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Geometry Difficulty 5.2 AIME, harder Find the answer

Determine the triangle with sides a,b,ca,b,c and circumradius RR for which R(b+c)=abcR(b+c) = a\sqrt{bc} .

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

Solution

Solution 1
Solving for RR yields R=abcb+cR = \tfrac{a\sqrt{bc}}{b+c} . We can substitute RR into the area formula A=abc4RA = \tfrac{abc}{4R} to get \begin{align*} A &= \frac{abc}{4 \cdot \tfrac{a\sqrt{bc}}{b+c} } \\ &= \frac{abc}{4a\sqrt{bc}} \cdot (b+c) \\ &= \frac{(b+c)\sqrt{bc}}{4}. \end{align*} We also know that A=12bcsin(θ)A = \tfrac{1}{2}bc \sin(\theta) , where θ\theta is the angle between sides bb and c.c. Substituting this yields \begin{align*} \tfrac{1}{2}bc \sin(\theta) &= \frac{(b+c)\sqrt{bc}}{4} \\ 2\sqrt{bc} \cdot \sin(\theta) &= b+c \\ \sin(\theta) &= \frac{b+c}{2\sqrt{bc}} \end{align*} Since θ\theta is inside a triangle, 0<sinθ10 < \sin{\theta} \le 1 . Substitution yields 0<b+c2bc1.0 < \frac{b+c}{2\sqrt{bc}} \le 1. Note that 2bc2\sqrt{bc} , so multiplying both sides by that value would not change the inequality sign. This means 0<b+c2bc.0 < b+c \le 2\sqrt{bc}. However, by the AM-GM Inequality , b+c2bcb+c \ge 2\sqrt{bc} . Thus, the equality case must hold, so b=cb = c where b,c>0b, c > 0 . When plugging b=cb = c , the inequality holds, so the value b=cb=c truly satisfies all conditions.
That means sin(θ)=2b2b2=1,\sin(\theta) = \frac{2b}{2\sqrt{b^2}} = 1, so θ=90.\theta = 90^\circ. That means the only truangle that satisfies all the conditions is a 45-45-90 triangle where aa is the longest side. In other words, (a,b,c)(n2,n,n)(a,b,c) \rightarrow \boxed{(n\sqrt{2},n,n)} for all positive n.n.

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Source: Omni-MATH, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.