Fold and fold again

Algebra Level 3

Imagine the Euclidian plane as an infinite sheet of paper.

  1. First, fold it along the straight line of equation y = x + 2 2018 ; y=-x+2^{2018}; there is a point A A which now coincides with the origin O = ( 0 , 0 ) . O=(0,0). Keep it folded.
  2. Then, fold it along the straight line of equation y = 2 2016 ; y=2^{2016}; there are two points B B and C C which now coincide with A A and the origin O = ( 0 , 0 ) . O=(0,0).

The area of the convex quadrilateral formed by O , A , B , C O, A, B, C can be written as a b c , ab^{{}^{\Large c}}, where a a and b b are prime. Submit a + b + c . a+b+c.


The answer is 4038.

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1 solution

David Vreken
Mar 12, 2018

If A A coincides with O O after a fold along y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} , then A O AO is perpendicular to y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} , and A A and O O are also equidistant to y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} . Since A O AO is perpendicular to y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} it has a slope of 1 1 , and since A O AO passes through the origin it has a y y -intercept of 0 0 , so A O AO is on the line y = x y = x . Let D D be the intersection of y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} and y = x y = x . Then D D is ( 2 2017 , 2 2017 ) (2^{2017}, 2^{2017}) , and since A A and O O are equidistant to D D on the line y = x y = x , A A is ( 2 2018 , 2 2018 ) (2^{2018}, 2^{2018}) .

If B B coincides with O O after a fold along y = 2 2016 y = 2^{2016} , then B O BO is perpendicular to y = 2 2016 y = 2^{2016} , and B B and O O are also equidistant to y = 2 2016 y = 2^{2016} . Since B O BO is perpendicular to y = 2 2016 y = 2^{2016} it is a vertical line, and since B O BO also passes through the origin it is on the line x = 0 x = 0 . Let E E be the intersection of y = 2 2016 y = 2^{2016} and x = 0 x = 0 . Then E E is ( 0 , 2 2016 ) (0, 2^{2016}) , and since B B and O O are equidistant to E E on the line x = 0 x = 0 , B B is ( 0 , 2 2017 ) (0, 2^{2017}) .

If C C coincides with B B after a fold along y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} , then B C BC is perpendicular to y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} , and B B and C C are also equidistant to y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} . Since B C BC is perpendicular to y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} it has a slope of 1 1 , and since B B is ( 0 , 2 2017 ) (0, 2^{2017}) , B C BC has a y y -intercept of 2 2017 2^{2017} , so B C BC is on the line y = x + 2 2017 y = x + 2^{2017} . Let F F be the intersection of y = x + 2 2018 y = -x + 2^{2018} and y = x + 2 2017 y = x + 2^{2017} . Then F F is ( 2 2016 , 2 2016 + 2 2017 ) (2^{2016}, 2^{2016} + 2^{2017}) , and since B B and C C are equidistant to F F on the line y = x + 2 2017 y = x + 2^{2017} , C C is ( 2 2017 , 2 2018 ) (2^{2017}, 2^{2018}) .

Then A B C O ABCO forms an isosceles trapezoid, and letting G G be ( 0 , 2 2018 ) (0, 2^{2018}) , the area of A B C O ABCO is equivalent to the difference of the areas of the right isosceles triangles A G O \triangle AGO and C G B \triangle CGB . A G O \triangle AGO has legs of 2 2018 2^{2018} , so its area is 1 2 ( 2 2018 ) 2 = 2 4035 \frac{1}{2}(2^{2018})^2 = 2^{4035} , and C G B \triangle CGB has legs of 2 2017 2^{2017} , so its area is 1 2 ( 2 2017 ) 2 = 2 4033 \frac{1}{2}(2^{2017})^2 = 2^{4033} . This means the area of A B C O ABCO is 2 4035 2 4033 = 4 2 4033 2 4033 = 3 2 4033 2^{4035} - 2^{4033} = 4 \cdot 2^{4033} - 2^{4033} = 3 \cdot 2^{4033} , which means a = 3 a = 3 , b = 2 b = 2 , and c = 4033 c = 4033 , and a + b + c = 4038 a + b + c = \boxed{4038} .

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