2013 AIME II Problem 4

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4.

In the Cartesian plane let A=(1,0)A = (1, 0) and B=(2,23).B = (2, 2\sqrt{3}). Equilateral triangle ABCABC is constructed so that CC lies in the first quadrant. Let P=(x,y)P = (x, y) be the center of ABC.\triangle ABC. Then xyx \cdot y can be written as pqr,\frac{p\sqrt{q}}{r}, where pp and rr are relatively prime positive integers and qq is an integer that is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find p+q+r.p + q + r.

Answer: 40
Concepts:coordinate geometryequilateral trianglecentroidvector
Difficulty rating: 2270
Solution:

The midpoint of AB\overline{AB} is M=(32,3),M = \left(\frac{3}{2}, \sqrt{3}\right), and AB=1+12=13.AB = \sqrt{1 + 12} = \sqrt{13}. The third vertex lies at distance 3213\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\sqrt{13} from MM along a direction perpendicular to AB=(1,23);\overrightarrow{AB} = (1, 2\sqrt{3}); a unit perpendicular is 113(23,1).\frac{1}{\sqrt{13}}(2\sqrt{3}, -1). Taking the sign that lands in the first quadrant, C=M+32(23,1)=(92,32) \begin{aligned} C &= M + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\,(2\sqrt{3}, -1) \\ &= \left(\frac{9}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right) \end{aligned} (the other choice has negative xx-coordinate).

The center of an equilateral triangle is its centroid, the average of the vertices: P=(1+2+923, 0+23+323)=(52,536). \begin{aligned} P &= \small \left(\frac{1 + 2 + \frac{9}{2}}{3},\ \frac{0 + 2\sqrt{3} + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}{3} \right) \\ &= \left(\frac{5}{2}, \frac{5\sqrt{3}}{6}\right). \end{aligned}

Then xy=52536=25312,x \cdot y = \frac{5}{2} \cdot \frac{5\sqrt{3}}{6} = \frac{25\sqrt{3}}{12}, so p+q+r=25+3+12=40.p + q + r = 25 + 3 + 12 = 40.

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