2023 AIME II Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2023 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 2023 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

Let △ABC\triangle ABC be an isosceles triangle with ∠A=90∘.\angle A = 90^\circ. There exists a point PP inside △ABC\triangle ABC such that ∠PAB=∠PBC=∠PCA\angle PAB = \angle PBC = \angle PCA and AP=10.AP = 10. Find the area of △ABC.\triangle ABC.

Answer: 250
Concepts:angle chasinglaw of sinestrigonometry
Difficulty rating: 2460
Small Hint:

Let ω\omega be the common angle. In triangle APCAPC the angles at AA and CC are 90∘−ω90^\circ - \omega and ω,\omega, so ∠APC=90∘\angle APC = 90^\circ

Big Hint:

Compare the law of sines in triangle ABPABP with AC=APsin⁡ω;AC = \frac{AP}{\sin\omega}; everything reduces to tan⁡ω=12\tan\omega = \frac{1}{2}

Solution:

Let ω\omega denote the common angle and L=AB=AC.L = AB = AC. Since ∠PAB=ω,\angle PAB = \omega, we have ∠PAC=90∘−ω,\angle PAC = 90^\circ - \omega, and with ∠PCA=ω\angle PCA = \omega the angles of triangle APCAPC give ∠APC=90∘.\angle APC = 90^\circ. Hence in right triangle APC,APC, L=AC=APsin⁡ω=10sin⁡ω.L = AC = \frac{AP}{\sin\omega} = \frac{10}{\sin\omega}.

In triangle ABP,ABP, the angle at AA is ω\omega and the angle at BB is 45∘−ω,45^\circ - \omega, so ∠APB=135∘.\angle APB = 135^\circ. The law of sines gives APsin⁡(45∘−ω)=ABsin⁡135∘,\frac{AP}{\sin(45^\circ - \omega)} = \frac{AB}{\sin 135^\circ}, that is, 10sin⁡135∘=Lsin⁡(45∘−ω).10 \sin 135^\circ = L \sin(45^\circ - \omega). Substituting L=10sin⁡ωL = \frac{10}{\sin\omega} and expanding yields sin⁡ω=2 sin⁡(45∘−ω)=cos⁡ω−sin⁡ω, \begin{aligned} \sin\omega &= \sqrt{2}\,\sin(45^\circ - \omega) \\ &= \cos\omega - \sin\omega, \end{aligned} so tan⁡ω=12\tan\omega = \frac{1}{2} and sin⁡2ω=15.\sin^2\omega = \frac{1}{5}.

Therefore L2=100sin⁡2ω=500,L^2 = \frac{100}{\sin^2\omega} = 500, and the area is 12L2=250.\frac{1}{2}L^2 = 250.

Problem 2#2
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