Point P lies inside equilateral triangle ABC so that ∠BPC=120∘ and AP2=BP+CP. ABAP can be written as cab, where a,b,c are integers, c is positive, b is square-free, and gcd(a,c)=1. Find 100a+10b+c.
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
Let O be the center of ABC. First, we draw in the circumcircle of ABC and the circumcircle of BOC, labeled ω1 and ω2, respectively. Note that ω1 is the reflection of ω2 over BC and that P lies on ω2. Now, let PC be the second intersection of ray CP with ω1. Additionally, label the second intersections of ray AP with ω1 and ω2 be M and X, respectively. Lastly, let A′ be the diametrically opposite point from A on ω1. We first note that A′ is the center of ω2. Thus, A′ lies on the perpendicular bisector of segment PX. But since AA′ is a diameter of ω1, this also means that the midpoint of PX lies on ω1. This implies that M is the midpoint of PX. From a simple angle chase, we have ∠PCPB=180−∠BPC=60∘. Also, ∠BPCC=∠BAC=60∘. Therefore, we find that triangle BPPC is equilateral with side length BP. Now we begin computations. By Law of Cosines in triangle BPC, we see that BP2+CP2+BP⋅CP=BC2=AB2. However, we can rewrite this as AB2=BP2+CP2+BP⋅CP=(BP+CP)2−BP⋅CP=2⋅AP2−BP⋅CP To find an equation for ABAP, it suffices to simplify the expression BP⋅CP. Since BPPC is equilateral, we can proceed through Power of a Point. By looking at ω1, we see that BP⋅CP=PPC⋅CP=AP⋅PM=21⋅AP⋅AX Then, from Power of a Point on ω2, we see that 21⋅AP⋅AX=21⋅AP⋅(AX−AP)=21⋅AP⋅AX−21⋅AP2=21(AB2−AP2) Combining everything, we find that BP⋅CP=21(AB2−AP2) which means that AB2=2⋅AP2−21(AB2−AP2)⟹25AB2=23AP2⟹ABAP=515
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