Points on Leg of Right Triangle with Distance One

Geometry Level 4

Suppose A B C \triangle ABC is a right triangle with A = 9 0 \angle A=90^\circ , B C = 18 BC=18 , and A C > A B AC > AB . Let M M be the midpoint of line segment B C \overline{BC} . Suppose there exist points D 1 D_1 and D 2 D_2 on A C AC such that B D 1 D 1 M \overline{BD_1}\perp\overline{D_1M} , B D 2 D 2 M \overline{BD_2}\perp\overline{D_2M} , and D 1 D 2 = 1 D_1D_2=1 . The ratio A C A B \tfrac{AC}{AB} can be written in the form m n \sqrt{\tfrac mn} , where m m and n n are coprime positive integers. What is m + n ? m+n?


The answer is 729.

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3 solutions

Jack D'Aurizio
May 2, 2014

We have C M C B = C D 1 C D 2 CM\cdot CB = CD_1\cdot CD_2 , from which we get C D 1 = 649 1 2 CD_1=\frac{\sqrt{649}-1}{2} . If we take O O as the midpoint of B M BM , we have O D 1 = 9 2 , O C = 27 2 OD_1=\frac{9}{2},OC=\frac{27}{2} , so by applying the cosine theorem to the triangle C O D 1 COD_1 we have cos A C B ^ = 649 27 \cos\widehat{ACB}=\frac{\sqrt{649}}{27} , hence: m n = cot 2 A C B ^ = 649 80 . \frac{m}{n}=\cot^2\widehat{ACB}=\frac{649}{80}.

Typo ... C D 1 = 649 + 1 2 CD_1 = \dfrac{\sqrt{649} +1}{2} , and what you've stated as C D 1 CD_1 is actually the value of C D 2 CD_2

Aditya Raut - 6 years, 12 months ago
Unstable Chickoy
Jun 9, 2014

Let

L L - be the midpoint of B M \overline{BM}

D D - be the midpoint of D 1 D 2 \overline{D_1D_2}

Points D 1 D_1 & D 2 D_2 lies on the same circle with its center L L .

Therefore the radius R R is equal to:

R = B M 2 = 4.5 = L D 1 = L D 2 R = \frac{\overline{BM}}{2} = 4.5 = \overline{LD_1} = \overline{LD_2}

D L \overline{DL} perpendicular to D 1 D 2 \overline{D_1D_2} .

D L = 4. 5 2 + 0. 5 2 = 20 \overline{DL} = \sqrt{4.5^2 + 0.5^2} = \sqrt{20}

A C A B = D C D L = ( 9 + 4.5 ) 2 ( 20 ) 2 20 = 649 80 \frac{\overline{AC}}{\overline{AB}} = \frac{\overline{DC}}{\overline{DL}} = \frac{\sqrt{(9 + 4.5)^2 - (\sqrt{20})^2}}{\sqrt{20}} = \sqrt{\frac{649}{80}}

m + n = 649 + 80 = 729 m + n = 649 + 80 = \boxed{729}

The more elegant approach would be what Jack D'Aurizio posted, but anyways, I wanted to endorse the dark side: cartesian bash. Doesn't get very tedious... took me about five minutes.


Set A A at the origin. Let C = ( a , 0 ) C= (a,0) and B = ( 0 , b ) , B= (0,b), where a 2 + b 2 = 1 8 2 . a^2 + b^2 = 18^2. Then, M = ( a 2 , b 2 ) . M = \left( \dfrac{a}{2}, \dfrac{b}{2} \right). Note that D 1 , D 2 D_1, D_2 lie on the circle whose diameter is B M . BM. The midpoint of B M BM is ( a 4 , 3 b 4 ) , \left( \dfrac{a}{4}, \dfrac{3b}{4} \right), and the radius of the circle is a 2 + b 2 2 . \dfrac{a^2+b^2}{2}. Thus, the equation of the circle is ( x a 4 ) 2 + ( y 3 b 4 ) 2 = a 2 + b 2 16 . \left( x - \dfrac{a}{4} \right) ^2 + \left ( y -\dfrac{3b}{4} \right) ^2 = \dfrac{a^2+b^2}{16}. At the points when it intersects the x x axis, we have y = 0. y=0. So, the x x coordinates of D 1 D_1 and D 2 D_2 satisfy the equation ( x a 4 ) 2 + ( 3 b 4 ) 2 = a 2 + b 2 16 , \left( x - \dfrac{a}{4} \right) ^2 + \left( \dfrac{3b}{4} \right) ^2 = \dfrac{a^2+b^2}{16}, the discriminant of which is a 2 8 b 2 4 . \dfrac{a^2 - 8b^2}{4}. The difference between the roots is equal to the square root of the discriminant, so we have D 1 D 2 = 1 = a 2 8 b 2 2 a 2 8 b 2 = 4. D_1D_2 = 1 = \dfrac{\sqrt{a^2-8b^2}}{2} \implies a^2 - 8b^2 = 4. We also have a 2 + b 2 = 1 8 2 . a^2 + b^2 = 18^2. Solving this system of equations yields a 2 = 2596 6 , b 2 = 320 9 , m n = a 2 b 2 = 649 80 . a^2 = \dfrac{2596}{6}, b^2 = \dfrac{320}{9}, \dfrac{m}{n} = \dfrac{a^2}{b^2} = \dfrac{649}{80}. Hence, m = 649 , n = 90 , m + n = 729 . m= 649, n= 90, m+n= \boxed{729}.

Nice solution really made me understand

Mardokay Mosazghi - 7 years ago

Excellent solution....

Suman Chatterjee - 7 years ago

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