2009 AIME I Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2009 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 2009 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

In triangle ABC,ABC, AB=10,AB = 10, BC=14,BC = 14, and CA=16.CA = 16. Let DD be a point in the interior of BC.\overline{BC}. Let IBI_B and ICI_C denote the incenters of triangles ABDABD and ACD,ACD, respectively. The circumcircles of triangles BIBDBI_BD and CICDCI_CD meet at distinct points PP and D.D. The maximum possible area of BPC\triangle BPC can be expressed in the form abc,a - b\sqrt{c}, where a,a, b,b, and cc are positive integers and cc is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find a+b+c.a + b + c.

Answer: 150
Concepts:incircle, incenter, and inradiuscyclic quadrilaterallaw of cosinesoptimization
Difficulty rating: 3500
Solution:

In triangle ABDABD the incenter satisfies BIBD=90+BAD2,\angle B I_B D = 90^\circ + \frac{\angle BAD}{2}, and likewise CICD=90+DAC2,\angle C I_C D = 90^\circ + \frac{\angle DAC}{2}, so these two angles sum to 180+BAC2.180^\circ + \frac{\angle BAC}{2}. The law of cosines gives cosBAC=102+16214221016=12,\cos \angle BAC = \frac{10^2 + 16^2 - 14^2}{2 \cdot 10 \cdot 16} = \frac{1}{2}, so BAC=60\angle BAC = 60^\circ and the sum is 210.210^\circ.

The second intersection point PP lies on the opposite side of BC\overline{BC} from the incenters (were it on the same side, the two cyclic quadrilaterals would force BPC=210>180\angle BPC = 210^\circ \gt 180^\circ). Then BIBDPBI_BDP and CICDPCI_CDP are convex cyclic quadrilaterals, so BPC=BPD+DPC=(180BIBD)+(180CICD)=360210=150, \begin{aligned} \angle BPC &= \angle BPD + \angle DPC \\ &= \left(180^\circ - \angle BI_BD\right) \\ &\quad {}+ \left(180^\circ - \angle CI_CD\right) \\ &= 360^\circ - 210^\circ = 150^\circ, \end{aligned} independent of D.D. Hence PP moves along a fixed circular arc through BB and C.C.

The area of triangle BPCBPC is maximized at the midpoint of the arc, where BP=PC=x.BP = PC = x. The law of cosines gives 142=2x2+3x2,14^2 = 2x^2 + \sqrt{3}\,x^2, so x2=1962+3=196(23),x^2 = \frac{196}{2 + \sqrt{3}} = 196\left(2 - \sqrt{3}\right), and the area is 12x2sin150=49(23)\frac{1}{2}x^2 \sin 150^\circ = 49\left(2 - \sqrt{3}\right) =98493.= 98 - 49\sqrt{3}. Thus a+b+c=98+49+3=150.a + b + c = 98 + 49 + 3 = 150.

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