1996 AIME Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 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.

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15.

In parallelogram ABCD,ABCD, let OO be the intersection of diagonals AC\overline{AC} and BD.\overline{BD}. Angles CABCAB and DBCDBC are each twice as large as angle DBA,DBA, and angle ACBACB is rr times as large as angle AOB.AOB. Find the greatest integer that does not exceed 1000r.1000r.

Answer: 777
Concepts:parallelogramlaw of sinestrigonometric identity
Difficulty rating: 2560
Small Hint:

Set DBA=α\angle DBA=\alpha and compare triangles ABCABC and ABDABD

Big Hint:

Use the law of sines to obtain an equation involving sin5α,\sin5\alpha, sin2α,\sin2\alpha, and sinα\sin\alpha

Solution:

Let DBA=α.\angle DBA=\alpha. Then DBC=CAB=2α,\angle DBC=\angle CAB=2\alpha, so in ABC\triangle ABC the angles are 2α,2\alpha, 3α,3\alpha, and 1805α.180^\circ-5\alpha. Because ADBC,AD\parallel BC, triangle ABDABD has angles α,\alpha, 2α,2\alpha, and 1803α.180^\circ-3\alpha.

Applying the law of sines in the two triangles and using AD=BCAD=BC gives ABBC=sin5αsin2α=sin2αsinα.\frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{\sin5\alpha}{\sin2\alpha}=\frac{\sin2\alpha}{\sin\alpha}. With u=cos2α,u=\cos^2\alpha, this becomes 16u216u+1=0.16u^2-16u+1=0. Since 5α<180,5\alpha<180^\circ, the valid root is u=2+34=cos215,u=\frac{2+\sqrt3}{4}=\cos^2 15^\circ, so α=15.\alpha=15^\circ. Thus ACB=105.\angle ACB=105^\circ. In AOB,\triangle AOB, the angles at AA and BB are 3030^\circ and 15,15^\circ, so AOB=135.\angle AOB=135^\circ. Therefore r=105135=79,1000r=777.\begin{aligned}r&=\frac{105}{135}=\frac79,\\\left\lfloor1000r\right\rfloor&=777.\end{aligned}

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