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 sin⁡5α,\sin5\alpha, sin⁡2α,\sin2\alpha, and sin⁡α\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 180∘−5α.180^\circ-5\alpha. Because AD∥BC,AD\parallel BC, triangle ABDABD has angles α,\alpha, 2α,2\alpha, and 180∘−3α.180^\circ-3\alpha.

Applying the law of sines in the two triangles and using AD=BCAD=BC gives ABBC=sin⁡5αsin⁡2α=sin⁡2αsin⁡α.\frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{\sin5\alpha}{\sin2\alpha}=\frac{\sin2\alpha}{\sin\alpha}. With u=cos⁡2α,u=\cos^2\alpha, this becomes 16u2−16u+1=0.16u^2-16u+1=0. Since 5α<180∘,5\alpha<180^\circ, the valid root is u=2+34=cos⁡215∘,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 30∘30^\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}

Problem 14#14
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