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Geometry Difficulty 4.8 AIME Prove it China

Let PP be a point on the image of y=x+2xy = x + \frac{2}{x} (x>0x > 0). Through PP draw lines perpendicular to y=xy = x and yy-axis with foot points A,BA, B, respectively. Then the value of PAPB\vec{PA} \cdot \vec{PB} is ______.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

Let P(x0,x0+2x0)P(x_0, x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}). The expression for line PAPA is then
y(x0+2x0)=(xx0), y - \left(x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}\right) = -(x - x_0),
or
y=x+2x0+2x0.y = -x + 2x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}.
From
{y=x,y=x+2x0+2x0, \begin{cases} y = x, \\ y = -x + 2x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}, \end{cases}
we get A(x0+1x0,x0+1x0)A(x_0 + \frac{1}{x_0}, x_0 + \frac{1}{x_0}).
On the other hand, we have B(0,x0+2x0)B(0, x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}). Then PA=(1x0,1x0)\vec{PA} = (\frac{1}{x_0}, -\frac{1}{x_0}) and PB=(x0,0)\vec{PB} = (-x_0, 0). Therefore,
PAPB=1x0(x0)=1. \vec{PA} \cdot \vec{PB} = \frac{1}{x_0} \cdot (-x_0) = -1.
The answer is 1-1.

Solution 2

As seen in Fig. 1.1, the distances from P(x0,x0+2x0)P(x_0, x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}) to lines y=xy = x and yy-axis, respectively, are

Figure 1
Fig. 1.1
PA=x0(x0+2x0)2=2x0 |PA| = \frac{|x_0 - \left(x_0 + \frac{2}{x_0}\right)|}{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{x_0}
and
PB=x0. |PB| = x_0.
Since OO, AA, PP and BB are concyclic points, then
APB=πAOB=3π4. \angle APB = \pi - \angle AOB = \frac{3\pi}{4}.
Therefore, PAPB=PAPBcos3π4=1\overrightarrow{PA} \cdot \overrightarrow{PB} = |\overrightarrow{PA}| \cdot |\overrightarrow{PB}| \cdot \cos \frac{3\pi}{4} = -1. \square

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