2024 AMC 12B Problem 24

Attempt Problem 24 of the 2024 AMC 12B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2024 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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24.

What is the number of ordered triples (a,b,c)(a, b, c) of positive integers, with abc9,a \le b \le c \le 9, such that there exists a (non-degenerate) triangle ABC\triangle ABC with an integer inradius for which a,a, b,b, and cc are the lengths of the altitudes from AA to BC,\overline{BC}, BB to AC,\overline{AC}, and CC to AB,\overline{AB}, respectively? (Recall that the inradius of a triangle is the radius of the largest possible circle that can be inscribed in the triangle.)

22

33

44

55

66

Answer: B
Concepts:altitudeincircle, incenter, and inradiustriangle inequality
Difficulty rating: 2410
Small Hint:

Since each side equals 2[]altitude,\dfrac{2[\triangle]}{\text{altitude}}, the inradius satisfies 1r=1a+1b+1c\dfrac1r = \dfrac1a + \dfrac1b + \dfrac1c

Big Hint:

The sides are proportional to 1a,1b,1c,\tfrac1a, \tfrac1b, \tfrac1c, so non-degeneracy needs 1a<1b+1c;\tfrac1a \lt \tfrac1b + \tfrac1c; seek triples with 1a+1b+1c\tfrac1a + \tfrac1b + \tfrac1c a unit fraction

Solution:

Writing each side as 2[]h,\dfrac{2[\triangle]}{h}, the semiperimeter is [](1a+1b+1c),[\triangle]\bigl(\tfrac1a + \tfrac1b + \tfrac1c\bigr), so the inradius r=[]sr = \dfrac{[\triangle]}{s} satisfies 1r=1a+1b+1c.\dfrac1r = \dfrac1a + \dfrac1b + \dfrac1c. We need this to be 1r\dfrac1r for a positive integer r,r, with the sides (proportional to 1a,1b,1c\tfrac1a, \tfrac1b, \tfrac1c) forming a non-degenerate triangle, requiring 1a<1b+1c.\tfrac1a \lt \tfrac1b + \tfrac1c.

Because abc9,a\le b\le c\le9, the reciprocal sum is at least 3c13,\frac{3}{c}\ge\frac{1}{3}, so the integer rr is one of 1,2,3.1,2,3. Also 1a<1r3a,\frac{1}{a}\lt\frac{1}{r}\le\frac{3}{a}, so r<a3r.r\lt a\le3r. For each of these few values of r,a,r,a, substitute b=a,a+1,,9b=a,a+1,\ldots,9 into c=abrabarbr. c=\frac{abr}{ab-ar-br}. Keeping only integral cc with bc9b\le c\le9 gives the complete list r(a,b,c)1(2,3,6),(2,4,4),(3,3,3)2(4,8,8),(6,6,6)3(9,9,9). \begin{array}{c|l} r& (a,b,c)\\ \hline 1&(2,3,6),(2,4,4),(3,3,3)\\ 2&(4,8,8),(6,6,6)\\ 3&(9,9,9). \end{array} The triples (2,3,6),(2,4,4),(2,3,6),(2,4,4), and (4,8,8)(4,8,8) have 1a=1b+1c\tfrac1a=\tfrac1b+\tfrac1c and therefore give degenerate triangles. The remaining triples are (3,3,3),(6,6,6),(3,3,3),(6,6,6), and (9,9,9),(9,9,9), so the answer is 3.3.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 23#23
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