2008 AIME I Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 2008 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 2008 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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10.

Let ABCDABCD be an isosceles trapezoid with AD‾∥BC‾\overline{AD} \parallel \overline{BC} whose angle at the longer base AD‾\overline{AD} is π3.\frac{\pi}{3}. The diagonals have length 1021,10\sqrt{21}, and point EE is at distances 10710\sqrt{7} and 30730\sqrt{7} from vertices AA and D,D, respectively. Let FF be the foot of the altitude from CC to AD‾.\overline{AD}. The distance EFEF can be expressed in the form mn,m\sqrt{n}, where mm and nn are positive integers and nn is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 32
Concepts:trapezoidlaw of sinestriangle inequalitybounding to limit cases
Difficulty rating: 2990
Small Hint:

The triangle inequality gives 307=DE≤DA+AE,30\sqrt{7} = DE \le DA + AE, so DA≥207DA \ge 20\sqrt{7}

Big Hint:

The Law of Sines in triangle ACDACD gives DA=207sin⁡∠DCA≤207,DA = 20\sqrt{7}\sin\angle DCA \le 20\sqrt{7}, so equality holds everywhere: ∠DCA=90∘\angle DCA = 90^\circ and EE lies on ray DADA beyond AA

Solution:

By the triangle inequality, 307=DE30\sqrt{7} = DE ≤DA+AE\le DA + AE =DA+107,= DA + 10\sqrt{7}, so DA≥207.DA \ge 20\sqrt{7}. On the other hand, in triangle ACDACD the angle at DD is π3\frac{\pi}{3} and AC=1021,AC = 10\sqrt{21}, so the Law of Sines gives DA=ACsin⁡∠DCAsin⁡π3=102132sin⁡∠DCA=207sin⁡∠DCA≤207. \begin{aligned} DA &= \frac{AC \sin\angle DCA}{\sin\frac{\pi}{3}} \\ &= \frac{10\sqrt{21}}{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}\sin\angle DCA \\ &= 20\sqrt{7}\sin\angle DCA \\ &\le 20\sqrt{7}. \end{aligned}

Both bounds force DA=207,DA = 20\sqrt{7}, so ∠DCA=90∘,\angle DCA = 90^\circ, and equality in the triangle inequality means EE lies on line ADAD with AA between DD and E.E. From the right triangle, DC=DA2−AC2DC = \sqrt{DA^2 - AC^2} =2800−2100= \sqrt{2800 - 2100} =107,= 10\sqrt{7}, and since ∠CDF=60∘,\angle CDF = 60^\circ, the foot satisfies DF=DCcos⁡60∘=57.DF = DC\cos 60^\circ = 5\sqrt{7}.

Points FF and EE are on line ADAD on the same side of D,D, so EF=DE−DFEF = DE - DF =307−57= 30\sqrt{7} - 5\sqrt{7} =257,= 25\sqrt{7}, and m+n=25+7=32.m + n = 25 + 7 = 32.

Problem 9#9
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