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AIME 2024 II · 第 12 题

AIME 2024 II — Problem 12

专题
Contest Math
难度
L4
来源
AIME

题目详情

Problem

Let O=(0,0)O=(0,0), A=(12,0)A=\left(\tfrac{1}{2},0\right), and B=(0,32)B=\left(0,\tfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right) be points in the coordinate plane. Let F\mathcal{F} be the family of segments PQ\overline{PQ} of unit length lying in the first quadrant with PP on the xx-axis and QQ on the yy-axis. There is a unique point CC on AB\overline{AB}, distinct from AA and BB, that does not belong to any segment from F\mathcal{F} other than AB\overline{AB}. Then OC2=pqOC^2=\tfrac{p}{q}, where pp and qq are relatively prime positive integers. Find p+qp+q.

解析

Solution 1 (completely no calculus required)

Begin by finding the equation of the line AB\overline{AB}: y=3x+32y= -\sqrt{3}x+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} Now, consider the general equation of all lines that belong to F\mathcal{F}. Let PP be located at (a,0)(a,0) and QQ be located at (0,b)(0,b). With these assumptions, we may arrive at the equation ay+bx=abay +bx =ab. However, a critical condition that must be satisfied by our parameters is that a2+b2=1a^2+b^2=1, since the length of PQ=1\overline{PQ}=1.

Here's the golden trick that resolves the problem: we wish to find some point CC along AB\overline{AB} such that PQ\overline{PQ} passes through CC if and only if a=12a=\frac{1}{2}. It's not hard to convince oneself of this, since the property a2+b2=1a^2+b^2=1 implies that if a=12a=\frac{1}{2}, then PQ=AB\overline{PQ}=\overline{AB}.

We should now try to relate the point CC to some value of aa. This is accomplished by finding the intersection of two lines:

a(3x+32)+x1a2=a1a2a\left(-\sqrt{3}x +\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right) + x\sqrt{1-a^2} = a\sqrt{1-a^2} Where we have also used the fact that b=1a2b=\sqrt{1-a^2}, which follows nicely from a2+b2=1a^2+b^2 =1.

a(3x+32)=(ax)1a2a\left(-\sqrt{3}x +\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right) = (a-x)\sqrt{1-a^2} Square both sides and go through some algebraic manipulations to arrive at

a4+2xa3+(4x2+3x+14)a22xa+x2=0-a^4 +2xa^3+\left(-4x^2+3x+\frac{1}{4}\right)a^2-2xa+x^2=0 Note how a=12a=\frac{1}{2} is a solution to this polynomial, and it is logically so. If we found the set of intersections consisting of line segment AB\overline{AB} with an identical copy of itself, every single point on the line (all xx values) should satisfy the equation. Thus, we can perform polynomial division to eliminate the extraneous solution a=12a=\frac{1}{2}.

a3+(2x12)a2+(4x2+4x)a2x2=0-a^3 + \left(2x-\frac{1}{2}\right)a^2+(-4x^2+4x)a-2x^2=0 Remember our original goal. It was to find an xx value such that a=12a=\frac{1}{2} is the only valid solution. Therefore, we can actually plug in a=12a=\frac{1}{2} back into the equation to look for values of xx such that the relation is satisfied, then eliminate undesirable answers.

16x210x+1=016x^2-10x+1=0 This is easily factored, allowing us to determine that x=18,12x=\frac{1}{8},\frac{1}{2}. The latter root is not our answer, since on line AB\overline{AB}, y(12)=0y\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=0, the horizontal line segment running from (0,0)(0,0) to (1,0)(1,0) covers that point. From this, we see that x=18x=\frac{1}{8} is the only possible candidate.

Going back to line AB,y=3x+32\overline{AB}, y= -\sqrt{3}x+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, plugging in x=18x=\frac{1}{8} yields y=338y=\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{8}. The distance from the origin is then given by 182+(338)2=716\sqrt{\frac{1}{8^2}+\left(\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{8}\right)^2} =\sqrt{\frac{7}{16}}. That number squared is 716\frac{7}{16}, so the answer is 023\boxed{023}.

~Installhelp_hex

Why this works: Assume the quartic equation has exactly two real roots. Then for a=12a=\frac{1}{2} to be the only solution, it must be a doubled root. Thus, even after dividing the quartic by a12a-\frac{1}{2}, a=12a=\frac{1}{2} is still a root. ~inaccessibles

Other explanation: Clearly a=12a=\frac{1}{2} works because then PQ = AB. Thus, we can factor out a12a-\frac{1}{2}.

From the 3rd degree polynomial, it must either have 3 real roots, or 1 real root and 2 non real roots, because it has real coefficients.

So it must have atleast 1 real root. If this root wasn't 12\frac{1}{2} this would mean their is another line PQ that satisfies the equation. Thus, their must be another root at a=12a=\frac{1}{2} and plugging in, we can solve for xx. ~Bigbrain_2009

Solution 2

y=(tanθ)x+sinθ=3x+32,x=32sinθ232tanθy=-(\tan \theta) x+\sin \theta=-\sqrt{3}x+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, x=\frac{\sqrt{3}-2\sin \theta}{2\sqrt{3}-2\tan \theta}

Now, we want to find limθπ332sinθ232tanθ\lim_{\theta\to\frac{\pi}{3}}\frac{\sqrt{3}-2\sin \theta}{2\sqrt{3}-2\tan \theta}. By L'Hôpital's rule, we get x=limθπ332sinθ232tanθ=limθπ3cos3θ=18x=\lim_{\theta\to\frac{\pi}{3}}\frac{\sqrt{3}-2\sin \theta}{2\sqrt{3}-2\tan \theta}=\lim_{\theta\to\frac{\pi}{3}}\cos^3{\theta}=\frac{1}{8}. This means that y=338    OC2=716y=\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{8}\implies OC^2=\frac{7}{16}, so we get 023\boxed{023}.

~Bluesoul

Solution 3

The equation of line ABAB is

y=323x.(1)y = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3} x. \hspace{1cm} (1) The position of line PQPQ can be characterized by QPO\angle QPO, denoted as θ\theta. Thus, the equation of line PQPQ is

y=sinθtanθx.(2)y = \sin \theta - \tan \theta \cdot x . \hspace{1cm} (2) Solving (1) and (2), the xx-coordinate of the intersecting point of lines ABAB and PQPQ satisfies the following equation:

323xsinθ+xcosθ=1.(1)\frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3} x}{\sin \theta} + \frac{x}{\cos \theta} = 1 . \hspace{1cm} (1) We denote the L.H.S. as f(θ;x)f \left( \theta; x \right).

We observe that f(60;x)=1f \left( 60^\circ ; x \right) = 1 for all xx. Therefore, the point CC that this problem asks us to find can be equivalently stated in the following way:

We interpret Equation (1) as a parameterized equation that xx is a tuning parameter and θ\theta is a variable that shall be solved and expressed in terms of xx. In Equation (1), there exists a unique x(0,1)x \in \left( 0, 1 \right), denoted as xCx_C (xx-coordinate of point CC), such that the only solution is θ=60\theta = 60^\circ. For all other x(0,1)\{xC}x \in \left( 0, 1 \right) \backslash \{ x_C \}, there are more than one solutions with one solution θ=60\theta = 60^\circ and at least another solution.

Given that function f(θ;x)f \left( \theta ; x \right) is differentiable, the above condition is equivalent to the first-order-condition

f(θ;xC)θθ=60=0.\frac{\partial f \left( \theta ; x_C \right) }{\partial \theta} \bigg|_{\theta = 60^\circ} = 0 . Calculating derivatives in this equation, we get

(323xC)cos60sin260+xCsin60cos260=0.- \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3} x_C \right) \frac{\cos 60^\circ}{\sin^2 60^\circ} + x_C \frac{\sin 60^\circ}{\cos^2 60^\circ} = 0. By solving this equation, we get

xC=18.x_C = \frac{1}{8} . Plugging this into Equation (1), we get the yy-coordinate of point CC:

yC=338.y_C = \frac{3 \sqrt{3}}{8} . Therefore, \begin{align*} OC^2 & = x_C^2 + y_C^2 \\ & = \frac{7}{16} . \end{align*}

Therefore, the answer is 7+16=(23) 7 + 16 = \boxed{\textbf{(23) }}.

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Solution 4 (coordinate bash)

Let ss be a segment in F\mathcal{F} with x-intercept aa and y-intercept bb. We can write ss as \begin{align*} \frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} &= 1 \\ y &= b(1 - \frac{x}{a}). \end{align*} Let the unique point in the first quadrant (x,y)(x, y) lie on ss and no other segment in F\mathcal{F}. We can find xx by solving

b(1xa)=(b+db)(1xa+da)b(1 - \frac{x}{a}) = (b + db)(1 - \frac{x}{a + da}) and taking the limit as da,db0da, db \to 0. Since ss has length 11, a2+b2=12a^2 + b^2 = 1^2 by the Pythagorean theorem. Solving this for dbdb, we get \begin{align*} a^2 + b^2 &= 1 \\ b^2 &= 1 - a^2 \\ \frac{db^2}{da} &= \frac{d(1 - a^2)}{da} \\ 2a\frac{db}{da} &= -2a \\ db &= -\frac{a}{b}da. \end{align*} After we substitute db=abdadb = -\frac{a}{b}da, the equation for xx becomes

b(1xa)=(babda)(1xa+da).b(1 - \frac{x}{a}) = (b -\frac{a}{b} da)(1 - \frac{x}{a + da}). In AB\overline{AB}, a=12a = \frac{1}{2} and b=32b = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}. To find the x-coordinate of CC, we substitute these into the equation for xx and get \begin{align*} \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(1 - \frac{x}{\frac{1}{2}}) &= (\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \frac{\frac{1}{2}}{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} da)(1 - \frac{x}{\frac{1}{2} + da}) \\ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(1 - 2x) &= (\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \frac{da}{\sqrt{3}})(1 - \frac{x}{\frac{1 + 2da}{2}}) \\ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3}x &= \frac{3 - 2da}{2\sqrt{3}}(1 - \frac{2x}{1 + 2da}) \\ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3}x &= \frac{3 - 2da}{2\sqrt{3}} \cdot \frac{1 + 2da - 2x}{1 + 2da} \\ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3}x &= \frac{3 + 6da - 6x - 2da - 4da^2 + 4xda}{2\sqrt{3} + 4\sqrt{3}da} \\ (\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sqrt{3}x)(2\sqrt{3} + 4\sqrt{3}da) &= 3 + 6da - 6x - 2da - 4da^2 + 4xda \\ 3 + 6da - 6x - 12xda &= 3 + 4da - 6x - 4da^2 + 4xda \\ 2da &= -4da^2 + 16xda \\ 16xda &= 2da + 4da^2 \\ x &= \frac{da + 2da^2}{8da}. \end{align*} We take the limit as da0da \to 0 to get

x=limda0da+2da28da=limda01+2da8=18.x = \lim_{da \to 0} \frac{da + 2da^2}{8da} = \lim_{da \to 0} \frac{1 + 2da}{8} = \frac{1}{8}. We substitute x=18x = \frac{1}{8} into the equation for AB\overline{AB} to find the y-coordinate of CC:

y=b(1xa)=32(11812)=338.y = b(1 - \frac{x}{a}) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(1 - \frac{\frac{1}{8}}{\frac{1}{2}}) = \frac{3\sqrt{3}}{8}. The problem asks for

OC2=x2+y2=(18)2+(338)2=716=pq,OC^2 = x^2 + y^2 = (\frac{1}{8})^2 + (\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{8})^2 = \frac{7}{16} = \frac{p}{q}, so p+q=7+16=023p + q = 7 + 16 = \boxed{023}.

Solution 5 (small perturb)

AIME diagram

Let's move a little bit from AA to A1A_1, then BB must move to B1B_1 to keep A1B1=1A_1B_1 = 1. ABAB intersects with A1B1A_1B_1 at CC. Pick points A2A_2 and B2B_2 on CA1CA_1 and CBCB such that CA2=CACA_2 = CA, CB2=CB1CB_2 = CB_1, we have A1A2=BB2A_1A_2 = BB_2. Since AA1AA_1 is very small, CA1A60\angle CA_1A \approx 60^\circ, CBB130\angle CBB_1 \approx 30^\circ, so AA23A1A2AA_2\approx \sqrt{3}A_1A_2, B1B213BB2B_1B_2 \approx \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}BB_2, by similarity, CACBCACB2=AA2B1B2=3A1A213BB2=3\frac{CA}{CB} \approx \frac{CA}{CB_2} = \frac{AA_2}{B_1B_2} = \frac{\sqrt{3}A_1A_2}{\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}BB_2} = 3. So the coordinates of CC is (18,338)\left(\frac{1}{8}, \frac{3\sqrt{3}}{8}\right).

so OC2=164+2764=716OC^2 = \frac{1}{64} + \frac{27}{64} = \frac{7}{16}, the answer is 023\boxed{023}.

Solution 6(trig identities and questionable rigidity)

Let's try to find the general form of a line that is in F\mathcal{F} based on what angle it makes with the x-axis, OP=cosθOP = \cos{\theta}, and OQ=sinθOQ = \sin{\theta} so its slope is tanθ-\tan{\theta} and due to us knowing its y-intercept we know that our line has form y=tanθx+sinθ.y = -\tan{\theta}x + \sin{\theta}.

Now we can analyze the system of equations made by y=tanθx+sinθy = -\tan{\theta}x + \sin{\theta} and y=tan60x+sin60y = -\tan{60^\circ}x + \sin{60^\circ}, this gives us that x=sinθsin60tanθsin60.x = \dfrac{\sin{\theta}- \sin{60^\circ}}{\tan{\theta} - \sin{60^\circ}}.

We can proceed to simplify our expression further:

x=sinθsin60sinθcosθsin60cos60x = \dfrac{\sin{\theta} - \sin{60^\circ}}{\frac{\sin{\theta}}{\cos{\theta}} - \frac{\sin{60^\circ}}{\cos{60^\circ}}} =sinθsin60sin(θ60)cosθcos60= \dfrac{\sin{\theta} - \sin{60^\circ}}{\frac{\sin{(\theta - 60^\circ)}}{\cos{\theta}\cos{60^\circ}}} =2sinθ602cosθ+6022sinθ602cosθ602cosθcos60= \dfrac{2\sin{\dfrac{\theta - 60^\circ}{2}}\cos{\dfrac{\theta + 60^\circ}{2}}}{\dfrac{2\sin{\dfrac{\theta - 60^\circ}{2}}\cos{\dfrac{\theta - 60^\circ}{2}}}{\cos{\theta}\cos{60^\circ}}} =sinθ602sinθ602cosθcos60cosθ+602cosθ602.= \dfrac{\sin{\dfrac{\theta - 60^\circ}{2}}}{\sin{\dfrac{\theta - 60^\circ}{2}}} \cdot \dfrac{\cos{\theta}\cos{60^\circ}\cos{\dfrac{\theta + 60^\circ}{2}}}{\cos{\dfrac{\theta - 60^\circ}{2}}}. Seeing that there are only valid solutions when θ\theta is acute(all that is allowed anyways) and when θ60\theta \neq 60^\circ since one of the expressions in our simplified solution will equal 0/00/0. Since there is only one intersection point for every θ\theta and vice versa in the appropriate domain and range(we can easily prove this by contradiction), we know that the missing element of the range(the points) must correspond with the excluded value. The x-coordinate of which which can be evaluated by taking the limit of our expression as θ\theta goes to 6060^\circ which is 18\frac{1}{8} regardless of the direction we approach 6060^\circ from. The corresponding yy is 338\dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{8} and using the distance formula gives us 023\boxed{023} as our answer.

While this solution may seem long all of these steps come naturally.

~SailS

Solution 7

AIME diagram

Denote X(1,0),Y(0,1),POX,QOY,PQ=1,X(1,0), Y(0,1), P \in OX, Q \in OY, |PQ| = 1,

k=const(0,1),α=OPQ.k = const \in (0,1), \alpha = \angle OPQ. Then P=(cosα,0),Q=(0,sinα).P = (\cos \alpha, 0), Q = (0, \sin \alpha).

Let CPQC \in PQ be the point with property k=PCQC    k = \frac {PC}{QC} \implies C=(cosαk+1,ksinαk+1).C = \left ( \frac{\cos \alpha}{k+1} , \frac{k \sin \alpha}{k+1} \right ).

So locus of points CC is the ellipse with semiaxes 1k+1\frac{1}{k+1} and kk+1.\frac{k}{k+1}.

Point D=CD = C is a unique point on ABAB if the ellipse is tangent to the line AB.AB.

In this case in point CC we get dydx=dydα:dxdα=kcotα.\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy}{d \alpha} : \frac{dx}{d \alpha} = - k \cot \alpha.

The tangent of the line ABAB is tanα    k=tan2α.- \tan \alpha \implies k = \tan^2 \alpha.

For point DD we get k=tan2θ.k = \tan^2 \theta.

tanDOX=tanφ=DyDx=ksinθk+1:cosθk+1=ktanθ=tan3θ.\tan \angle DOX = \tan \varphi = \frac {D_y}{D_x} = \frac{k \sin \theta}{k+1} : \frac{\cos \theta}{k+1} = k \cdot \tan \theta = \tan^3 \theta. For the line ABtanθ=ByAx=3    k=3    AB \tan \theta = \frac {B_y}{A_x} = \sqrt{3} \implies k = 3 \implies

D=(cosθk+1,ksinθk+1)=(11+tan2θ(k+1),ktanθ1+tan2θ(k+1))=D = \left( \frac{\cos \theta}{k+1}, \frac{k \sin \theta}{k+1} \right) = \left( \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+ \tan^2 \theta} \cdot (k+1)}, \frac{k \tan \theta}{\sqrt{1+ \tan^2 \theta} \cdot (k+1)} \right) = (11+k(k+1),kk1+k(k+1))=(18,338),\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{1+ k} \cdot (k+1)}, \frac{k \cdot \sqrt{k}}{\sqrt{1+ k} \cdot (k+1)} \right) = \left(\frac{1}{8}, \frac{3 \sqrt{3}}{8} \right), so we get 023\boxed{023}.

vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

Solution 8 (intuitive elementary calculus solution)

First, we find the equation of the line AB:\overline{AB}:

y=3x+32.(1)y = -\sqrt{3} x + \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}. \hspace{1cm} (1) Now, say we have some line in F\mathcal{F} that spans from point XX at (0,a)(0,a), and because this segment has unit length, ends at point YY located at (1a2,0)(\sqrt{1-a^2},0). Note that XY\overline{XY} has the equation

y=a1a2x+a.(2)y = -\dfrac{a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}}x + a. \hspace{1cm} (2) We notice that as aa varies, XY\overline{XY} will intersect AB\overline{AB} at all points on AB\overline{AB} except point CC. We make the key observation that CC is what the intersection point of XY\overline{XY} and AB\overline{AB} approaches as aa approaches 32\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}.

To find this point, let's find the intersection point of XY\overline{XY} and AB\overline{AB} in terms of aa. \begin{align*} y &= -\sqrt{3} x + \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \\ y &= -\dfrac{a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}}x + a \\ -\sqrt{3} x + \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} &= -\dfrac{a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}}x + a \\ (\dfrac{a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}} - \sqrt{3}) \cdot x &= a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \\ x &= \dfrac{(a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2})\cdot\sqrt{1-a^2}}{a - \sqrt{3} \cdot \sqrt{1-a^2}} \\ \end{align*}

Note that we don't need to find the yy-coordinate because we know that this point is on line AB\overline{AB}, and once we find the xx-coordinate, we can simply plug it into the equation of line AB\overline{AB}

Now, we want to find

lima32(a32)1a2a31a2\lim_{a\to\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} \dfrac{(a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2})\cdot\sqrt{1-a^2}}{a - \sqrt{3} \cdot \sqrt{1-a^2}} We apply L'Hopital's Rule as this limit is indeterminate. Taking the derivative of the numerator using product rule: \begin{align*} \dfrac{d}{da} \left[(a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2})\cdot\sqrt{1-a^2}\right] &= \sqrt{1-a^2} \cdot \dfrac{d}{da} \left(a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right) + \dfrac{d}{da} \left(\sqrt{1-a^2}\right) \cdot (a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}) \end{align*} Note that we can apply the chain rule to get dda(1a2)=a1a2\dfrac{d}{da} \left(\sqrt{1-a^2}\right) = \dfrac{-a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}} \begin{align*} &= \sqrt{1-a^2} + \dfrac{-a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}} * (a-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}) \\ &= \dfrac{-2a^2 + \dfrac{a\sqrt{3}}{2} + 1}{\sqrt{1-a^2}} \end{align*} Taking the derivative of the denominator: \begin{align*} \dfrac{d}{da} \left[a-\sqrt{3}\cdot\sqrt{1-a^2}\right] &= \dfrac{d}{da} (a) - \sqrt{3}\dfrac{d}{da}(\sqrt{1-a^2}) \\ &= 1 - \sqrt{3}\cdot\dfrac{-a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}} \\ &= \dfrac{\sqrt{1-a^2} + \sqrt{3}a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}} \end{align*} So, our final expression is

2a2+a32+11a21a2+3a1a2\dfrac{\frac{-2a^2 + \frac{a\sqrt{3}}{2} + 1}{\sqrt{1-a^2}}}{\frac{\sqrt{1-a^2} + \sqrt{3}a}{\sqrt{1-a^2}}} =2a2+a32+11a2+3a= \dfrac{-2a^2 + \frac{a\sqrt{3}}{2} + 1}{\sqrt{1-a^2} + \sqrt{3}a} Now, all that remains is to substitute a=32a = \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \begin{align*} &= \dfrac{-\dfrac{3}{2} + \dfrac{3}{4} + 1}{\dfrac{1}{2} + \dfrac{3}{2}} \\ &= \dfrac{1}{8} \end{align*} Now, we can plug in x=18x = \dfrac{1}{8} into the equation of AB\overline{AB}: \begin{align*} y &= -\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{8} + \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \\ y &= \dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{8} \end{align*} So point C is located at (18,338)(\dfrac{1}{8},\dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{8}) The question asks for OC2OC^2, so we simply apply the Pythagorean Theorem: \begin{align*} OC^2 &= (\dfrac{1}{8})^2 + (\dfrac{3\sqrt{3}}{2})^2 \\ OC^2 &= \dfrac{7}{16}\\ 7 + 16 &= \boxed{23} \end{align*}

~143466534811009我输了游戏56二伯

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/914687Yv6SY?si=tc6XfoOIHu0gu6AL

(no calculus)

~MathProblemSolvingSkills.com

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/QwLBBzHFPNE

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Geometry Solution

AIME diagram

Let CC be a fixed point in the first quadrant. Let AA be a point on the positive xx-axis and BB be a point on the positive yy-axis such that ABAB passes through CC and the length of ABAB is minimal. Let PP be the point such that OAPBOAPB is a rectangle. Prove that PCABPC \perp AB. (One can solve this through algebra/calculus bash, but I'm trying to find a solution that mainly uses geometry. If you know such a solution, write it here on this wiki page.) ~Furaken

I think there is such a geometry way: Let DEDE pass through CC while point DD is on the outside of line segment OAOA and point EE is in between OO and BB. We aim to show DEDE is longer than ABAB. Now since PCPC is the altitude of triangle PABPAB yet just a cevian on the base DEDE of triangle PDEPDE (thus making the height shorter than PCPC), it suffices to show the area of triangle PDEPDE is bigger than that of triangle PABPAB. To do this, we compare these two triangles (let DEDE intersect PAPA at point FF), and we just want to show PFAD>AFAOPF*AD > AF*AO. This is trivial by similarity ratios. ~gougutheorem

Thanks! Now we know that it's possible to solve the AIME problem with only geometry. ~Furaken

Can someone better explain this solution please? How does PFAD>AFAOPF*AD > AF*AO show that PDEPDE is bigger than PABPAB? ~inaccessibles