IXth Annual Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament
Saturday 25 February 2006
Geometry Test: Solutions
1. Octagon ABCDEF GH is equiangular. Given that AB = 1, BC = 2, CD = 3,
DE = 4, and EF = F G = 2, compute the perimeter of the octagon.
√
Answer: 20 + 2
Solution: Extend sides AB, CD, EF, GH to form a rectangle: let X be the intersec-
tion of lines GH and AB; Y that of AB and CD; Z that of CD and EF ; and W that
of EF and GH.
√ √
As BC = 2, we have BY = Y C √= 2. As DE = 4, we have DZ = ZE = 2 2. As
F G = 2, we have F W = W G = 2.
We can
√ compute the dimensions of the rectangle: W X√ = Y Z = Y C + CD + DZ =
3 + 3 2, and XY√ = ZW = ZE + √ EF + F W = √ 2 + 3 2. Thus, HX = XA = XY −
AB −BY = 1+2 2, and so AH = 2HX = 4+ 2, and GH = W X −W G−HX = 2.
The perimeter of the octagon can now be computed by adding up all its sides.
2. Suppose ABC is a scalene right triangle, and P is the point on hypotenuse AC such
that ∠ABP = 45◦ . Given that AP = 1 and CP = 2, compute the area of ABC.
Answer: 95
Solution: Notice that BP bisects the right angle at B. Thus, we write AB = 2x,
BC = x. By the Pythagorean theorem, 5x2 = 9, from which the area 12 (x)(2x) = x2 =
9
5
.
3. Let A, B, C, and D be points on a circle such that AB = 11 and CD = 19. Point
P is on segment AB with AP = 6, and Q is on segment CD with CQ = 7. The line
through P and Q intersects the circle at X and Y . If P Q = 27, find XY .
Answer: 31
Solution: Suppose X, P, Q, Y lie in that order. Let P X = x and QY = y. By power
of a point from P , x · (27 + y) = 30, and by power of a point from Q, y · (27 + x) =
84. Subtracting the first from the second, 27 · (y − x) = 54, so y = x + 2. Now,
x · (29 + x) = 30, and we find x = 1, −30. Since −30 makes no sense, we take x = 1
and obtain XY = 1 + 27 + 3 = 31.
4. Let ABC be a triangle such that AB = 2, CA = 3, and BC = 4. A semicircle with its
diameter on BC is tangent to AB and AC. Compute the area of the semicircle.
Answer: 27π40
Solution: Let O, D, and E be the midpoint of the diameter and the points of
tangency with AB and AC respectively. Then [ABC] = [AOB] + [AOC] = 12 (AB +
AC)r, where r is the radius of the semicircle. Now by Heron’s formula, [ABC] =
q √ √
9 3 15 3 15
2
· 21 · 32 · 5
2
= 4
. We solve for r = 10
and compute 12 πr2 = 27π
40
.
√
5. Triangle ABC has side lengths AB = 2 5, BC = 1, and CA = 5. Point D is on side
AC such that CD = 1, and F is a point such that BF = 2 and CF = 3. Let E be the
intersection of lines AB and DF . Find the area of CDEB.
1
22
Answer: 35
Solution: Draw segment AF . Then notice AF = 4, and we have a right triangle.
4 8
Now draw line CE, let it intersect AF at G. By Ceva, F G = and AG = . Using
3 3
AE [AEF ] 4
mass points we find that = 6 so = 6, and since [ABF ] = 4, [BEF ] = .
EB [BEF ] 7
1 6
It’s easy to see that [CDF ] = [ACF ] = , so
5 5
6 4 22
[BCDE] = [CDF ] − [BEF ] = − = .
5 7 35
6. A circle of radius t is tangent to the hypotenuse, the incircle, and one leg of an isosceles
right triangle with inradius r = 1 + sin π8 . Find rt.
√
2+ 2
Answer:
4
Solution: The distance between the point of tangency of the two circles and the
nearest vertex of the triangle is seen to be both r(csc π8 − 1) and t(csc π8 + 1), so
r2 (csc π8 − 1) (1 + sin π8 )2 (1 − sin π8 ) π
rt = π = π = 1 − sin2
csc 8 + 1 1 + sin 8 8
2 π π
√ √
1 1 − 2 sin 8 1 cos 4 1 2 2+ 2
= + = + = + = .
2 2 2 2 2 4 4
7. Suppose ABCD is an isosceles trapezoid in which AB k CD. Two mutually externally
tangent circles ω1 and ω2 are inscribed in ABCD such that ω1 is tangent to AB, BC,
and CD while ω2 is tangent to AB, DA, and CD. Given that AB = 1, CD = 6,
compute the radius of either circle.
Answer: 37
Solution: Let the radius of both circles be r, and let ω1 be centered at O1 . Let ω1 be
tangent to AB, BC, and CD at P , Q, and R respectively. Then, by symmetry, P B =
1
2
− r and RC = 3 − r. By equal tangents from B and C, BQ = 21 − r and QC = 3 − r.
Now, ∠BO1 C is right because m∠O1 BC +m∠BCO1 = 21 (m∠P BC +m∠BCR) = 90◦ .
Since O1 Q ⊥ BC, r2 = O1 Q2 = BQ · QC = ( 12 − r)(3 − r) = r2 − 27 r + 32 . Solving, we
find r = 73 .
8. Triangle ABC has a right angle at B. Point D lies on side BC such that 3∠BAD =
∠BAC. Given AC = 2 and CD = 1, compute BD.
Answer: 38
Solution: Let BD = x. We reflect D over AB √ to D0 . Then√DD0 = 2x, but AD
bisects
p CAD0 , so 4x = √
AD0 = AD. Also, AD = x2 + AB 2 = x2 + AC 2 − BC 2 =
x2 + 4 − (x + 1)2 = 3 − 2x. We have the quadratic 16x2 = 3 − 2x which gives
x = 3/8.
9. Four spheres, each of radius r, lie inside a regular tetrahedron with side length 1 such
that each sphere is tangent to three faces of the tetrahedron and to the other three
spheres. Find r.
2
√
6−1
Answer:
10
Solution: Let O be the center of the sphere that is tangent to the faces ABC, ABD,
and BCD. Let P , Q be the feet of the perpendiculars from O to ABC and ABD
respectively. Let R be the foot of the perpendicular from P to AB. Then, OP RQ
is a quadrilateral such that ∠P , ∠Q are right angles and OP = OQ = r. Also, ∠R
is the dihedral angle
√ between faces
√ ABC and ABD, so cos √ ∠R = 1/3. We √ can then
√ QR = 2r, so BR = 6r. Hence, 1 = AB = 2( 6r) + 2r = 2r( 6 + 1), so
compute
r = ( 6 − 1)/10.
10. Triangle ABC has side lengths AB = 65, BC = 33, and AC = 56. Find the radius of
the circle tangent to sides AC and BC and to the circumcircle of triangle ABC.
Answer: 24
Solution: Let Γ be the circumcircle of triangle ABC, and let E be the center of
the circle tangent to Γ and the sides AC and BC. Notice that ∠C = 90◦ because
332 + 562 = 652 . Let D be the second intersection of line CE with Γ, so that D is
the midpoint of the√arc AB away from C. Because ∠BCD = 45◦ , one can easily
calculate
√ CD = 89
√ √ 2/2. The power of E with respect to Γ is both r(65 − r) and
r 2 · (89 2/2 − r 2) = r(89 − 2r), so r = 89 − 65 = 24.
