Question

Circle $C_1$ and $C_2$ each have radius $1,$ and the distance between their centers is $\tfrac12.$ Circle $C_3$ is the largest circle internally tangent to both $C_1$ and $C_2.$ Circle $C_4$ is internally tangent to both $C_1$ and $C_2$ and externally tangent to $C_3.$ What is the radius of $C_4?$

$\dfrac{1}{14}$

$\dfrac{1}{12}$

$\dfrac{1}{10}$

$\dfrac{3}{28}$

$\dfrac{1}{9}$

Answer: D

Concepts:tangent circles coordinate geometry

Difficulty rating: 1990

Solution:

Put the centers at $O_1=\left(-\tfrac14,0\right)$ and $O_2=\left(\tfrac14,0\right).$ By symmetry $C_3$ is centered at the origin, and internal tangency to $C_1$ gives radius $1-\tfrac14=\tfrac34.$

Let $C_4$ have radius $r,$ centered at $(0,k)$ on the axis of symmetry. External tangency to $C_3$ gives $k=\tfrac34+r,$ and internal tangency to $C_1$ gives $\sqrt{\tfrac{1}{16}+k^2}=1-r.$

Substituting, $\tfrac{1}{16}+\left(\tfrac34+r\right)^2=(1-r)^2,$ which simplifies to $\tfrac72 r=\tfrac38,$ so $r=\dfrac{3}{28}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2023 AMC 12A Problem 18

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1990

Solution:

Problem 18 in Other Years