Distances

Level 2

Point P P is chosen in a square. The distance from P P to all of the sides of the square are, in increasing order, 4 , 8 , 13 , n 4, 8, 13, n . What is n n ?

14 17 18 16 15 This situation is impossible 19

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1 solution

Arul Kolla
Apr 12, 2018

In the above picture you can see a point and its distances to its sides. It is now clear that the sum of two of these distances is the side length of the square, and the other two distances also add up to the side length of the square. Thus, we have these three equations: 4 + 8 = 13 + n 4 + 8 = 13 + n , 4 + 13 = 8 + n 4 + 13 = 8 + n , and 8 + 13 = 4 + n 8 + 13 = 4 + n . The solutions are 1 , 9 , -1, 9, and 17 17 . If n = 1 n = -1 or 9 9 , then the numbers will no longer be increasing. If n = 17 n = 17 , then the numbers will be increasing. Thus, the only solution is 17 \boxed{17} .

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