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2001 AIME I Problems/Problem 4

Problem

In triangle $ABC$, angles $A$ and $B$ measure $60$ degrees and $45$ degrees, respectively. The bisector of angle $A$ intersects $\overline{BC}$ at $T$, and $AT=24$. The area of triangle $ABC$ can be written in the form $a+b\sqrt{c}$, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are positive integers, and $c$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $a+b+c$.

Solution

After chasing angles, $\angle ATC=75^{\circ}$ and $\angle TCA=75^{\circ}$, meaning $\triangle TAC$ is an isosceles triangle and $AC=24$.

Using law of sines on $\triangle ABC$, we can create the following equation:

$\frac{24}{\sin(\angle ABC)}$ $=$ $\frac{BC}{\sin(\angle BAC)}$

$\angle ABC=45^{\circ}$ and $\angle BAC=60^{\circ}$, so $BC = 12\sqrt{6}$.

We can then use the Law of Sines area formula $\frac{1}{2} \cdot BC \cdot AC \cdot \sin(\angle BCA)$ to find the area of the triangle.

$\sin(75)$ can be found through the sin addition formula.

$\sin(75)$ $=$ $\frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4}$

Therefore, the area of the triangle is $\frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4}$ $\cdot$ $24$ $\cdot$ $12\sqrt{6}$ $\cdot$ $\frac{1}{2}$

$72\sqrt{3} + 216$

$72 + 3 + 216 =$ $\boxed{291}$

Solution 2 (no trig)

First, draw a good diagram.

We realize that $\angle C = 75^\circ$, and $\angle CAT = 30^\circ$. Therefore, $\angle CTA = 75^\circ$ as well, making $\triangle CAT$ an isosceles triangle. $AT$ and $AC$ are congruent, so $AC=24$. We now drop an altitude from $C$, and call the foot this altitude point $D$.

[asy] size(200); defaultpen(linewidth(0.4)+fontsize(8)); pair A,B,C,D,T,F; A = origin; T = scale(24)*dir(30); C = scale(24)*dir(60); B = extension(C,T,A,(1,0)); F = foot(T,A,B); D = foot(C,A,B); draw(A--B--C--A--T, black+0.8); draw(C--D, dashed); label(rotate(degrees(T-A))*"$24$", A--T, N); label(rotate(degrees(C-A))*"$24$", A--C, 2*NW); label("$12\sqrt 3$", C--D, E); label("$12\sqrt 3$", D--B, S); label("$12$", A--D, S); pen p = fontsize(8)+red; MA("45^\circ", C,B,A,2); MA("30^\circ", B,A,T,2.5); MA("30^\circ", T,A,C,3.5); dot("$A$", A, SW); dot("$B$", B, SE); dot("$C$", C, N); dot("$T$", T, NE); dot("$D$", D, S); [/asy]

By 30-60-90 triangles, $AD=12$ and $CD=12\sqrt{3}$.

We also notice that $\triangle CDB$ is an isosceles right triangle. $CD$ is congruent to $BD$, which makes $BD=12\sqrt{3}$. The base $AB$ is $12+12\sqrt{3}$, and the altitude $CD=12\sqrt{3}$. We can easily find that the area of triangle $ABC$ is $216+72\sqrt{3}$, so $a+b+c=\boxed{291}$.

-youyanli

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/BIyhEjVp0iM?t=526

~ pi_is_3.14

See also

2001 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 3 		Followed by
Problem 5
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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