2018 AMC 12A Problem 20

Since $\triangle ABC$ is an isosceles right triangle, $CM = BM = \tfrac32 \sqrt2$ and the base angles at $B, C$ are $45^\circ.$ As $AIME$ is cyclic with right angle at $A,$ angle $\angle IME = 90^\circ.$ Let $x = CI$ and $y = BE.$ By the Law of Cosines in $\triangle MCI,$ $$\begin{aligned} IM^2 &= x^2 + \tfrac92 \\ &\quad {}- 2 \cdot x \cdot \tfrac32\sqrt2 \cdot \cos 45^\circ \\ &= x^2 - 3x + \tfrac92, \end{aligned}$$ and similarly $ME^2 = y^2 - 3y + \tfrac92.$ The Pythagorean Theorem in right triangles $EMI$ and $IAE$ gives $IM^2 + ME^2$ $= (3-x)^2$ $+ (3-y)^2,$ which simplifies to $x + y = 3.$ The area condition $\tfrac12 IM \cdot ME = 2$ means $IM^2 \cdot ME^2 = 16.$ Substituting $y = 3 - x$ makes $ME^2 = x^2 - 3x + \tfrac92 = IM^2,$ so $\left(x^2 - 3x + \tfrac92\right)^2 = 16,$ hence $x^2 - 3x + \tfrac92 = 4,$ i.e. $x^2 - 3x + \tfrac12 = 0.$ Since $AI \gt AE$ forces $y \gt x,$ we take the smaller root $x = \tfrac{3 - \sqrt{7}}{2}.$ Then $a + b + c = 3 + 7 + 2 = 12.$ Thus, the correct answer is D.