2014 AIME II Problem 11

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11.

In RED,\triangle RED, RD=1,RD = 1, DRE=75\angle DRE = 75^\circ and RED=45.\angle RED = 45^\circ. Let MM be the midpoint of segment RD.\overline{RD}. Point CC lies on side ED\overline{ED} such that RCEM.\overline{RC} \perp \overline{EM}. Extend segment DE\overline{DE} through EE to point AA such that CA=AR.CA = AR. Then AE=abc,AE = \frac{a - \sqrt{b}}{c}, where aa and cc are relatively prime positive integers, and bb is a positive integer. Find a+b+c.a + b + c.

Answer: 56
Concepts:coordinate geometrylaw of sinesslope
Difficulty rating: 3060
Small Hint:

Place DD at the origin and EE on the positive xx-axis; then R=(cos60,sin60)R = (\cos 60^\circ, \sin 60^\circ) and the law of sines gives DE=3+12DE = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}

Big Hint:

Perpendicular slopes locate CC on the xx-axis, and CA=ARCA = AR is a linear equation in the xx-coordinate of AA

Solution:

Since RDE=1807545\angle RDE = 180^\circ - 75^\circ - 45^\circ =60,= 60^\circ, place D=(0,0)D = (0,0) with EE on the positive xx-axis, so R=(12,32).R = \left(\frac{1}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right). The law of sines gives DE=sin75sin45=3+12,DE = \frac{\sin 75^\circ}{\sin 45^\circ} = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}, and M=(14,34).M = \left(\frac{1}{4}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}\right).

The slope of EMEM is 34143+12=31+23,\frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}}{\frac{1}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}} = \frac{-\sqrt{3}}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}, so line RCRC has slope 1+233.\frac{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}. Descending from RR by 32\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} to the xx-axis moves us left by 321+23=63322,\frac{\frac{3}{2}}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}} = \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22}, so C=(c,0)C = (c, 0) with c=1263322=73311.c = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22} = \frac{7 - 3\sqrt{3}}{11}.

For A=(t,0),A = (t, 0), the condition CA=ARCA = AR reads (tc)2=(t12)2+34,(t - c)^2 = \left(t - \frac{1}{2}\right)^2 + \frac{3}{4}, which is linear in t:t: t=1c212c=9+4311.t = \frac{1 - c^2}{1 - 2c} = \frac{9 + 4\sqrt{3}}{11}. Then AE=t3+12=18+831131122=73322=72722, \begin{aligned} AE &= t - \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2} \\ &= \frac{18 + 8\sqrt{3} - 11\sqrt{3} - 11}{22} \\ &= \frac{7 - 3\sqrt{3}}{22} = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}, \end{aligned} so a+b+c=7+27+22=56.a + b + c = 7 + 27 + 22 = 56.

Problem 10#10
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