Question

Let $\triangle A_0 B_0 C_0$ be a triangle whose angle measures are exactly $59.999^\circ,$ $60^\circ,$ and $60.001^\circ.$ For each positive integer $n$ define $A_n$ to be the foot of the altitude from $A_{n-1}$ to line $B_{n-1}C_{n-1}.$ Likewise, define $B_n$ to be the foot of the altitude from $B_{n-1}$ to line $A_{n-1}C_{n-1},$ and $C_n$ to be the foot of the altitude from $C_{n-1}$ to line $A_{n-1}B_{n-1}.$ What is the least positive integer $n$ for which $\triangle A_n B_n C_n$ is obtuse?

$10$

$11$

$13$

$14$

$15$

Solution:

For an acute triangle, the orthic triangle (feet of the altitudes) has angles $180^\circ - 2\alpha$ for each original angle $\alpha.$

Writing an angle as $60^\circ + x,$ the new angle is $60^\circ - 2x,$ so each deviation from $60^\circ$ is multiplied by $-2.$ The initial deviations are $\pm 0.001^\circ.$

After $n$ steps a deviation has magnitude $0.001 \cdot 2^n$ degrees. The triangle first becomes obtuse when this exceeds $30^\circ,$ i.e. $2^n \gt 30000.$ Since $2^{14} = 16384$ and $2^{15} = 32768,$ the least such $n$ is $15.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

2019 AMC 12A Problem 25

Solution:

Problem 25 in Other Years