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Geometry Difficulty 5.2 AIME, harder Find the answer

Points A,BA, B, and CC lie in that order on line \ell, such that AB=3A B=3 and BC=2B C=2. Point HH is such that CHC H is perpendicular to \ell. Determine the length CHC H such that AHB\angle A H B is as large as possible.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Let ω\omega denote the circumcircle of triangle ABHA B H. Since ABA B is fixed, the smaller the radius of ω\omega, the bigger the angle AHBA H B. If ω\omega crosses the line CHC H in more than one point, then there exists a smaller circle that goes through AA and BB that crosses CHC H at a point HH^{\prime}. But angle AHBA H^{\prime} B is greater than AHBA H B, contradicting our assumption that HH is the optimal spot. Thus the circle ω\omega crosses the line CHC H at exactly one spot: ie, ω\omega is tangent to CHC H at HH. By Power of a Point, CH2=CACB=52=10C H^{2}=C A C B=5 \cdot 2=10, so CH=10C H=\sqrt{10}.

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