2014 AIME II Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 2014 AIME II 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 2014 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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14.

In ABC,\triangle ABC, AB=10,AB = 10, A=30,\angle A = 30^\circ, and C=45.\angle C = 45^\circ. Let H,H, D,D, and MM be points on line BC\overline{BC} such that AHBC,\overline{AH} \perp \overline{BC}, BAD=CAD,\angle BAD = \angle CAD, and BM=CM.BM = CM. Point NN is the midpoint of segment HM,\overline{HM}, and point PP is on ray ADAD such that PNBC.\overline{PN} \perp \overline{BC}. Then AP2=mn,AP^2 = \frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 77
Concepts:circumcircle, circumcenter, and circumradiusangle bisectorlaw of sinesmidpoint
Difficulty rating: 3160
Solution:

Let ray ADAD meet the circumcircle of ABC\triangle ABC again at E.E. Since ADAD bisects angle A,A, the point EE is the midpoint of arc BC,BC, so EE lies on the perpendicular bisector of BC\overline{BC} and projects onto line BCBC at M.M. The projections of the collinear points A,A, P,P, EE onto line BCBC are H,H, N,N, M,M, and projection preserves ratios along a line; since NN is the midpoint of HM,\overline{HM}, point PP is the midpoint of AE.\overline{AE}.

Here B=105,\angle B = 105^\circ, and CBE=CAE=15\angle CBE = \angle CAE = 15^\circ (both subtend arc CECE), so ABE=120.\angle ABE = 120^\circ. Also AEB=ACB=45\angle AEB = \angle ACB = 45^\circ (both subtend arc ABAB). The law of sines in ABE\triangle ABE gives AE=ABsinABEsinAEB=10sin120sin45=56. \begin{aligned} AE &= AB \cdot \frac{\sin \angle ABE}{\sin \angle AEB} \\ &= 10 \cdot \frac{\sin 120^\circ}{\sin 45^\circ} \\ &= 5\sqrt{6}. \end{aligned}

Therefore AP=12AE=562,AP = \frac{1}{2} AE = \frac{5\sqrt{6}}{2}, so AP2=752AP^2 = \frac{75}{2} and m+n=75+2=77.m + n = 75 + 2 = 77.

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