USA Mathematical Talent Search

Solutions to Problem 5/1/17

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5/1/17. Given triangle ABC, let M be the midpoint of side AB and N be the midpoint
of side AC. A circle is inscribed inside quadrilateral N M BC, tangent to all four sides, and
that circle touches M N at point X. The circle inscribed in triangle AM N touches M N at
point Y , with Y between X and N . If XY = 1 and BC = 12, find, with proof, the lengths
of the sides AB and AC.

Credit This problem was proposed by Richard Rusczyk.

Comments This geometry problem is best solved using a side chase (as opposed to an
angle chase), in which the relations between lengths of line segments are written down until
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there are a sufficient number of them that they can be solved algebraically. Any approach of
this kind will almost inevitably lead to the answer. But this is not the only possible approach,
as the following solutions will show. We recommend that when submitting a solution to a
geometry problem to also provide a diagram, so that the grader does not have to draw one.
Solutions edited by Naoki Sato.

Solution 1 by: Tony Liu (11/IL)

Let AB and AC be tangent to the incircle of 4AM N at D and E. Similarly, let AB

and AC be tangent to the circle inscribed in M N CB at P and Q. Let AC = 2b, AB = 2c.
Note that M N = 12 BC = 6, and let s = 12 (b + c + 6) be the semiperimeter of 4AM N .

Because M N CB has an inscribed circle, M N +BC = M B +N C, or b+c = 18. By equal

tangents around the incircle of 4AM N , it is easy to see that M Y = s b and N Y = s c.
 USA Mathematical Talent Search
Solutions to Problem 5/1/17
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For example,

2 MY = MY + MD
= (AM AD) + (M N Y N )
= AM AE + M N EN
= AM + M N AN
= AM + M N + AN 2AN
= 2s 2b
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Y Virtual
to buy b.

Moreover, the circle inscribed in M N CB is the excircle of 4AM N , opposite of A. This

implies that N X = M Y . Indeed, we have

2 AP = AP + AQ
= (AM + M X) + (AN + N X)
= 2s
AP = AQ = s.

Thus, M Y = s b = AQ AN = N Q = N X. From this, we have 1 = XY = N X N Y =

(sb)(sc) = cb. Combined with b+c = 18, we have AB = 2c = 19 and AC = 2b = 17.

Solution 2 by: Alan Deng (12/NY)

Let M X = a and N Y = b. By properties of tangents to a circle and the fact that triangle
AM N is similar to triangle ABC with a ratio of similitude of 1:2 (since M is the midpoint
of AB and N is the midpoint of AC), we can label the following diagram on the left, except
for the length of T H, where H is the foot of the altitude from A to BC.
 USA Mathematical Talent Search
Solutions to Problem 5/1/17
www.usamts.org

A A

2a + 1
2b + 1
M0 Y0
N0
X0

a+1
O0 O0
b
M a Y b M Y
N N
a X1
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b+1

2a + 2 O O
2b

B 2a + 2 T 2 H 2b 2 C B T 2 H C

The ratio of the radius of circle O to that of O0 is 2:1, since they are inscribed in similar
triangles of that ratio. The distance XY is 1. Draw a line M 0 N 0 parallel to M N that is also
tangent to circle O0 , as shown in the diagram on the right. We also have points X 0 and Y 0
on M 0 N 0 that correspond to points X and Y on M N . In fact, X 0 and Y 0 are the images of
X and Y , respectively, of the similitude through A by ratio 1:2, so X 0 Y 0 = XY /2 = 1/2.
Furthermore, X 0 Y is parallel to AH since M 0 N 0 and M N are parallel tangents to circle O0 .
If we continue this process of drawing tangents and circles towards point A, we obtain line
segments of length 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and so on, and the union of their orthogonal projections
onto BC is T H. Hence,
1 1 1
T H = 1 + + + + = 2.
2 4 8
Now, we have two right triangles ABH and ACH that share the same height. Then

AB 2 BH 2 = AH 2 = AC 2 CH 2
(6a + 4)2 (2a + 4)2 = (6b + 2)2 (2b 2)2
32a2 + 32a = 32b2 + 32b
4a2 + 4a = 4b2 + 4b
4a2 + 4a + 1 = 4b2 + 4b + 1
(2a + 1)2 = (2b + 1)2 ,
 USA Mathematical Talent Search
Solutions to Problem 5/1/17
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so a = b. Since BC = 2a + 2b + 2 = 12, a = b = 5/2. Hence, AB = 6a + 4 = 19 and

AC = 6b + 2 = 17.

Solution 3: Based on the solution by Logan Daum (11/AK)

By the side chasing argument in Solution 1, we get that M X = N Y . (For example,

this follows immediately from M Y = N X.) Since XY = 1 and M N = 6, we have that
M X = N Y = 5/2, and we can argue that T H = 2 as in Solution 2. (Actually, Logan argues
this in a more direct way than Alan. Let Z be the intersection of AH and M N . What do
you for
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Virtual PDF Printer?)

Now, T is the image of Y under the homothety through A by a factor of 2, so CT =

2N Y = 5, which means BT = BC CT = 12 5 = 7. Also, CH = CT T H = 3 and
BH = BC CH = 9.
A

M Y
N
X1

B 7 T 2 H 3 C

Let r be the inradius of triangle ABC, so the height of trapezoid BM N C is 2r, so then
the height of triangle ABC is AH = 4r. Then
B OT r
tan = = ,
2 BT 7
and
AH 4r
tan B = = .
BH 9
 USA Mathematical Talent Search
Solutions to Problem 5/1/17
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By the double angle formula,

2 tan(B/2)
tan B = .
1 tan2 (B/2)

Substituting, we obtain

4r 2r/7 14r
= 2
=
9 1 (r/7) 49 r2
196 4r2 = 126
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70 35
r2 = =
r 4 2
35
r=
2
r
4r 4 35 2 70
tan B = = = .
9 9 2 9

Since tan B is positive, B is acute. Also,

cos2 B
cos2 B =
cos2 B + sin2 B
1
= sin2 B
1+ cos2 B
1
=
1 + tan2 B
1
=
1 + 470
81
81
= ,
361
so r
81 9
cos B = = .
361 19
Hence,
BH 9
AB = = = 19.
cos B 9/19
Similarly, r
AH 4r 4 35 2 70
tan C = = = = ,
CH 3 3 2 3
 USA Mathematical Talent Search
Solutions to Problem 5/1/17
www.usamts.org

so C is also acute, and

1
cos2 C =
1 + tan2 C
1
=
1 + 470
9
9
= ,
289
so r
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cos C = = .
289 17
Hence,
AH 3
AC = = = 17.
cos C 3/17