Question

Let $T_1$ be a triangle with sides $2011,$ $2012,$ and $2013.$ For $n\ge1,$ if $T_n=\triangle ABC$ and $D,$ $E,$ and $F$ are the points of tangency of the incircle of $\triangle ABC$ to the sides $AB,$ $BC,$ and $AC,$ respectively, then $T_{n+1}$ is a triangle with side lengths $AD,$ $BE,$ and $CF,$ if it exists. What is the perimeter of the last triangle in the sequence $(T_n)?$

$\dfrac{1509}{8}$

$\dfrac{1509}{32}$

$\dfrac{1509}{64}$

$\dfrac{1509}{128}$

$\dfrac{1509}{256}$

Answer: D

Concepts:incircle, incenter, and inradius recursion triangle inequality

Difficulty rating: 2350

Small Hint:

The tangent lengths satisfy $AD=\tfrac12(b+c-a),$ and similarly for $BE$ and $CF$

Big Hint:

Each triangle keeps the form $(y-1,y,y+1)$ with $y$ halving; it fails the triangle inequality once $y\le2$

Solution:

For a triangle with sides $a,b,c,$ the tangent lengths are $AD=\tfrac12(b+c-a),$ $BE=\tfrac12(a+c-b),$ and $CF=\tfrac12(a+b-c).$ If $T_n$ has sides $(y-1,y,y+1),$ then $T_{n+1}$ has sides $\left(\tfrac{y}{2}-1,\tfrac{y}{2},\tfrac{y}{2}+1\right).$

Starting from $T_1$ with middle side $2012,$ the middle side halves each step and the perimeter of $T_{n+1}$ is $\tfrac12$ the perimeter of $T_n.$ A triangle of this form exists only while its middle side exceeds $2.$

The middle side of $T_n$ is $\dfrac{2012}{2^{n-1}}.$ This first drops to $2$ or below at $n=11,$ so the last valid triangle is $T_{10},$ whose middle side is $\dfrac{2012}{2^9}$ and whose perimeter is $3\cdot\dfrac{2012}{2^9}=\dfrac{6036}{512}=\dfrac{1509}{128}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2011 AMC 12B Problem 22

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 2350

Small Hint:

Big Hint:

Solution:

Problem 22 in Other Years