GeometryDifficulty 5.3AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem:
Isosceles triangle ABC with AB=AC is inscribed in a unit circle Ω with center O. Point D is the reflection of C across AB. Given that DO=3, find the area of triangle ABC.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Solution:
Observe that ∠DBO=∠DBA+∠ABO=∠CBA+∠BAO=21(∠CBA+∠BCA)+21(∠BAC)=21(180∘)=90∘. Thus BC=BD=2 by the Pythagorean Theorem on △DBO. Then ∠BOC=90∘, and the distance from O to BC is 22. Depending on whether A is on the same side of BC as O, the height from A to BC is either 1+22 or 1−22, so the area is (2⋅(1±22))/2=22±1.
Solution 2
Solution:
One can observe that ∠DBA=∠CBA=∠ACB by property of reflection and ABC being isosceles, hence DB is tangent to Ω and Power of a Point (and reflection property) gives BC=BD=OD2−OB2=2. Proceed as in Solution 1.
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