Let A,B be points on the two half-lines x−3∣y∣=α,α>0 at a distance of α from their point of intersection P . The line segment AB meets the angle bisector of the given half-lines at the point Q . If PQ=29 and R is the radius of the circumcircle of △PAB, then Rα2 is equal to ____.
Answer: 9
Solution
The relation x−3∣y∣=α splits into x−3y=α (for y≥0) and x+3y=α (for y≤0), two rays meeting at P=(α,0) with directions (3,1) and (3,−1); the angle between them has cosine 2⋅23−1=21, so ∠APB=60∘. Since PA=PB=α and the included angle is 60∘, triangle PAB is equilateral of side α. By symmetry the bisector is the x-axis and Q is the midpoint of AB, so PQ is the altitude 23α=29, giving α=33. The circumradius of an equilateral triangle of side α is R=3α=3. Therefore Rα2=3(33)2=327=9.