2020 AIME I Problem 6

Attempt Problem 6 of the 2020 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 2020 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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6.

A flat board has a circular hole with radius 11 and a circular hole with radius 22 such that the distance between the centers of the two holes is 7.7. Two spheres with equal radii sit in the two holes such that the spheres are tangent to each other. The square of the radius of the spheres is mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 173
Concepts:spherePythagorean Theoremradical
Difficulty rating: 2450
Solution:

A sphere of radius rr resting in a circular hole of radius aa has its center on the axis of the hole; since the center is at distance rr from every point of the hole's rim, it sits at distance r2a2\sqrt{r^2 - a^2} from the plane of the board. So the two centers lie at depths r21\sqrt{r^2 - 1} and r24\sqrt{r^2 - 4} on the same side of the board, with horizontal separation 7.7.

Tangency of the spheres means the centers are 2r2r apart: 49+(r21r24)2=4r2. \begin{aligned} &49 + \left(\sqrt{r^2 - 1} - \sqrt{r^2 - 4}\right)^2 \\ &= 4r^2. \end{aligned} Expanding gives 49+2r2549 + 2r^2 - 5 2(r21)(r24)- 2\sqrt{(r^2 - 1)(r^2 - 4)} =4r2,= 4r^2, so (r21)(r24)=22r2.\sqrt{(r^2 - 1)(r^2 - 4)} = 22 - r^2. Squaring, r45r2+4=48444r2+r4,r^4 - 5r^2 + 4 = 484 - 44r^2 + r^4, hence 39r2=48039r^2 = 480 and r2=16013.r^2 = \frac{160}{13}.

Thus m+n=160+13=173.m + n = 160 + 13 = 173.

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