2001 AIME I Problem 13

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 13 of the 2001 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2001 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:chordtrigonometric identityquadratic

Difficulty rating: 2990

13.

In a certain circle, the chord of a dd-degree arc is 2222 centimeters long, and the chord of a 2d2d-degree arc is 2020 centimeters longer than the chord of a 3d3d-degree arc, where d<120.d \lt 120. The length of the chord of a 3d3d-degree arc is m+n-m + \sqrt{n} centimeters, where mm and nn are positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

A chord subtending a θ\theta-degree arc in a circle of radius RR has length 2Rsinθ2.2R\sin\frac{\theta}{2}. Write t=d2,t = \frac{d}{2}, so the three chords are 2Rsint=22,2R\sin t = 22, 2Rsin2t,2R \sin 2t, and 2Rsin3t.2R \sin 3t. Using sin2t=2sintcost\sin 2t = 2 \sin t \cos t and sin3t=sint(4cos2t1),\sin 3t = \sin t\,(4\cos^2 t - 1), the chords of the 2d2d- and 3d3d-degree arcs are 222cost=44cost22 \cdot 2\cos t = 44 \cos t and 22(4cos2t1).22\,(4\cos^2 t - 1).

The condition "the 2d2d-chord is 2020 longer than the 3d3d-chord" becomes 44cost=22(4cos2t1)+20,44\cos t = 22\,(4\cos^2 t - 1) + 20, which simplifies to 44cos2t22cost1=0.44 \cos^2 t - 22 \cos t - 1 = 0. From this, 4cos2t=2cost+111,4\cos^2 t = 2\cos t + \frac{1}{11}, so the 3d3d-chord equals 22(2cost+1111)=44cost20.22\left(2\cos t + \frac{1}{11} - 1\right) = 44 \cos t - 20.

Solving the quadratic, cost=22+484+17688=11+16544\cos t = \frac{22 + \sqrt{484 + 176}}{88} = \frac{11 + \sqrt{165}}{44} (the ++ root since d<120d \lt 120 means t<60,t \lt 60^\circ, so cost>12\cos t \gt \frac{1}{2}). Then the 3d3d-chord is 44cost20=11+16520=9+165,44\cos t - 20 = 11 + \sqrt{165} - 20 = -9 + \sqrt{165}, giving m+n=9+165=174.m + n = 9 + 165 = 174.

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