MathDB
Point Inside a Triangle

Source: AMC 12 2006B, Problem 23

February 17, 2006
rotationgeometrygeometric transformationdilationtrigonometryAMCAIME

Problem Statement

Isosceles ABC \triangle ABC has a right angle at C C. Point P P is inside ABC \triangle ABC, such that PA \equal{} 11, PB \equal{} 7, and PC \equal{} 6. Legs AC \overline{AC} and BC \overline{BC} have length s \equal{} \sqrt {a \plus{} b\sqrt {2}}, where a a and b b are positive integers. What is a \plus{} b?
[asy]pointpen = black; pathpen = linewidth(0.7); pen f = fontsize(10); size(5cm); pair B = (0,sqrt(85+42*sqrt(2))); pair A = (B.y,0); pair C = (0,0); pair P = IP(arc(B,7,180,360),arc(C,6,0,90)); D(A--B--C--cycle); D(P--A); D(P--B); D(P--C); MP("A",D(A),plain.E,f); MP("B",D(B),plain.N,f); MP("C",D(C),plain.SW,f); MP("P",D(P),plain.NE,f);[/asy]
<spanclass=latexbold>(A)</span>85<spanclass=latexbold>(B)</span>91<spanclass=latexbold>(C)</span>108<spanclass=latexbold>(D)</span>121<spanclass=latexbold>(E)</span>127 <span class='latex-bold'>(A) </span> 85 \qquad <span class='latex-bold'>(B) </span> 91 \qquad <span class='latex-bold'>(C) </span> 108 \qquad <span class='latex-bold'>(D) </span> 121 \qquad <span class='latex-bold'>(E) </span> 127