1999 AIME Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 1999 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 1999 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.

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14.

Point PP is located inside triangle ABCABC so that angles PAB,PAB, PBC,PBC, and PCAPCA are all congruent. The sides of the triangle have lengths AB=13,AB = 13, BC=14,BC = 14, and CA=15,CA = 15, and the tangent of angle PABPAB is mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 463
Concepts:law of sinestrigonometric identitytriangle area
Difficulty rating: 2990
Solution:

Let ω=PAB=PBC=PCA.\omega = \angle PAB = \angle PBC = \angle PCA. In triangle ABP,ABP, the angles at AA and BB are ω\omega and Bω,B - \omega, so APB=180B\angle APB = 180^\circ - B and the law of sines gives BP=csinωsinB.BP = \frac{c \sin\omega}{\sin B}. In triangle BCP,BCP, the angles at BB and CC are ω\omega and Cω,C - \omega, so BPC=180C\angle BPC = 180^\circ - C and BP=asin(Cω)sinC.BP = \frac{a \sin(C - \omega)}{\sin C}.

Equating and substituting a=2RsinA,a = 2R\sin A, c=2RsinCc = 2R\sin C yields sin2Csinω\sin^2 C \sin\omega =sinAsinBsin(Cω).= \sin A \sin B \sin(C - \omega). Expanding sin(Cω)\sin(C - \omega) and dividing by sinAsinBsinCsinω,\sin A \sin B \sin C \sin\omega, sinCsinAsinB=cotωcotC,\frac{\sin C}{\sin A \sin B} = \cot\omega - \cot C, and since sinC\sin C =sin(A+B)= \sin(A + B) =sinAcosB= \sin A \cos B +cosAsinB,+ \cos A \sin B, the left side is cotA+cotB.\cot A + \cot B. Hence cotω=cotA+cotB+cotC.\cot\omega = \cot A + \cot B + \cot C.

Using cotA=b2+c2a24K\cot A = \frac{b^2 + c^2 - a^2}{4K} and its analogues, where KK is the area, cotω=a2+b2+c24K=169+196+225484=590336=295168, \begin{aligned} \cot\omega &= \frac{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}{4K} \\ &= \frac{169 + 196 + 225}{4 \cdot 84} \\ &= \frac{590}{336} \\ &= \frac{295}{168}, \end{aligned} since the 1313-1414-1515 triangle has area 84.84. So tanω=168295,\tan\omega = \frac{168}{295}, which is in lowest terms, and m+n=168+295=463.m + n = 168 + 295 = 463.

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