Two spheres with radii $36$ and one sphere with radius $13$ are each externally tangent to the other two spheres and to two different planes $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{Q}$. The intersection of planes $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{Q}$ is the line $\ell$. The distance from line $\ell$ to the point where the sphere with radius $13$ is tangent to plane $\mathcal{P}$ is $\tfrac{m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m + n$.
This solution refers to the Diagram section.
As shown below, let $O_1,O_2,O_3$ be the centers of the spheres (where sphere $O_3$ has radius $13$) and $T_1,T_2,T_3$ be their respective points of tangency to plane $\mathcal{P}.$ Let $\mathcal{R}$ be the plane that is determined by $O_1,O_2,$ and $O_3.$ Suppose $A$ is the foot of the perpendicular from $O_3$ to line $\ell,$ so $\overleftrightarrow{O_3A}$ is the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{O_1O_2}.$ We wish to find $T_3A.$

Note that:


In $\triangle O_1O_2O_3,$ we get $O_1O_2=72$ and $O_1O_3=O_2O_3=49.$
Both $\triangle O_1O_2O_3$ and $\overline{O_3A}$ lie in plane $\mathcal{R}.$ Both $\triangle T_1T_2T_3$ and $\overline{T_3A}$ lie in plane $\mathcal{P}.$
By symmetry, since planes $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{Q}$ are reflections of each other about plane $\mathcal{R},$ the three planes are concurrent to line $\ell.$
Since $\overline{O_1T_1}\perp\mathcal{P}$ and $\overline{O_3T_3}\perp\mathcal{P},$ it follows that $\overline{O_1T_1}\parallel\overline{O_3T_3},$ from which $O_1,O_3,T_1,$ and $T_3$ are coplanar.

Now, we focus on cross-sections $O_1O_3T_3T_1$ and $\mathcal{R}:$


In the three-dimensional space, the intersection of a line and a plane must be exactly one of the empty set, a point, or a line.
Clearly, cross-section $O_1O_3T_3T_1$ intersects line $\ell$ at exactly one point. Furthermore, as the intersection of planes $\mathcal{R}$ and $\mathcal{P}$ is line $\ell,$ we conclude that $\overrightarrow{O_1O_3}$ and $\overrightarrow{T_1T_3}$ must intersect line $\ell$ at the same point. Let $B$ be the point of concurrency of $\overrightarrow{O_1O_3},\overrightarrow{T_1T_3},$ and line $\ell.$
In cross-section $\mathcal{R},$ let $C$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $O_1$ to line $\ell,$ and $D$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $O_3$ to $\overline{O_1C}.$

We have the following diagram:

In cross-section $O_1O_3T_3T_1,$ since $\overline{O_1T_1}\parallel\overline{O_3T_3}$ as discussed, we obtain $\triangle O_1T_1B\sim\triangle O_3T_3B$ by AA, with the ratio of similitude $\frac{O_1T_1}{O_3T_3}=\frac{36}{13}.$ Therefore, we get $\frac{O_1B}{O_3B}=\frac{49+O_3B}{O_3B}=\frac{36}{13},$ or $O_3B=\frac{637}{23}.$
In cross-section $\mathcal{R},$ note that $O_1O_3=49$ and $DO_3=\frac{O_1O_2}{2}=36.$ Applying the Pythagorean Theorem to right $\triangle O_1DO_3,$ we have $O_1D=\sqrt{1105}.$ Moreover, since $\ell\perp\overline{O_1C}$ and $\overline{DO_3}\perp\overline{O_1C},$ we obtain $\ell\parallel\overline{DO_3}$ so that $\triangle O_1CB\sim\triangle O_1DO_3$ by AA, with the ratio of similitude $\frac{O_1B}{O_1O_3}=\frac{49+\frac{637}{23}}{49}.$ Therefore, we get $\frac{O_1C}{O_1D}=\frac{\sqrt{1105}+DC}{\sqrt{1105}}=\frac{49+\frac{637}{23}}{49},$ or $DC=\frac{13\sqrt{1105}}{23}.$
Finally, note that $\overline{O_3T_3}\perp\overline{T_3A}$ and $O_3T_3=13.$ Since quadrilateral $DCAO_3$ is a rectangle, we have $O_3A=DC=\frac{13\sqrt{1105}}{23}.$ Applying the Pythagorean Theorem to right $\triangle O_3T_3A$ gives $T_3A=\frac{312}{23},$ from which the answer is $312+23=\boxed{335}.$
~MRENTHUSIASM