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1995 AIME Problems/Problem 14

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Problem

In a circle of radius 42, two chords of length 78 intersect at a point whose distance from the center is 18. The two chords divide the interior of the circle into four regions. Two of these regions are bordered by segments of unequal lengths, and the area of either of them can be expressed uniquely in the form m\pi-n\sqrt{d}, where m, n, and d_{} are positive integers and d_{} is not divisible by the square of any prime number. Find m+n+d.

Solution

Let the center of the circle be O, and the two chords be \overline{AB}, \overline{CD} and intersecting at E, such that AE = CE < BE = DE. Let F be the midpoint of \overline{AB}. Then \overline{OF} \perp \overline{AB}.

size(200); pathpen = black + linewidth(0.7); pen d = dashed+linewidth(0.7);pair O = (0,0), E=(0,18), B=E+48*expi(11*pi/6), D=...

By the Pythagorean Theorem, OF = \sqrt{OB^2 - BF^2} = \sqrt{42^2 - 39^2} = 9\sqrt{3}, and EF = \sqrt{OE^2 - OF^2} = 9. Then OEF is a 30-60-90 right triangle, so \angle OEB = \angle OED = 60^{\circ}. Thus \angle BEC = 60^{\circ}, and by the Law of Cosines,

BC^2 = BE^2 + CE^2 - 2 \cdot BE \cdot CE \cos 60^{\circ} = 42.

It follows that \triangle BCO is an equilateral triangle, so \angle BOC = 60^{\circ}. The desired area can be broken up into two regions, \triangle BCE and the region bounded by \overline{BC} and minor arc \stackrel{\frown}{BC}. The former can be found by Heron's formula to be [BCE] = \sqrt{60(60-48)(60-42)(60-30)} = 360\sqrt{3}. The latter is the difference between the area of sector BOC and the equilateral \triangle BOC, or \frac{1}{6}\pi (42)^2 - \frac{42^2 \sqrt{3}}{4} = 294\pi - 441\sqrt{3}.

Thus, the desired area is 360\sqrt{3} + 294\pi - 441\sqrt{3} = 294\pi - 81\sqrt{3}, and m+n+d = \boxed{378}.

See also

1995 AIME (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Want to learn how to tackle those tough MATHCOUNTS and AMC counting and probability problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Counting & Probability by David Patrick.
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