2022 AIME I Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2022 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 2022 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

In isosceles trapezoid ABCD,ABCD, parallel bases AB‾\overline{AB} and CD‾\overline{CD} have lengths 500500 and 650,650, respectively, and AD=BC=333.AD = BC = 333. The angle bisectors of ∠A\angle A and ∠D\angle D meet at P,P, and the angle bisectors of ∠B\angle B and ∠C\angle C meet at Q.Q. Find PQ.PQ.

Answer: 242
Concepts:angle bisectortrapezoidisosceles triangle
Difficulty rating: 2390
Small Hint:

Let the bisector of ∠A\angle A meet CD‾\overline{CD} at A′:A': alternate interior angles make triangle ADA′ADA' isosceles with DA′=333DA' = 333

Big Hint:

In isosceles triangle ADA′,ADA', the bisector from DD is also the median, so PP is the midpoint of AA′.AA'. Do the same for QQ and use coordinates.

Solution:

Let the bisector of ∠A\angle A meet CD‾\overline{CD} at A′.A'. Since AB‾∥CD‾,\overline{AB} \parallel \overline{CD}, we have ∠DA′A=∠A′AB=∠A′AD,\angle DA'A = \angle A'AB = \angle A'AD, so triangle ADA′ADA' is isosceles with DA′=DA=333.DA' = DA = 333. The bisector of ∠D\angle D is then the median from DD in this triangle, so P,P, which lies on both bisectors, is the midpoint of AA′‾.\overline{AA'}. Symmetrically, QQ is the midpoint of BB′‾,\overline{BB'}, where B′B' is on CD‾\overline{CD} with CB′=333.CB' = 333.

Place D=(0,0)D = (0, 0) and C=(650,0),C = (650, 0), so A=(75,h)A = (75, h) and B=(575,h)B = (575, h) for the appropriate height h.h. Then A′=(333,0)A' = (333, 0) and B′=(650−333,0)=(317,0),B' = (650 - 333, 0) = (317, 0), so P=(75+3332,h2)=(204,h2), \begin{aligned} P &= \left(\frac{75 + 333}{2}, \frac{h}{2}\right) \\ &= \left(204, \frac{h}{2}\right), \end{aligned} Q=(575+3172,h2)=(446,h2). \begin{aligned} Q &= \left(\frac{575 + 317}{2}, \frac{h}{2}\right) \\ &= \left(446, \frac{h}{2}\right). \end{aligned}

Therefore PQ=446−204=242.PQ = 446 - 204 = 242.

Problem 2#2
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