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geometry senior
Problem
A hexagon inscribed in a circle has three consecutive sides each of length 3 and three consecutive sides each of length 5. The chord of the circle that divides the hexagon into two trapezoids, one with three sides each of length 3 and the other with three sides each of length 5, has length equal to , where and are relatively prime positive integers. Find .
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Solution
In hexagon , let and let . Since arc is one third of the circumference of the circle, it follows that . Similarly, . Let be the intersection of and , that of and , and that of and . Triangles and are equilateral, and by symmetry, triangle is isosceles and thus also equilateral. Furthermore, and subtend the same arc, as do and . Hence triangles and are similar. Therefore, It follows that Solving the two equations simultaneously yields so
Final answer
E