Author Archives: kevin

Algebra Challenge – 3

For integer $n>1$, find the value of $$\dfrac{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n+\sqrt{i}}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}$$ Click here for the solution. Solution: $$\dfrac{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n+\sqrt{i}}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}=1+\dfrac{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n+\sqrt{i}}-\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}$$ $=1+\dfrac{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}(\sqrt{n+\sqrt{i}}-\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}})}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}=1+\dfrac{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{(\sqrt{n+\sqrt{i}}-\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}})^2}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}$ $=1+\dfrac{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{2n-2\sqrt{n^2-i}}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}=1+\dfrac{\sqrt{2}\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{n^2-i}}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}$ $=1+\dfrac{\sqrt{2}\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}{\sum_{i=1}^{n^2-1}\sqrt{n-\sqrt{i}}}=\boxed{1+\sqrt{2}}$

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Circles in a Square – Part 12

As shown in the figure, $ABCD$ is a square, $E$ is the mid-point of $AB$. The circle with its center at $H$ is tangent with $AD$, $AE$ and $DE$. The circle with its center at $F$ is tangent with $BC$, … Continue reading

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Geometry Challenge – 16

$O$ is an interior point of regular hexgon $ABCDEF$. Prove that $[\triangle{OEF}]=2[\triangle{OAB}]+2[\triangle{OCD}]-3[\triangle{OBC}]$ Click here for the proof. Proof 1: Without loss of generality, assume that $ABCDEF$ is unit regular hexgon with its center at $(0,0)$, $A$ at $(-\dfrac{1}{2},-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2})$, $B$ at … Continue reading

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Mathcounts 2017-2018 Handbook Problem 136

In right triangle ABC, with AB = 44 cm and BC = 33 cm, point D lies on side BC so that BD:DC = 2:1. If vertex A is folded onto point D to create quadrilateral BCEF, as shown, what … Continue reading

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Geometry Challenge – 15

In $\triangle{ABC}$, $D$ is a point on $BC$. $\angle{ABC}=100^\circ$, $\angle{BCA}=20^\circ$, $\angle{BAD}=50^\circ$. Prove $AB=CD$. Click here for the proof. Proof 1: Clearly, $\angle{ADC}=150^\circ$, and $\angle{CAD}=10^\circ$. According to the law of sines, we have: $ \dfrac{sin\angle{BCA}}{AB}=\dfrac{sin\angle{ABC}}{AC}$ and $ \dfrac{sin\angle{CAD}}{CD}=\dfrac{sin\angle{ADC}}{AC}$ Therefore $AB=\dfrac{sin\angle{BCA}}{sin\angle{ABC}}AC=\dfrac{sin(20^\circ)}{sin(100^\circ)}AC=\dfrac{2sin(10^\circ)cos(10^\circ)}{sin(80^\circ)}AC=\dfrac{2sin(10^\circ)cos(10^\circ)}{cos(10^\circ)}AC$ $$=2sin(10^\circ)AC$$ … Continue reading

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