2005 AIME I Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2005 AIME I 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 2005 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

In ABC,\triangle ABC, AB=20.AB = 20. The incircle of the triangle divides the median containing CC into three segments of equal length. Given that the area of ABC\triangle ABC is mn,m\sqrt{n}, where mm and nn are integers and nn is not divisible by the square of any prime, find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 38
Concepts:power of a pointincircle, incenter, and inradiusmedian (geometry)Heron’s Formula
Difficulty rating: 3270
Small Hint:

Let MM be the midpoint of AB.\overline{AB}. Compute the power of MM and of CC with respect to the incircle: both come out to 29CM2.\frac{2}{9}CM^2.

Big Hint:

Equal powers give equal tangent lengths from MM and C,C, which forces AC=AM=10;AC = AM = 10; then combine MT=BC102MT = \frac{BC - 10}{2} with the median length formula

Solution:

Let MM be the midpoint of AB.\overline{AB}. Relabel AA and BB if necessary so that the incircle’s point of tangency with AB\overline{AB} lies on AM.\overline{AM}. Let the incircle cut median CM\overline{CM} at SS and N,N, with CS=SN=NM=13CM,CS = SN = NM = \frac{1}{3}CM, and touch AB\overline{AB} at TT and AC\overline{AC} at R.R. By Power of a Point, MT2=MNMS=CM32CM3=29CM2,CR2=CSCN=29CM2, \begin{aligned} MT^2 &= MN \cdot MS \\ &= \frac{CM}{3} \cdot \frac{2\,CM}{3} \\ &= \frac{2}{9}CM^2, \\ CR^2 &= CS \cdot CN \\ &= \frac{2}{9}CM^2, \end{aligned} so MT=CR.MT = CR. Since AR=ATAR = AT (tangents from AA), we get AC=AR+RC=AT+TM=AM=10. \begin{aligned} AC &= AR + RC \\ &= AT + TM \\ &= AM = 10. \end{aligned}

Write a=BCa = BC and s=20+a+102=15+a2.s = \frac{20 + a + 10}{2} = 15 + \frac{a}{2}. The standard tangent length gives AT=sa,AT = s - a, so MT=AMAT=10(15a2)=a102, \begin{aligned} MT &= AM - AT \\ &= 10 - \left(15 - \frac{a}{2}\right) \\ &= \frac{a - 10}{2}, \end{aligned} while the median length formula gives CM2=2102+2a22024=a21002.CM^2 = \frac{2 \cdot 10^2 + 2a^2 - 20^2}{4} = \frac{a^2 - 100}{2}. The triangle inequality gives a>2010=10,a \gt 20 - 10 = 10, so a10a - 10 is nonzero. Substituting into MT2=29CM2:MT^2 = \frac{2}{9}CM^2: (a10)24=a210099(a10)=4(a+10)a=26. \begin{aligned} \frac{(a - 10)^2}{4} &= \frac{a^2 - 100}{9} \\ &\quad\Longrightarrow\quad 9(a - 10) \\ &= 4(a + 10) \\ &\quad\Longrightarrow\quad a = 26. \end{aligned}

Then the sides are 20,20, 26,26, 1010 with s=28,s = 28, and Heron’s formula gives [ABC]=288218=8064=2414, \begin{aligned} [ABC] &= \sqrt{28 \cdot 8 \cdot 2 \cdot 18} \\ &= \sqrt{8064} = 24\sqrt{14}, \end{aligned} so m+n=24+14=38.m + n = 24 + 14 = 38.

Problem 14#14
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