1996 AIME Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 1996 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 1996 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

13.

In triangle ABC,ABC, AB=30,AB=\sqrt{30}, AC=6,AC=\sqrt6, and BC=15.BC=\sqrt{15}. There is a point DD for which AD\overline{AD} bisects BC,\overline{BC}, and ADB\angle ADB is a right angle. The ratio Area(ADB)Area(ABC)\frac{\operatorname{Area}(\triangle ADB)}{\operatorname{Area}(\triangle ABC)} can be written in the form mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m+n.

Answer: 65
Concepts:median (geometry)area ratioPythagorean Theorem
Difficulty rating: 2380
Small Hint:

Let EE be the midpoint of BC,\overline{BC}, so A,A, E,E, and DD are collinear

Big Hint:

Find AEAE with the median formula, then compare two right triangles sharing BDBD

Solution:

Let EE be the midpoint of BC.\overline{BC}. Then A,A, E,E, and DD are collinear. The median formula gives AE2=2AB2+2AC2BC24=574.\begin{aligned}AE^2&=\frac{2AB^2+2AC^2-BC^2}{4}\\&=\frac{57}{4}.\end{aligned} Since AB2>AE2+BE2,AB^2>AE^2+BE^2, angle AEBAEB is obtuse, so the perpendicular foot DD lies beyond E.E. Both ABD\triangle ABD and EBD\triangle EBD are right at D.D. Therefore AB2BE2=(AE+DE)2DE2=AE2+2AEDE.\begin{gathered}AB^2-BE^2\\=(AE+DE)^2-DE^2\\=AE^2+2AE\cdot DE.\end{gathered} Substitution gives 30154=574+2AEDE,30-\frac{15}{4}=\frac{57}{4}+2AE\cdot DE, so DEAE=819.\frac{DE}{AE}=\frac{8}{19}.

Triangles ABEABE and DBEDBE have bases AEAE and DEDE on the same line and share the altitude from B,B, while [ABC]=2[ABE].[ABC]=2[ABE]. Hence [ADB][ABC]=[ABE]+[DBE]2[ABE]=12(1+819)=2738.\begin{aligned}\frac{[ADB]}{[ABC]}&=\frac{[ABE]+[DBE]}{2[ABE]}\\&=\frac12\left(1+\frac8{19}\right)\\&=\frac{27}{38}.\end{aligned} Thus m+n=65.m+n=65.

← Problem 12#12
Full Exam

Problem 13 in Other Years