2024 AIME I Problem 9

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Concepts:hyperbolarhombusoptimization

Difficulty rating: 2710

9.

Let A,A, B,B, C,C, and DD be points on the hyperbola x220y224=1\frac{x^2}{20} - \frac{y^2}{24} = 1 such that ABCDABCD is a rhombus whose diagonals intersect at the origin. Find the largest number less than BD2BD^2 for all rhombuses ABCD.ABCD.

Solution:

The diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular bisectors of each other, so C=A,C = -A, D=B,D = -B, and OAOB.OA \perp OB. Let line BDBD have slope m,m, so B=(x,mx)B = (x, mx) with x2(120m224)=1,i.e.x2=12065m2,x^2\left(\frac{1}{20} - \frac{m^2}{24}\right) = 1, \qquad \text{i.e.} \qquad x^2 = \frac{120}{6 - 5m^2}, which requires m2<65.m^2 \lt \frac{6}{5}. Then BD2=4(x2+m2x2)=480(1+m2)65m2.BD^2 = 4(x^2 + m^2x^2) = \frac{480(1 + m^2)}{6 - 5m^2}. Line ACAC has slope 1m,-\frac{1}{m}, so it meets the hyperbola only when 1m2<65,\frac{1}{m^2} \lt \frac{6}{5}, that is m2>56.m^2 \gt \frac{5}{6}.

On the interval 56<m2<65,\frac{5}{6} \lt m^2 \lt \frac{6}{5}, the quantity 480(1+m2)65m2\frac{480(1 + m^2)}{6 - 5m^2} is strictly increasing in m2:m^2: as m256m^2 \to \frac{5}{6} it tends to 48011/611/6=480,480 \cdot \frac{11/6}{11/6} = 480, and as m265m^2 \to \frac{6}{5} it grows without bound. Hence BD2BD^2 takes exactly the values in (480,)(480, \infty) and never equals 480.480.

The largest number that is less than BD2BD^2 for every such rhombus is therefore 480.480.

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