2014 AIME II Problem 11

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 11 of the 2014 AIME II, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2014 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:coordinate geometrylaw of sinesslope

Difficulty rating: 3060

11.

In RED,\triangle RED, RD=1,RD = 1, DRE=75\angle DRE = 75^\circ and RED=45.\angle RED = 45^\circ. Let MM be the midpoint of segment RD.\overline{RD}. Point CC lies on side ED\overline{ED} such that RCEM.\overline{RC} \perp \overline{EM}. Extend segment DE\overline{DE} through EE to point AA such that CA=AR.CA = AR. Then AE=abc,AE = \frac{a - \sqrt{b}}{c}, where aa and cc are relatively prime positive integers, and bb is a positive integer. Find a+b+c.a + b + c.

Solution:

Since RDE=1807545=60,\angle RDE = 180^\circ - 75^\circ - 45^\circ = 60^\circ, place D=(0,0)D = (0,0) with EE on the positive xx-axis, so R=(12,32).R = \left(\frac{1}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right). The law of sines gives DE=sin75sin45=3+12,DE = \frac{\sin 75^\circ}{\sin 45^\circ} = \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}, and M=(14,34).M = \left(\frac{1}{4}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}\right).

The slope of EMEM is 3/4143+12=31+23,\frac{\sqrt{3}/4}{\frac{1}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2}} = \frac{-\sqrt{3}}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}, so line RCRC has slope 1+233.\frac{1 + 2\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}. Descending from RR by 32\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} to the xx-axis moves us left by 3/21+23=63322,\frac{3/2}{1 + 2\sqrt{3}} = \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22}, so C=(c,0)C = (c, 0) with c=1263322=73311.c = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{6\sqrt{3} - 3}{22} = \frac{7 - 3\sqrt{3}}{11}.

For A=(t,0),A = (t, 0), the condition CA=ARCA = AR reads (tc)2=(t12)2+34,(t - c)^2 = \left(t - \frac{1}{2}\right)^2 + \frac{3}{4}, which is linear in t:t: t=1c212c=9+4311.t = \frac{1 - c^2}{1 - 2c} = \frac{9 + 4\sqrt{3}}{11}. Then AE=t3+12=18+831131122=73322=72722,AE = t - \frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2} = \frac{18 + 8\sqrt{3} - 11\sqrt{3} - 11}{22} = \frac{7 - 3\sqrt{3}}{22} = \frac{7 - \sqrt{27}}{22}, so a+b+c=7+27+22=56.a + b + c = 7 + 27 + 22 = 56.

← Problem 10Full ExamProblem 12

Problem 11 in Other Years