Question

Semicircle $\Gamma$ has diameter $AB$ of length $14.$ Circle $\Omega$ lies tangent to $AB$ at a point $P$ and intersects $\Gamma$ at points $Q$ and $R.$ If $QR = 3\sqrt3$ and $\angle QPR = 60^\circ,$ then the area of $\triangle PQR$ is $\dfrac{a\sqrt b}{c},$ where $a$ and $c$ are relatively prime positive integers and $b$ is a positive integer not divisible by the square of any prime. What is $a + b + c?$

$110$

$114$

$118$

$122$

$126$

Solution:

In circle $\Omega,$ the chord $QR$ subtends the inscribed angle $\angle QPR = 60^\circ,$ so $QR = 2r\sin 60^\circ,$ giving $3\sqrt3 = r\sqrt3,$ hence $r = 3.$

Place $A = (-7, 0),$ $B = (7, 0),$ with $\Gamma: x^2 + y^2 = 49$ (upper half). Since $\Omega$ is tangent to $AB$ at $P = (p, 0),$ its center is $(p, 3).$ Subtracting the two circle equations gives the line $QR,$ and the distance from the center $(p,3)$ to $QR$ must equal $r\cos 60^\circ = \tfrac32.$ This yields $(p^2 - 31)^2 = 9p^2 + 81,$ so $p^2 = 16$ (the root $p^2 = 55$ places $P$ outside $AB$ ).

With $p^2 = 16,$ the distance from $P$ to line $QR$ is $\dfrac{49 - p^2}{\sqrt{4p^2 + 36}} = \dfrac{33}{10}.$ Thus $[\triangle PQR] = \tfrac12\cdot QR\cdot d = \tfrac12\cdot 3\sqrt3\cdot\tfrac{33}{10} = \frac{99\sqrt3}{20}.$ So $a = 99,$ $b = 3,$ $c = 20,$ and $a + b + c = 122.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2021 AMC 12A Spring Problem 24

Solution:

Problem 24 in Other Years