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2020 AMC 12B Problem 10

Problem 10 of 25EasierGeometry

In unit square ABCD,ABCD, the inscribed circle ω\omega intersects CD\overline{CD} at M,M, and AM\overline{AM} intersects ω\omega at a point PP different from M.M. What is AP?AP?

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Solution

Let A=(0,0),A = (0, 0), B=(1,0),B = (1, 0), C=(1,1),C = (1, 1), D=(0,1).D = (0, 1). The inscribed circle has center (12,12)\left(\tfrac12, \tfrac12\right) and radius 12,\tfrac12, touching CD\overline{CD} at M=(12,1).M = \left(\tfrac12, 1\right). Line AMAM is y=2x.y = 2x. Substituting into (x12)2+(y12)2=14\left(x - \tfrac12\right)^2 + \left(y - \tfrac12\right)^2 = \tfrac14 gives 20x212x+1=0,20x^2 - 12x + 1 = 0, with roots x=12x = \tfrac12 (point MM) and x=110x = \tfrac{1}{10} (point PP). So P=(110,15)P = \left(\tfrac{1}{10}, \tfrac15\right) and AP=(110)2+(15)2=510.AP = \sqrt{\left(\tfrac{1}{10}\right)^2 + \left(\tfrac15\right)^2} = \frac{\sqrt5}{10}. Thus, the correct answer is B.

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Concepts: coordinate geometry · circle · power of a point

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.