HMMT February 2024

February 17, 2024

Geometry Round
1. Inside an equilateral triangle of side length 6, three congruent equilateral triangles of side length x
with sides parallel to the original equilateral triangle are arranged so that each has a vertex on a side
of the larger triangle, and a vertex on another one of the three equilateral triangles, as shown below.

A smaller equilateral triangle formed between the three congruent equilateral triangles has side length
1. Compute x.
Proposed by: Rishabh Das
5
Answer: 3

Solution:

O√
3
6

√ √
3 3
2 x

Let x be the side length of the shaded triangles. Note that the centers of the triangles with side lengths
1 and 6 coincide; call this common center O.
√
The distance from O to a side of the equilateral triangle with side length √ 1 is 3/6. Similarly the
distance from O to a side of the equilateral triangle with side length 6 is 3. Notice the difference of
these two distances is exactly the length of the altitude of one of shaded triangles. So
√ √
√ 3 3 5
3− = x =⇒ x = .
6 2 3
2. Let ABC be a triangle with ∠BAC = 90◦ . Let D, E, and F be the feet of altitude, angle bisector,
and median from A to BC, respectively. If DE = 3 and EF = 5, compute the length of BC.
Proposed by: Jerry Liang
Answer: 20
Solution 1:
A

3 5
B C
D E F

Since F is the circumcenter of △ABC, we have that AE bisects ∠DAF . So by the angle bisector
theorem, we can set AD = 3x and AF = 5x. Applying Pythagorean theorem to △ADE then gives
(3x)2 + (5 + 3)2 = (5x)2 =⇒ x = 2.

So AF = 5x = 10 and BC = 2AF = 20 .

Solution 2: Let BF = F C = x. We know that △BAD ∼ △ACD so BA BD DA

AC = DA = DC and thus
√ √
BA BD x−8 AB BE x−5
AC = DC = x+8 . By Angle Bisector Theorem, we also have AC = EC = x+5 , which means that
√
x−8 x−5
= =⇒ (x − 8)(x + 5)2 = (x + 8)(x − 5)2
x+8 x+5
which expands to
x3 + 2x2 − 55x − 200 = x3 − 2x2 − 55x + 200 =⇒ 4x2 = 400.
This solves to x = 10, and so BC = 2x = 20 .

3. Let Ω and ω be circles with radii 123 and 61, respectively, such that the center of Ω lies on ω. A chord
of Ω is cut by ω into three segments, whose lengths are in the ratio 1 : 2 : 3 in that order. Given that
this chord is not a diameter of Ω, compute the length of this chord.
Proposed by: Benjamin Kang, Holden Mui, Pitchayut Saengrungkongka
Answer: 42
Solution: Denote the center of Ω as O. Let the chord intersect the circles at W, X, Y, Z so that
W X = t, XY = 2t, and Y Z = 3t. Notice that Y is the midpoint of W Z; hence OY ⊥ W XY Z.
The fact that ∠OY X = 90◦ means X is the antipode of O on ω, so OX = 122. Now applying power
of point to X with respect to Ω gives
245 = 1232 − OX 2 = W X · XZ = 5t2 =⇒ t = 7.
Hence the answer is 6t = 42 .
 Z

O
X
W

4. Let ABCD be a square, and let ℓ be a line passing through the midpoint of segment AB that intersects
segment BC. Given that the distances from A and C to ℓ are 4 and 7, respectively, compute the area
of ABCD.
Proposed by: Ethan Liu
Answer: 185
Solution:

ℓ′
A B

D C

Consider the line ℓ′ through B parallel to ℓ, and drop perpendiculars from A to ℓ′ and C to ℓ′ . Note
that because ℓ passes through the midpoint of segment AB, the distance from B to ℓ is 4. Thus, the
distances from A to ℓ′ and from C to ℓ′ are 4 + 4 = 8 and 4 + 7 = 11, respectively. Let P be the foot
from A to ℓ′ . Rotating the square 90◦ from B to A sends the altitude from C to ℓ′ to the segment
along
√ ℓ′ between √B and the foot from A to ℓ′ ; hence BP = 11. So the side length of the square is
AP + BP 2 = 82 + 112 , which means the area of the square is 82 + 112 = 185 .
2
5. Let ABCD be a convex trapezoid such that ∠DAB = ∠ABC = 90◦ , DA = 2, AB = 3, and BC = 8.
Let ω be a circle passing through A and tangent to segment CD at point T . Suppose that the center
of ω lies on line BC. Compute CT .
Proposed by: Pitchayut Saengrungkongka
√ √
Answer: 4 5− 7
Solution:

T
D

P A B A′

Let A′ be the reflection of A across BC, and let P = AB ∩ CD. Then since the center of ω lies on BC,
we have that ω passes through A′ . Thus, by power of a point, P T 2 = P A · P A′ . By similar triangles,
we have
PA PB PA PA + 3
= =⇒ = =⇒ P A = 1,
AD BC 2 8
√ √ √
and A′ P = 1 + 2 · 3 = 7, so P T = 7. But by the Pythagorean Theorem, P C = P B 2 + BC 2 = 4 5,
√ √
and since T lies on segment CD, it lies between C and P , so CT = 4 5 − 7 .

6. In triangle ABC, a circle ω with center O passes through B and C and intersects segments AB and AC
again at B ′ and C ′ , respectively. Suppose that the circles with diameters BB ′ and CC ′ are externally
tangent to each other at T . If AB = 18, AC = 36, and AT = 12, compute AO.
Proposed by: Ethan Liu
65
Answer: 3

Solution 1:
 A

C′

B′

MB MC
T

O
B

By Radical Axis Theorem, we know that AT is tangent to both circles. Moreove, consider power
of a point A with respect to these three circles, we have AB · AB ′ = AT 2 = AC · AC ′ . Thus
2
122
AB ′ = 12 ′
18 = 8, and AC = 36 = 4. Consider the midpoints MB , MC of segments BB , CC ,
′ ′
◦
respectively. We have ∠OMB A = ∠OMC A = 90 , so O is the antipode of A in (AMB MC ). Notice
that △AMB T ∼ △AOMC , so AM AO
C
= AM
AT . Now, we can do the computations as follow:
B

AMB · AMC
AO =
( AT )( )
AB + AB ′ AC + AC ′ 1
=
2 2 AT
( )( )
8 + 18 36 + 4 1 65
= = .
2 2 12 3

7. Let ABC be an acute triangle. Let D, E, and F be the feet of altitudes from A, B, and C to sides BC,
CA, and AB, respectively, and let Q be the foot of altitude from A to line EF . Given that AQ = 20,
BC = 15, and AD = 24, compute the perimeter of triangle DEF .
Proposed by: Isabella Zhu
√
Answer: 8 11
Solution:
 A

T
E
Q

F
H

B D C

Note that A is the excenter of △DEF and AQ is the length of the exradius. Let T be the tangency
point of the A-excircle to line DF . We have AQ = AT = 20. It is well known that the length of DT
is the semiperimeter of DEF . Note that △ADT is a right triangle, so
AT 2 + DT 2 = AD2
which implies √ √
DT = 242 − 202 = 4 11.
√ √
Thus, the perimeter of △DEF is 2 · 4 11 = 8 11 .

8. Let ABT CD be a convex pentagon with area 22 such that AB = CD and the circumcircles of triangles
T AB and T CD are internally tangent. Given that ∠AT D = 90◦ , ∠BT C = 120◦ , BT = 4, and CT = 5,
compute the area of triangle T AD.
Proposed by: Pitchayut Saengrungkongka
√
Answer: 64(2 − 3)
Solution: Paste △T CD outside the pentagon to get △ABX ∼
= △DCT . From the tangent circles
condition, we get
∠XBT = 360◦ − ∠XBA − ∠ABT
= 360◦ − ∠DCT − ∠ABT
= 360◦ − 270◦ = 90◦

∠XAT = 90◦ − ∠BXA − ∠AT B

= 90◦ − ∠CT D − ∠AT B
= 90◦ − (120◦ − 90◦ ) = 60◦ .
Moreover, if x = AT and y = T D, then notice that
[ABT CD] = [ABT ] + [CDT ] + [AT D]
= [XAT ] − [XBT ] + [AT D]
1 1 1
= xy sin 60◦ − · 4 · 5 + xy
2 √ 2 2
2+ 3
= xy − 10,
4
 so we have
4 √ 1 √
xy = 32 · √ = 128(2 − 3) =⇒ [AT D] = xy = 64(2 − 3) .
2+ 3 2

B D

X
T
5
5
4 C
y
y
x
B D

60◦

9. Let ABC be a triangle. Let X be the point on side AB such that ∠BXC = 60◦ . Let P be the point
on segment CX such that BP ⊥ AC. Given that AB = 6, AC = 7, and BP = 4, compute CP .
Proposed by: Pitchayut Saengrungkongka
√
Answer: 38 − 3
Solution: Construct
√ parallelogram
√ BP CQ. We have CQ = 4, ∠ACQ = 90◦ , and ∠ABQ = 120◦ .
Thus, AQ = AC + CQ = 65, so if x = CP = BQ, then by Law of Cosine, x2 + 6x + 62 = 65.
2 2
√
Solving this gives the answer x = 38 − 3 .
 A

X
120◦
60◦
6 7

4 x

B 120◦ C

x 4

10. Suppose point P is inside quadrilateral ABCD such that

∠P AB = ∠P DA,
∠P AD = ∠P DC,
∠P BA = ∠P CB, and
∠P BC = ∠P CD.

If P A = 4, P B = 5, and P C = 10, compute the perimeter of ABCD.

Proposed by: Rishabh Das
√
9 410
Answer: 5

Solution:
 A D

4 5
8

N P′
P M

4
5 10

B C

First of all, note that the angle conditions imply that ∠BAD + ∠ABC = 180◦ , so the quadrilateral
is a trapezoid with AD ∥ BC. Moreover, they imply AB and CD are both tangent to (P AD) and
(P BC); in particular AB = CD or ABCD is isosceles trapezoid. Since the midpoints of AD and BC
clearly lie on the radical axis of the two circles, P is on the midline of the trapezoid.
Reflect △P AB over the midline and translate it so that D = B ′ and C = A′ . Note that P ′ is still
on the midline. The angle conditions now imply P DP ′ C is cyclic, and P P ′ bisects CD. This means
10 · 4 = P C · CP ′ = P D · DP ′ = 5 · P D, so P D = 8.
Now P DP ′ C is a cyclic quadrilateral with side lengths 10, 8, 5, 4 in that order. Using standard cyclic
quadrilateral facts (either law of cosines or three applications
√
on Ptolemy √on the three possible quadri-
laterals formed with these side lengths) we get CD = 5 and P P ′ = 410
2 410
2 . Finally, note that P P
′

is equal to the midline of the trapezoid, so the final answer is

√
′9 410
2 · CD + 2 · P P = .
5