It's just circles and lines

Geometry Level 5

A B C D ABCD is the unit square. Point X X is chosen on B C BC such that the two circles are tangent to each other, the segment A X AX , and the sides of the square as shown in the figure. What is the radius, r r , of the smaller circle. Submit 1 0 5 r . \lfloor{10^5r}\rfloor.


The answer is 16243.

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4 solutions

In the figure, K K , L L are the centers of the circles, K N B C KN\bot BC , L T B C LT\bot BC , L M K N LM\bot KN , E E is the common point of the two circles and S S is the common point of A B AB and the circle with center L L .

We notice that K M = K N M N = R r KM=KN-MN=R-r , M L = N T = 1 R r ML=NT=1-R-r , A E = A S = 1 r AE=AS=1-r and A K = A C K C = 2 R 2 AK=AC-KC=\sqrt{2}-R\sqrt{2} .

Triangles A K E \triangle AKE and K M L \triangle KML are right triangles.

Using Pythagorean theorem on K M L \triangle KML ,

K M 2 + M L 2 = K L 2 ( R r ) 2 + ( 1 R r ) 2 = ( R + r ) 2 R 2 + r 2 2 r R 2 R 2 r + 1 = 0 ( 1 ) \begin{aligned} K{{M}^{2}}+M{{L}^{2}}=K{{L}^{2}} & \Leftrightarrow {{\left( R-r \right)}^{2}}+{{\left( 1-R-r \right)}^{2}}={{\left( R+r \right)}^{2}} \\ & \Leftrightarrow {{R}^{2}}+{{r}^{2}}-2rR-2R-2r+1=0 \ \ \ \ \ (1)\\ \end{aligned} Using Pythagorean theorem on A K E \triangle AKE ,

K E 2 + A E 2 = A K 2 R 2 + ( 1 r ) 2 = ( 2 2 R ) 2 R 2 r 2 4 R + 2 r + 1 = 0 ( 2 ) \begin{aligned} K{{E}^{2}}+A{{E}^{2}}=A{{K}^{2}} & \Leftrightarrow {{R}^{2}}+{{\left( 1-r \right)}^{2}}={{\left( \sqrt{2}-\sqrt{2}R \right)}^{2}} \\ & \Leftrightarrow {{R}^{2}}-{{r}^{2}}-4R+2r+1=0 \ \ \ \ \ (2) \\ \end{aligned}

Subtracting ( 2 ) (2) from ( 1 ) (1) we get

2 r 2 2 r R + 2 R 4 r = 0 R = r 2 2 r r 1 ( 3 ) 2{{r}^{2}}-2rR+2R-4r=0\Rightarrow R=\dfrac{{{r}^{2}}-2r}{r-1} \ \ \ \ \ (3) Substituting

( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( r 2 2 r r 1 ) 2 r 2 4 r 2 2 r r 1 + 2 r + 1 = 0 4 r 3 12 r 2 + 8 r 1 = 0 r 0.16243456 or r 0.73040556 or r 2.10715987 \begin{aligned} \left( 2 \right) & \overset{\left( 3 \right)}{\mathop{\Leftrightarrow }}\,{{\left( \dfrac{{{r}^{2}}-2r}{r-1} \right)}^{2}}-{{r}^{2}}-4\cdot \dfrac{{{r}^{2}}-2r}{r-1}+2r+1=0 \\ & \Leftrightarrow 4{{r}^{3}}-12{{r}^{2}}+8r-1=0 \\ & \Leftrightarrow r\approx 0.16243456\text{ or }r\approx 0.73040556\text{ or }r\approx 2.10715987 \\ \end{aligned} Obviously, r r is less than half the diagonal of the square, i.e. r < 2 2 0.707 r<\dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\approx 0.707 , hence r 0.16243456 r\approx 0.16243456 . For the answer, 10 5 r = 16243 \left\lfloor {{10}^{5}}r \right\rfloor =\boxed{16243} .

I just noticed this bit of trivium about this problem: R + r = 1 \sqrt{R} + \sqrt{r} = 1

Fletcher Mattox - 5 months, 4 weeks ago

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True!

N T = 2 r R 1 R r = 2 r R R + r + 2 r R = 1 ( R + r ) 2 = 1 R + r = 1 NT=2\sqrt{rR}\Rightarrow 1-R-r=2\sqrt{rR}\Rightarrow R+r+2\sqrt{rR}=1\Rightarrow {{\left( \sqrt{R}+\sqrt{r} \right)}^{2}}=1\Rightarrow \sqrt{R}+\sqrt{r}=1

Nice observation!

Thanos Petropoulos - 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Interestingly, the fact is used in almost all of the solutions posted.

Sathvik Acharya - 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Sathvik Acharya
Dec 16, 2020

Let the radius of the larger circle be R R and denote the centers of the smaller and larger circle as O 1 O_1 and O 2 O_2 respectively. Also mark points P P and Q Q on B C BC such that B P BP is tangent to the smaller circle at P P and C Q CQ is tangent to the larger circle at Q Q . Note that the circles share a common point, say T T , on the segment A X AX .

From the properties of tangents, X P = X T = X Q = x XP=XT=XQ=x Since A B C D ABCD is a unit square, B C = B X + C X = r + x + R + x = R + r + 2 x = 1 BC=BX+CX=r+x+R+x=R+r+2x=1 Constructing a perpendicular to A B AB (parallel to B C BC ), though point O 1 O_1 and let it intersect O 2 Q O_2Q at E E . Clearly, O 1 E O 2 \triangle O_1EO_2 is right angled at E E and has sides O 1 O 2 = R + r O_1O_2=R+r , O 1 E = 2 x O_1E=2x and O 2 E = R r O_2E=R-r . By the Pythagorean theorem, O 1 E 2 + O 2 E 2 = O 1 O 2 2 ( 2 x ) 2 + ( R r ) 2 = ( R + r ) 2 4 x 2 = 4 R r x = R r O_1E^2+O_2E^2=O_1O_2^2\implies (2x)^2+(R-r)^2=(R+r)^2\implies 4x^2=4Rr\implies x=\sqrt{Rr} Combining this with the previous relation, we have R + r + 2 x = R + r + 2 R r = 1 R + r = 1 R+r+2x=R+r+2\sqrt{Rr}=1\implies\sqrt{R}+\sqrt{r}=1 Note that the circle centered at O 1 O_1 with radius r r is the incircle of A B X \triangle ABX . Using the formula for the inradius of a triangle, = r s \triangle=r\cdot s , ( r + x ) ( 1 ) 2 = r ( 1 + x ) r + x = 2 r + 2 r x x = r 1 2 r \frac{(r+x)(1)}{2}=r(1+x)\implies r+x=2r+2rx\implies x=\frac{r}{1-2r} Finally we have an equation in r r , R r = ( 1 r ) r = r 1 2 r \sqrt{Rr}=(1-\sqrt{r})\sqrt{r}=\frac{r}{1-2r} Solving the above equation gives 1 0 5 r = 16243 \boxed{\lfloor{10^5r}\rfloor=16243}

Chew-Seong Cheong
Dec 16, 2020

Let the centers of the small and large circles O O and P P , the radius of large circle be R R , and points E E , F F , G G , H H , and I I are feet of perpendicular. Consider B C BC :

B F + F G + G C = B C E O + O H + P I = B C r + ( R + r ) 2 ( R r ) 2 + R = 1 r + 2 R r + R = 1 ( R + r ) 2 = 1 R = 1 r \begin{aligned} BF + FG + GC & = BC \\ EO + OH + PI & = BC \\ r + \sqrt{(R+r)^2-(R-r)^2} + R & = 1 \\ r + 2\sqrt{Rr} + R & = 1 \\ (\sqrt R + \sqrt r)^2 & = 1 \\ \implies \sqrt R & = 1 - \sqrt r \end{aligned}

Let A X B = θ \angle AXB = \theta and consider F G FG :

F X + X G = F G = O H r cot θ 2 + R cot ( 9 0 θ 2 ) = 2 R r Let t = tan θ 2 r t + R t = 2 R r Divide both sides by R r 1 t r R + t R r = 2 r R t 2 2 + R t 2 r = 0 Let α 2 = r R t 2 α 2 2 + 1 α 2 = 0 ( α 1 α ) 2 = 0 α = 1 r R t 2 = 1 t = r 1 r \begin{aligned} FX + XG & = FG = OH \\ r \cot \frac \theta 2 + R \cot \left(90^\circ - \frac \theta 2\right) & = 2\sqrt{Rr} & \small \blue{\text{Let }t = \tan \frac \theta 2} \\ \frac rt + Rt & = 2\sqrt{Rr} & \small \blue{\text{Divide both sides by }\sqrt{Rr}} \\ \frac 1t \sqrt{\frac rR} + t \sqrt{\frac Rr} & = 2 \\ \sqrt{\frac r{Rt^2}} - 2 + \sqrt{\frac {Rt^2}r} & = 0 & \small \blue{\text{Let }\alpha^2 = \sqrt{\frac r{Rt^2}}} \\ \alpha^2 - 2 + \frac 1{\alpha^2} & = 0 \\ \left(\alpha - \frac 1\alpha \right)^2 & = 0 \\ \implies \alpha & = 1 \\ \implies \sqrt{\frac r{Rt^2}} & = 1 \\ \implies t & = \frac {\sqrt r}{1-\sqrt r} \end{aligned}

Consider A B AB :

A E + E B = A B r cot X A B 2 + O F = 1 r cot ( 4 5 θ 2 ) + r = 1 r ( 1 + t 1 t ) + r = 1 Substitute t = r 1 r r 1 2 r + r = 1 2 r r 2 r 2 r + 1 = 0 r 0.162434565 1 0 5 r = 16243 \begin{aligned} AE + EB & = AB \\ r \cot \frac {\angle XAB}2 + OF & = 1 \\ r\cot \left(45^\circ - \frac \theta 2\right) + r & = 1 \\ r \left(\frac {1+\blue t}{1-\blue t} \right) + r & = 1 & \small \blue{\text{Substitute }t = \frac {\sqrt r}{1-\sqrt r}} \\ \frac r{1-2\sqrt r} + r & = 1 \\ 2r\sqrt r - 2r - 2\sqrt r + 1 & = 0 \\ \implies r & \approx 0.162434565 \\ \implies \lfloor 10^5 r \rfloor & = \boxed{16243} \end{aligned}

Hosam Hajjir
Dec 16, 2020

I solved using coordinate geometry. Let's take the origin at point A A . If the radius of the big circle is R R , and the radius of the small circle is r r , then the center of the big circle is ( 1 R , 1 R ) (1 - R, 1 - R) , and the center of the small circle is ( 1 r , r ) (1 - r, r) . Also from the fact that tangents to a circle have the same length, it follows that segments P X , T X , Q X PX , TX, QX all have the same length, and since the side length of the square is 1 1 , then that length is 1 2 ( 1 R r ) \dfrac{1}{2} (1 - R - r ) , hence point X X is ( 1 , 1 2 ( 1 + r R ) ) (1, \dfrac{1}{2} (1 + r - R) ) . The first relation we can write is that of the distance between the centers of the two circles being equal to R + r R + r . Hence,

( R + r ) 2 = Δ x 2 + Δ y 2 = ( R r ) 2 + ( 1 R r ) 2 (R + r)^2 = \Delta x^2 + \Delta y^2 = (R - r)^2 + (1 - R - r)^2

The second equation expresses the fact the line segment joining the two centers is perpendicular to the tangent A X AX , hence, has a slope that is the negative of the reciprocal of its slope:

1 R r R r = 2 1 + r R \dfrac{1 - R - r}{R - r} = \dfrac{-2}{1 + r - R }

Simplifying the first equation yields,

r 2 R 2 2 r + 4 R 1 = 0 ( 1 ) r^2 - R^2 - 2 r + 4 R - 1 = 0 \hspace{24pt}(1)

The second equation becomes

r 2 + R 2 2 R r 2 r 2 R + 1 = 0 ( 2 ) r^2 + R^2 - 2 R r - 2 r - 2 R + 1 = 0 \hspace{24pt}(2)

Equations ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) (1) , (2) have three solutions for ( r , R ) (r, R) :

1. ( 0.162434565 , 0.356371131 ) 1. \hspace{6pt} (0.162434565, 0.356371131)

2. ( 2.107159872 , 0.203947946 ) 2. \hspace{6pt} (2.107159872, 0.203947946)

3. ( 0.730405564 , 3.439680923 ) 3. \hspace{6pt} (0.730405564, 3.439680923)

from which only the first one is valid while the other two are extraneous. Hence, the answer is 1 0 5 ( 0.162434565 ) = 16243 \lfloor 10^5 (0.162434565) \rfloor = \boxed{16243}

I rotated the figure 90° clockwise and set BC as the X-axis with point X as the origin. Both circles touch BC (and thus the X-axis) in points (a, 0) and (-a, 0) because X must be in the middle in between these points. Define the bisectrices between AX and the X-axis as B1 and B2 respectfully and name the angle between B1 and the X-axis theta.

Define t = tan(theta)

B1 is defined as y = x.t and thus r = a.t (I switched the circles and put the smaller circle to the right for convenience) B2 must be perpendicular to B1 and is defined as y = -x/t and thus R = a/t The line AX is definde as y = x.tan(2 theta) = 2.x.t/(1 - t²)

Two conditions are to be met:

R + 2a + r = 1 or a/t + 2a + at = 1

(a + r).tan(2 theta) = 1 or (a + at).2t/(1 - t²) = 1

This yields to:

t³ + 3t² - t - 1 = 0

or

(t + 1)³ - 4(t + 1) + 2 = 0

which can be solved using the goniometric method: z = t + 1 = r cos(u)

r = 4.sqrt(3)/3

cos(3u) = -(sqrt(3)/2)³

u = 1/3.Acos(-(sqrt(3)/2)³) = 43,50178344°

z = 1.675130871

t = z - 1 = 0.675130871

r = 0.1624345647 and the answer requested is thus 16243

The other two solutions for z are easily found and inconvenient, they are:

t2 = -0.4608111272

t3 = -3.214319743

I did however not answer this question right because I had some errors and ran out of tries. But I think I did get it right in the end.

Kris Hauchecorne - 5 months, 2 weeks ago

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