Chapter 5

Length-1

5.1 Notes
In general, because length measures the straight distance between two points, it is much
easier to deal with when we only have lines and segments.

Theorem 5.1.1 (Triangle Inequality). If a triangle has side lengths a, b, and c, then
a + b > c, a + c > b, and b + c > a.

This logic of “reaching” the longest segment works for any number of sides, so it gen-
eralizes to other polygons too.

Example 5.1.2 (2018 HMMT Geometry # 2). Points A, B, C, D are chosen in the plane
such that segments AB, BC, CD, DA have lengths 2, 7, 5, 12, respectively. Let m be the
minimum possible value of the length of segment AC and let M be the maximum possible
value of the length of segment AC. What is the ordered pair (m, M )?

Solution. We basically have to look at triangles ABC and ADC. From triangle ABC,
AC has to be more than 7 − 2 and more than 7 + 2, so it is in the range [5, 9]. Similarly,
from triangle ADC, AC must be more than 12 − 5 and less than 12 + 5, so it is in the
range [7, 17]. Taking the intersection, we must have AC between 7 and 9 and our answer
is (7, 9) .

Often times, problems will say that three lengths a, b, c form a triangle. Another way
we can express this is by the Ravi substitution:

Theorem 5.1.3 (Ravi Substitution). a, b, and c are the sides of a (non-degenerate) triangle
if and only if there exist positive x, y, and z so that a = x + y, b = y + z, and c = x + z.

Proof. If a, b, and c are sides of a triangle, then setting x = a+c−b

2 , y =
a+b−c
2 , and
b+c−a
z = 2 gives the desired equations. How do we know those are positive? By the

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

triangle equality, a + b > c, so a + b − c > 0, meaning y is positive. Repeating this with

the other sides, x, y, and z are positive.
On the other hand, if x, y, and z already exist, then a + b = x + 2y + z > x + z = c,
and so on for the other sides, so the triangle inequality is satisfied.

Theorem 5.1.4 (Pythagorean Theorem). If a right triangle has legs of length a and b and
hypotenuse c, then a2 + b2 = c2 .
Proof. Consider a square with side length a + b. Split each side into a segment of length a
and a segment of length b (so that the square goes a, b, a, b, a, b, a, b in that order). Now
connect the points in the middle of the segments to form a smaller square; call this side
length c. Now, there are two ways to find the area of the square: it is (a+b)2 = a2 +2ab+b2 ,
but it is also the area of the small square plus the area of four small right triangles with
legs a and b, or c2 + 4 · 12 ab. Thus,
a2 + 2ab + b2 = c2 + 2ab
a2 + b2 = c2

As it turns out, the converse of this √

statement is true.
Since this can be rearranged to c = a2 + b2 , we also have the following:
Theorem 5.1.5 (Distance
p Formula). Let (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) be two points in the plane.
Then their distance is (x1 − x2 )2 + (y1 − y2 )2 .
Both of these can be extended to more dimensions; for example, if we have any segment
in the xy-plane, and any segment in the z-plane, those are always perpendicular, so we
can use the Pythagorean theorem again (imagine one segment on a table and another one
straight up). In other words, for a rectangular prism with dimensions a, b, and c, a line
connecting opposite vertices (called a space diagonal) has length d, where
d2 = a2 + b2 + c2
and if there are two points in space (x1 , y1 , z1 ) and (x2 , y2 , z2 ), their distance is
p
(x1 − x2 )2 + (y1 − y2 )2 + (z1 − z2 )2
However, right angles and right triangles are not the only figures that come up in geometry,
so we need to develop more tools in general.
Theorem 5.1.6 (Stewart’s Theorem). Let a triangle ABC have side lengths BC = a,
AC = b, and AB = c, and let D be a point on segment BC, labeling AD = d, BD = m,
and CD = n. Then
b2 m + c2 n = a(d2 + mn)

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

better remembered as

man + dad = bmb + cnc

(a man and his dad put a bomb in the sink). This theorem is useful because it requires
no angles and still gives useful information.
Example 5.1.7. Prove that a triangle with sides 5, 7, and 8 has a 60 degree angle opposite
the side of 7, and and so does a triangle with sides 3, 7, and 8.
Solution. This is more to showcase Stewart’s theorem than for the actual problem (it’s not
the best solution). Let equilateral triangle ABC have side length 8, and let D be on BC
so that BD = 5 and CD = 3. Since ∠ABD = ∠ACD = 60◦ , we are done if we can show
that AD = 7. But by Stewart’s theorem (a = b = c = 8, m = 5, n = 3)

man + dad = bmb + cnc

120 + 8d2 = 320 + 192
d2 = 49 =⇒ d = 7

so we have a triangle with side lengths 5, 7, and 8 in triangle ABD and a triangle with
side lengths 3, 7, and 8 in triangle ACD, both with 60 degree angles ∠ABD and ∠ACD
opposite the side of length 7, AD.

Now, we can add circles to the mix. Whenever there are lengths that are multiplied
together, you may want to consider looking at circle lengths. We have already gone over
the first theorem earlier, but we present it here in more detail:
Theorem 5.1.8 (Power of a Point). Let A, B, C, and D be four points on a circle with
center O. If P is the intersection of AC and BD,
1. P A · P C = P B · P D

2. If P is outside the circle, this is also equal to P E 2 , where P E is a tangent to the

circle from P .

3. The value of P A · P C is called the power of P with respect to the circle, and its
absolute value is also equal to |P O2 − r2 | where r is the radius of the circle.

Proof. To prove the first point, triangles P AB and P DC are similar in both diagrams due
to AA (∠P AB = ∠P DC and ∠P BA = ∠P CD), so
PA PD
= =⇒ P A · P C = P B · P D
PB PC

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

To prove the second point, notice that if we slide segment BD closer and closer to the edge
of the circle, B and D both get close to E until they converge there. Thus, P E ·P E = P E 2
is equal to the other expressions.
Finally, to show the third point, draw a perpendicular line from O to line AC; let’s say
it hits at point M . We use difference of squares. If P is inside the circle,

OP 2 − r2 = OP 2 − OA2 = (OM 2 + M P 2 ) − (OM 2 + M A2 )

= M P 2 − M A2 = (M P + M A)(M P − M A) = P C · P A

and if P is outside the circle, we can just use right triangle P EO; by the Pythagorean
theorem, P A · P C = P E 2 = OP 2 − OE 2 = OP 2 − r2 , completing the proof.

Example 5.1.9 (2013 AMC 12A # 19). In 4ABC, AB = 86, and AC = 97. A circle
with center A and radius AB intersects BC at points B and X. Moreover BX and CX
have integer lengths. What is BC?

Solution. We have a circle that intersects side BC, so let’s let it intersect AC at point D
as well. Now, the only labeled point on this diagram not on the circle is C, and this is a
perfect configuration for Power of a Point. We know that AB = AD = 86 (because they’re
both radii of the circle), so CD = 97 − 86 = 11.
We have to be careful: A is the center of the circle, not the intersection with it.
Therefore, let’s use our other formula for power: d2 − r2 , where d is the distance to the
center and r is the radius:

Power = CX · BC = d2 − r2 = AC 2 − AD2 = 972 − 862

We know that BX and CX are integers, so BC is also an integer, so we factor the right
hand side as (97 − 86)(97 + 86) = 3 · 11 · 61. Now, remember that BC can’t be too small; by

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

the triangle inequality, it’s more than 97 − 86 = 11, but it’s also less than 97 + 86 = 183.
Therefore, BC can only be 61 or 3 · 11 = 33.
How do we know which one is correct? If BC = 33, then BX = 61, but BX must be
less than BC! Therefore, BC = 61 .

Finally, we present a theorem that is often used in different scenarios from Power of a
Point and radical axes problems.
Theorem 5.1.10 (Ptolemy’s Theorem). Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral (where the
points are in that order). Then

AB · CD + AD · BC = AC · BD

The converse is also true - if AB · CD + AD · BC = AC · BD for convex quadrilateral

ABCD, then ABCD is cyclic.

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

Proof. Ratios and multiplied lengths come up most often with similar triangles, so let’s try
to create a few more.
Let E be the intersection of AC and BD; we know that ABE and DCE are similar,
but this doesn’t involve enough of the lengths we are interested in. Instead, let’s make
some more equal angles.
Draw line BF so ∠ABF = ∠CBD (or pick any other side to do this; the purpose is just
to have an angle equal to one of the inscribed arcs). What’s a similar triangle involving
this? We know that ∠BAF = ∠BDC, so now we have that triangles ABF and DBC
are similar. Also, ∠CBF = ∠DBA, and ∠BCF = ∠BDA, so we also have that triangles
CBF and DBA are similar. But now we have something involving AF and something
involving CF ; let’s try to add those together. From the first set of similar triangles,
AF CD AB · CD
= =⇒ AF =
AB BD BD
and from the second set,
CF AD AD · BC
= =⇒ CF =
CB BD BD
so adding these together,
AB · CD + AD · BC
AC = AF + CF =
BD
and multiplying both sides by BD completes the proof.

Example 5.1.11 (2014 AMC 12B # 24). Let ABCDE be a pentagon inscribed in a circle
such that AB = CD = 3, BC = DE = 10, and AE = 14. The sum of the lengths of all
diagonals of ABCDE is equal to m
n , where m and n are relatively prime positive integers.
What is m + n ?
Proof. There are only a few different lengths of diagonals, since a pentagon only has five
diagonals. Notice that AC = BD = CE = x (since they all cut off an arc of length AB
plus an arc of length BC, and then let AD = y and BE = z.
We have all the lengths, so we should use Ptolemy’s as much as possible! Let’s pick
any four points (there are five ways to do this) and write out the Ptolemy expression for
them. We get the following:

100 + 3z = x2
42 + 10x = xy
30 + 14x = yz
140 + 3x = xz
9 + 10y = x2

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

We have more equations that we need, and it is easiest to just use substitution. We have a
2
linear expression for z in terms of x from the first equation: z = x −100
3 , and similarly from
x2 −9
the last equation, y = 10 . Which equation should we plug this into? Let’s first plug into
2
the second equation: 42 + 10x = x( x 10−9 ) → x3 − 9x = 100x + 420 → x3 − 109x − 420 = 0.
By rational root theorem, if√there is a nice solution, we should just try factors of x: we
want x to be kind of close to 109 to cancel out those terms. We find that x = 12 works, so
the cubic now factors into (x − 12)(x2 + 12x + 35) = 0. The other values of x are negative,
so those do not matter and x = 12. To finish, we just need to find y and z; we plug them
in and find that y = 27 44
2 and z = 3 . Finally, our sum of diagonals is x + x + x + y + z = 6
385

for an answer of 391 .

In general, these formulas will become even more powerful when combined with trigonom-
etry (which will be covered later).

5.2 Examples
1. (AMC10-2002-B22) Let 4XOY be a right-angled triangle with m∠XOY = 90◦ . Let
M and N be the midpoints of legs OX and OY , respectively. Given that XN = 19
and Y M = 22, find XY .

(A) 24 (B) 26 (C) 28 (D) 30 (E) 32

2. (AMC10-2014-B22) Eight semicircles line the inside of a square with side length 2 as
shown. What is the radius of the circle tangent to all these semicircles?

√ √ √ √ √
1+ 2 5−1 3+1 2 3 5
(A) 4 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 5 (E) 3

3. (HMMT Feb-2004-Geometry-4) P is inside rectangle ABCD. P A = 2, P B = 3, and

P C = 10. Find P D.

4. (AMC12-2008-A20) Triangle ABC has AC = 3, BC = 4, and AB = 5. Point D is

on AB, and CD bisects the right angle. The inscribed circles of 4ADC and 4BCD
have radii ra and rb , respectively. What is ra /rb ?

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MC35G Chapter 5. Length-1

1
√ 3
√ 1
√ 5
√
(A) 28 (10 −√ 2) (B) 56 (10 − 2) (C) 14 (10 − 2) (D) 56 (10 − 2)
3
(E) 28 (10 − 2)

5.3 Exercises
1. (AMC10-2010-B19) A circle with center O√has area 156π. Triangle ABC is equilat-
eral. BC is a chord on the circle, OA = 4 3, and point O is outside 4ABC. What
is the side length of 4ABC?
√ √
(A) 2 3 (B) 6 (C) 4 3 (D) 12 (E) 18

2. (AMC10-2006-A23) Circles with centers A and B have radii 3 and 8, respectively. A

common internal tangent touches the circles at C and D, as shown. Lines AB and
CD intersect at E, and AE = 5. What is CD?

44
√ √ 55
(A) 13 (B) 3 (C) 221 (D) 255 (E) 3

3. (AMC10-2014-B21) Trapezoid ABCD has parallel sides AB of length 33 and CD of

length 21. The other two sides are of lengths 10 and 14. The angles A and B are
acute. What is the length of the shorter diagonal of ABCD?
√ √ √
(A) 10 6 (B) 25 (C) 8 10 (D) 18 2 (E) 26
√
4. (AMC10-2016-A24) A quadrilateral is inscribed in a circle of radius 200 2. Three of
the sides of this quadrilateral have length 200. What is the length of the fourth side?
√ √ √
(A) 200 (B) 200 2 (C) 200 3 (D) 300 2 (E) 500

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