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2004 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 19

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Problem 19

Circles A, B and C are externally tangent to each other, and internally tangent to circle D. Circles B and C are congruent. Circle A has radius 1 and passes through the center of D. What is the radius of circle B?

\text {(A)} \frac23 \qquad \text {(B)} \frac {\sqrt3}{2} \qquad \text {(C)}\frac78 \qquad \text {(D)}\frac89 \qquad \text {(E...

Solution

unitsize(20mm);pair A=(0,1),B=(-8/9,-2/3),C=(8/9,-2/3),D=(0,0), E=(0,-2/3);draw(Circle(D,2));draw(Circle(A,1));draw(Circle(B,...

Note that BD= 2-r since D is the center of the larger circle of radius 2. Using the Pythagorean Theorem on \triangle BDE,

\begin{align*}r^2 + h^2 &= (2-r)^2 \\r^2 + h^2 &= 4 - 4r + r^2 \\h^2 &= 4 - 4r \\h &= 2\sqrt{1-r} \end{align*...

Now using the Pythagorean Theorem on \triangle BAE,

\begin{align*}r^2 + (h+1)^2 &= (r+1)^2 \\r^2 + h^2 + 2h + 1 &= r^2 + 2r + 1 \\h^2 + 2h &= 2r \end{align*}

Substituting h,

\begin{align*}(4-4r) + 4\sqrt{1-r} &= 2r \\4\sqrt{1-r} &= 6r - 4 \\16-16r &= 36r^2 - 48r + 16 \\0 &= 36r^2 - ...

See Also

2004 AMC 12A (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 18
Followed by
Problem 20
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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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