The more the merrier ....

Geometry Level 5

Suppose we have 4 4 circles P , Q , R , S P, Q, R, S each of radius 1 1 such that Q Q is centered at ( 0 , 1 ) (0,1) , R R at ( 2 , 1 ) (2,1) , S S at ( 4 , 1 ) (4,1) and with P P lying in the first quadrant tangent to both R R and S S .

Form a triangle Δ A B C \Delta ABC that circumscribes the 4 4 circles such that A B AB is tangent to P P and Q Q , A C AC is tangent to P P and S S , and B C BC is tangent to Q , R Q, R and S S .

The perimeter of Δ A B C \Delta ABC can be written as a + b c a + b\sqrt{c} , where a , b , c a,b,c are positive integers with c c being square-free. Find a + b + c a + b + c .


The answer is 21.

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2 solutions

Letting P , Q , R , S P, Q, R, S represent the centers of the respective circles, we have that Δ P R S \Delta PRS is equilateral with side lengths 2 2 . Now Δ P R Q \Delta PRQ is isosceles with P R Q = 12 0 \angle PRQ = 120^{\circ} , and so P Q R = 3 0 \angle PQR = 30^{\circ} . Thus Δ P Q S \Delta PQS is a 30 / 60 / 90 30/60/90 right triangle with side lengths P S = 2 , Q S = 4 PS = 2, QS = 4 and P Q = 2 3 PQ = 2\sqrt{3} , giving us a perimeter for Δ P Q S \Delta PQS of 6 + 2 3 6 + 2\sqrt{3} .

Now as the 4 4 circles have the same radius we can conclude that Δ A B C \Delta ABC is a 30 / 60 / 90 30/60/90 triangle as well. So if we can find the ratio of A B AB to P S PS we can multiply this ratio by the perimeter of Δ P Q S \Delta PQS to get the perimeter of Δ A B C \Delta ABC .

Now draw perpendiculars from P P and S S to A B AB intersecting at the respective points M , N M,N . Then since P A M = 4 5 \angle PAM = 45^{\circ} and S C N = 3 0 \angle SCN = 30^{\circ} we have that

A B = A M + M N + N C = 1 + 2 + 3 = 3 + 3 AB = AM + MN + NC = 1 + 2 + \sqrt{3} = 3 + \sqrt{3} .

The perimeter of Δ A B C \Delta ABC is then

( 3 + 3 ) 2 ( 6 + 2 3 ) = 12 + 6 3 \dfrac{(3 + \sqrt{3})}{2} * (6 + 2\sqrt{3}) = 12 + 6\sqrt{3} , and so

a + b + c = 12 + 6 + 3 = 21 a + b + c = 12 + 6 + 3 = \boxed{21} .

P R S i s a 2 2 2 Δ . S i n c e R a n d S a r e g i v e n , P ( 3 , 1 + 3 ) . Let M and N be the points of tangency. So MPSN is a rectangle. Implies MN=PS=2 A C P S s l o p e o f A C = 3 . B C A = 6 0 o . A B P Q s l o p e o f A B = 3 3 . A B C = 3 0 o . A B C i s a r t . e d Δ , r t . e d a t A . T a n g e n t l e n g t h f r o m A M = 1 i t i s a s i d e o f a s q u a r e . . T a n g e n t l e n g t h f r o m C = 1 C o t 60 2 = 3 . S o A C = A M + M N + N C = 1 + 2 + 3 = 3 + 3 . P e r i m e t e r o f 30 60 90 Δ A B C = ( 1 + 3 + 2 ) A C = ( 3 + 3 ) 2 = 12 + 6 3 . a + b + c = 21 PRS~ is~ a~ 2-2-2 ~\Delta. ~ Since ~ R ~ and ~ S ~ are ~ given, ~ P(3, 1+\sqrt3).\\ \text{Let M and N be the points of tangency. So MPSN is a rectangle. Implies MN=PS=2}\\ AC||PS ~ \therefore ~ slope ~ of ~ AC= ~ - ~ \sqrt3. ~ \implies ~ BCA=60^o.\\ AB||PQ ~ \therefore ~ slope ~ of ~ AB= ~ \dfrac {\sqrt3} 3. ~ \implies ~ ABC=30^o.\\ \implies ~ ABC ~ is ~ a ~ rt. ~ \angle ed ~ \Delta, ~ rt. ~ \angle ed ~ at ~ A.\\ \therefore ~ Tangent ~length ~ from ~ AM ~ =1 \because ~ it ~ is ~ a ~ side ~ of ~ a ~ square..\\ Tangent ~ length ~ from ~ C=\dfrac 1 {Cot\frac{60} 2}=\sqrt 3.\\ So ~ AC=AM+MN+NC=1+2+\sqrt3=3+\sqrt 3. \\ Perimeter ~ of ~ 30-60-90 ~ \Delta ~ ABC=(1+\sqrt3+2)*AC=\left (3+\sqrt3 \right)^2\\ =12+6*\sqrt3. ~~a+b+c=\boxed{21}

Nice solution with great graphics. Thanks for posting it. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 5 years, 3 months ago

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Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 3 months ago

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