2003 AIME I Problem 15

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 15 of the 2003 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:angle bisector theoremparallel linessimilarity

Difficulty rating: 3370

15.

In ABC,\triangle ABC, AB=360,AB = 360, BC=507,BC = 507, and CA=780.CA = 780. Let MM be the midpoint of CA,\overline{CA}, and let DD be the point on CA\overline{CA} such that BD\overline{BD} bisects angle ABC.ABC. Let FF be the point on BC\overline{BC} such that DFBD.\overline{DF} \perp \overline{BD}. Suppose that DF\overline{DF} meets BM\overline{BM} at E.E. The ratio DE:EFDE : EF can be written in the form mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.m + n.

Solution:

Write c=AB=360,c = AB = 360, a=BC=507,a = BC = 507, b=CA=780.b = CA = 780. Extend FD\overline{FD} beyond DD to meet ray BABA beyond AA at G.G. In triangle BGF,BGF, segment BD\overline{BD} is both an angle bisector and an altitude, so BG=BF=t.BG = BF = t. The bisector also gives CDDA=ac,\frac{CD}{DA} = \frac{a}{c}, so Menelaus' theorem for line GDFGDF crossing triangle ABCABC says AGGBBFFCCDDA=tcttatac=1,sot=2aca+c.\frac{AG}{GB} \cdot \frac{BF}{FC} \cdot \frac{CD}{DA} = \frac{t - c}{t} \cdot \frac{t}{a - t} \cdot \frac{a}{c} = 1, \qquad \text{so} \qquad t = \frac{2ac}{a + c}.

Now let F1F_1 be the point on AC\overline{AC} with FF1BM.\overline{FF_1} \parallel \overline{BM}. Since EE lies on BM,\overline{BM}, we have EMFF1,\overline{EM} \parallel \overline{FF_1}, so triangles DEMDEM and DFF1DFF_1 are similar and DEEF=DMMF1.\frac{DE}{EF} = \frac{DM}{MF_1}. The bisector ratio gives AD=bca+c,AD = \frac{bc}{a + c}, so DM=b2bca+c=b(ac)2(a+c).DM = \frac{b}{2} - \frac{bc}{a+c} = \frac{b(a - c)}{2(a + c)}. Also CF=at=a(ac)a+c,CF = a - t = \frac{a(a - c)}{a + c}, so CF1=CMCFCB=b2aca+cCF_1 = CM \cdot \frac{CF}{CB} = \frac{b}{2} \cdot \frac{a - c}{a + c} and MF1=b2(1aca+c)=bca+c.MF_1 = \frac{b}{2}\left(1 - \frac{a - c}{a + c}\right) = \frac{bc}{a + c}.

Therefore DEEF=DMMF1=ac2c=147720=49240,\frac{DE}{EF} = \frac{DM}{MF_1} = \frac{a - c}{2c} = \frac{147}{720} = \frac{49}{240}, and m+n=49+240=289.m + n = 49 + 240 = 289.

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