Math Gold Medalist

Lor

2023 AMC 12A  

Problem 18

Circle $C_1$ and $C_2$ each have radius $1$, and the distance between their centers is $\frac{1}{2}$. Circle $C_3$ is the largest circle internally tangent to both $C_1$ and $C_2$. Circle $C_4$ is internally tangent to both $C_1$ and $C_2$ and externally tangent to $C_3$. What is the radius of $C_4$?

[asy] import olympiad; size(10cm); draw(circle((0,0),0.75)); draw(circle((-0.25,0),1)); draw(circle((0.25,0),1)); draw(circle((0,6/7),3/28)); pair A = (0,0), B = (-0.25,0), C = (0.25,0), D = (0,6/7), E = (-0.95710678118, 0.70710678118), F = (0.95710678118, -0.70710678118); dot(B^^C); draw(B--E, dashed); draw(C--F, dashed); draw(B--C); label("$C_4$", D); label("$C_1$", (-1.375, 0)); label("$C_2$", (1.375,0)); label("$\frac{1}{2}$", (0, -.125)); label("$C_3$", (-0.4, -0.4)); label("$1$", (-.85, 0.70)); label("$1$", (.85, -.7)); import olympiad; markscalefactor=0.005; [/asy]

$\textbf{(A) } \frac{1}{14} \qquad \textbf{(B) } \frac{1}{12} \qquad \textbf{(C) } \frac{1}{10} \qquad \textbf{(D) } \frac{3}{28} \qquad \textbf{(E) } \frac{1}{9}$

Tangent Circles

Tangent Lines to Circles

Pythagorean Theorem

r3=1/4

O2O4^2 = O2O3^2 + O3O4^2

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   Solution