integers with mm and nn relatively prime, find k+m+n.k+m+n.

Answer: 27
Concepts:trigonometric identitysymmetry (algebra)radical
Difficulty rating: 1900
Small Hint:

Set u=sint+costu=\sin t+\cos t and express sintcost\sin t\cos t in terms of uu

Big Hint:

Both given products become half of a perfect square in uu

Solution:

Let u=sint+cost.u=\sin t+\cos t. Since sintcost=u212,\sin t\cos t=\frac{u^2-1}{2}, (1+sint)(1+cost)=(u+1)22=54.\begin{aligned}(1+\sin t)&(1+\cos t)\\&=\frac{(u+1)^2}{2}=\frac54.\end{aligned} The feasible sign gives u+1=52.u+1=\sqrt{\frac{5}{2}}. Therefore (1sint)(1cost)=(1u)22=13410.\begin{aligned}(1-\sin t)&(1-\cos t)\\&=\frac{(1-u)^2}{2}\\&=\frac{13}{4}-\sqrt{10}.\end{aligned} Thus k+m+n=10+13+4=27.k+m+n=10+13+4=27.

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