A geometry problem by Kunal Maan

Geometry Level 5

Circles P P and Q Q have radii 1 and 4 respectively and are externally tangent at point A A . Point B B is on P P and point C C is on Q Q such that B C \overline{BC} is a common external tangent of the two circles. A line L L through A A intersects P P again at D D and intersects Q Q again at E E . Points B B and C C lie on the same side of the line L L and the areas of D B A \triangle DBA and A C E \triangle ACE are equal. This common area is m n \frac{m}{n} , where m , n m,n are co-prime positive integers. Find the value of m + n m+n .


The answer is 129.

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1 solution

Kunal Maan
Oct 27, 2015

By homothety, we deduce that $AE = 4 AD$. (The proof can also be executed by similar triangles formed from dropping perpendiculars from the centers of $P$ and $Q$ to $l$.) Therefore, our equality of area condition, or the equality of base times height condition, reduces to the fact that the distance from $B$ to $l$ is four times that from $C$ to $l$. Let the distance from $C$ be $x$ and the distance from $B$ be $4x$. Let $P$ and $Q$ be the centers of their respective circles. Then dropping a perpendicular from $P$ to $Q$ creates a $3-4-5$ right triangle, from which $BC = 4$ and, if $\alpha = \angle{AQC}$, that $\cos \alpha = \dfrac{3}{5}$. Then $\angle{BPA} = 180^\circ - \alpha$, and the Law of Cosines on triangles $APB$ and $AQC$ gives $AB = \dfrac{4}{\sqrt{5}}$ and $AC = \dfrac{8}{\sqrt{5}}.$ Now, using the Pythagorean Theorem to express the length of the projection of $BC$ onto line $l$ gives 16 5 16 x 2 + 64 5 x 2 = 16 9 x 2 . \sqrt{\frac{16}{5} - 16x^2} + \sqrt{\frac{64}{5} - x^2} = \sqrt{16 - 9x^2}. Squaring and simplifying gives ( 1 5 x 2 ) ( 64 5 x 2 ) = x 2 , \sqrt{\left(\frac{1}{5} - x^2\right)\left(\frac{64}{5} - x^2\right)} = x^2, and squaring and solving gives $x = \dfrac{8}{5\sqrt{13}}.$ By the Law of Sines on triangle $ABD$, we have B D sin A = 2. \frac{BD}{\sin A} = 2. But we know $\sin A = \dfrac{4x}{AB}$, and so a small computation gives $BD = \dfrac{16}{\sqrt{65}}.$ The Pythagorean Theorem now gives A D = B D 2 ( 4 x ) 2 + A B 2 ( 4 x ) 2 = 4 13 , AD = \sqrt{BD^2 - (4x)^2} + \sqrt{AB^2 - (4x)^2} = \frac{4}{\sqrt{13}}, and so the common area is $\dfrac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{4}{\sqrt{13}} \cdot \frac{32}{5\sqrt{13}} = \frac{64}{65}.$ The answer is $\boxed{129}.$

@Kunal Maan FYI the latex standardization on Brilliant is using " . . . . .... " instead of "$ .... $". For deeper insights of the latex coding, you can refer to Daniel's guide note for latex .

I've edited your problem, please check if the intention of the problem is unchanged.

Thanks!

Sandeep Bhardwaj - 5 years, 7 months ago

Aur bhai AIME 2015 question dal diya aur uska solution bhi same page se? @Kunal Maan

Department 8 - 5 years, 7 months ago

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