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AMC 12 A

Geometry Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Find the answer United States

Let α\alpha be the radian measure of the smallest angle in a 33-44-55 right triangle. Let β\beta be the radian measure of the smallest angle in a 77-2424-2525 right triangle. In terms of α\alpha, what is β\beta?

Pick one

Solution

Because α\alpha and β\beta are the smallest angles in these triangles, sin⁡α=35\sin \alpha = \frac{3}{5}, cos⁡α=45\cos \alpha = \frac{4}{5}, sin⁡β=725\sin \beta = \frac{7}{25}, and cos⁡β=2425\cos \beta = \frac{24}{25}. By a Double Angle Formula,
sin⁡(2α)=2sin⁡α⋅cos⁡α=2⋅35⋅45=2425=cos⁡β=sin⁡(π2−β). \sin(2\alpha) = 2 \sin \alpha \cdot \cos \alpha = 2 \cdot \frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{24}{25} = \cos \beta = \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{2} - \beta\right).
Because both 2α2\alpha and β\beta are acute, 2α=π2−β2\alpha = \frac{\pi}{2} - \beta, so β=π2−2α\beta = \frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha.

Using complex numbers in polar form, 4+3i=5(cos⁡α+isin⁡α)4 + 3i = 5(\cos \alpha + i \sin \alpha). Squaring gives 7+24i=25(cos⁡α+isin⁡α)27 + 24i = 25(\cos \alpha + i \sin \alpha)^2. Similarly, 24+7i=25(cos⁡β+isin⁡β)24 + 7i = 25(\cos \beta + i \sin \beta). Multiplying these two equations yields
(7+24i)(24+7i)=25(cos⁡α+isin⁡α)2⋅25(cos⁡β+isin⁡β)625i=625(cos⁡(2α+β)+isin⁡(2α+β))cos⁡π2+isin⁡π2=cos⁡(2α+β)+isin⁡(2α+β). (7 + 24i)(24 + 7i) = 25(\cos \alpha + i \sin \alpha)^2 \cdot 25(\cos \beta + i \sin \beta) \\ 625i = 625 (\cos(2\alpha + \beta) + i \sin(2\alpha + \beta)) \\ \cos \frac{\pi}{2} + i \sin \frac{\pi}{2} = \cos(2\alpha + \beta) + i \sin(2\alpha + \beta).
Because both 2α2\alpha and β\beta are acute, 2α+β=π22\alpha + \beta = \frac{\pi}{2} and β=π2−2α\beta = \frac{\pi}{2} - 2\alpha.

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