Question

Circles $\mathcal{C}_1$ and $\mathcal{C}_2$ are externally tangent, and they are both internally tangent to circle $\mathcal{C}_3.$ The radii of $\mathcal{C}_1$ and $\mathcal{C}_2$ are $4$ and $10,$ respectively, and the centers of the three circles are all collinear. A chord of $\mathcal{C}_3$ is also a common external tangent of $\mathcal{C}_1$ and $\mathcal{C}_2.$ Given that the length of the chord is $\frac{m\sqrt{n}}{p},$ where $m,$ $n,$ and $p$ are positive integers, $m$ and $p$ are relatively prime, and $n$ is not divisible by the square of any prime, find $m + n + p.$

Answer

Answer: 405

Concepts:tangent circles chord Pythagorean Theorem

Difficulty rating: 2710

Solution:

Let $P_1,$ $P_2,$ $P_3$ be the centers of the circles and $R$ the radius of $\mathcal{C}_3.$ External tangency gives $P_1P_2 = 4 + 10 = 14,$ and internal tangency gives $P_3P_1 = R - 4$ and $P_3P_2 = R - 10.$ Since the centers are collinear, $(R - 4) + (R - 10) = 14,$ so $R = 14$ and $P_3$ lies on $\overline{P_1P_2}$ with $P_3P_1 = 10$ and $P_3P_2 = 4.$

Drop perpendiculars $P_1X,$ $P_2Y,$ $P_3Z$ to the chord, so $P_1X = 4,$ $P_2Y = 10,$ and $Z$ is the midpoint of the chord. The distance from a point moving along line $P_1P_2$ to the tangent line changes linearly, and $P_3$ is $\frac{10}{14}$ of the way from $P_1$ to $P_2,$ so $P_3Z = 4 + \frac{10}{14}(10 - 4) = \frac{58}{7}.$

The half-chord is $\sqrt{14^2 - \left(\frac{58}{7}\right)^2}$ $= \frac{\sqrt{9604 - 3364}}{7}$ $= \frac{4\sqrt{390}}{7},$ so the chord has length $\frac{8\sqrt{390}}{7}.$ Since $390 = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5 \cdot 13$ is squarefree and $\gcd(8, 7) = 1,$ the answer is $m + n + p = 8 + 390 + 7 = 405.$

2005 AIME II Problem 8

Answer: 405

Difficulty rating: 2710

Solution:

Problem 8 in Other Years