Maths Olympiad Prep

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Geometry Difficulty 5.2 AIME, harder Find the answer

Let Ω\Omega be a sphere of radius 4 and Γ\Gamma be a sphere of radius 2 . Suppose that the center of Γ\Gamma lies on the surface of Ω\Omega. The intersection of the surfaces of Ω\Omega and Γ\Gamma is a circle. Compute this circle's circumference.

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

Solution

Take a cross-section of a plane through the centers of Ω\Omega and Γ\Gamma, call them O1O_{1} and O2O_{2}, respectively. The resulting figure is two circles, one of radius 4 and center O1O_{1}, and the other with radius 2 and center O2O_{2} on the circle of radius 4 . Let these two circles intersect at AA and BB. Note that AB\overline{A B} is a diameter of the desired circle, so we will find ABA B. Focus on triangle O1O2AO_{1} O_{2} A. The sides of this triangle are O1O2=O1A=4O_{1} O_{2}=O_{1} A=4 and O2A=2O_{2} A=2. The height from O1O_{1} to AO2A O_{2} is 4212=15\sqrt{4^{2}-1^{2}}=\sqrt{15}, and because O1O2=2AO2O_{1} O_{2}=2 \cdot A O_{2}, the height from AA to O1O2O_{1} O_{2} is 152\frac{\sqrt{15}}{2}. Then the distance ABA B is two times this, or 15\sqrt{15}. Thus, the circumference of the desired circle is π15\pi \sqrt{15}.

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