2002 AIME II Problem 14

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 14 of the 2002 AIME II, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2002 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:tangent linesimilarityperimeter

Difficulty rating: 3060

14.

The perimeter of triangle APMAPM is 152,152, and angle PAMPAM is a right angle. A circle of radius 1919 with center OO on AP\overline{AP} is drawn so that it is tangent to AM\overline{AM} and PM.\overline{PM}. Given that OP=m/n,OP = m/n, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers, find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

Let TT be the point where the circle touches PM.\overline{PM}. Since AMAP\overline{AM} \perp \overline{AP} and OO lies on AP\overline{AP} at distance 1919 from line AM,AM, the circle is tangent to AM\overline{AM} at AA itself, so the two tangents from MM give MT=MA.MT = MA. Right triangles POTPOT and PMAPMA (right angles at TT and AA) share angle P,P, so they are similar with ratio OTMA=19MA.\frac{OT}{MA} = \frac{19}{MA}.

The small triangle's perimeter is PO+OT+TP=(PA19)+19+TP=PA+PT,PO + OT + TP = (PA - 19) + 19 + TP = PA + PT, and since MT=MA,MT = MA, PA+PT=PA+PMMT=1522MA.PA + PT = PA + PM - MT = 152 - 2\,MA. Perimeters of similar triangles are in the ratio of similarity, so 19MA=1522MA152,\frac{19}{MA} = \frac{152 - 2\,MA}{152}, which simplifies to MA276MA+1444=(MA38)2=0.MA^2 - 76\,MA + 1444 = (MA - 38)^2 = 0. Thus MA=38.MA = 38.

The ratio of similarity is then 1938=12,\frac{19}{38} = \frac{1}{2}, so PO=12PM.PO = \frac{1}{2} PM. From the perimeter, PA+PM=15238=114,PA + PM = 152 - 38 = 114, and PA=PO+19,PA = PO + 19, so 12PM+19+PM=114,\frac{1}{2} PM + 19 + PM = 114, giving PM=1903PM = \frac{190}{3} and OP=953.OP = \frac{95}{3}. Hence m+n=95+3=98.m + n = 95 + 3 = 98.

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