Two circles, centres O1 and O2, intersect at A and B. Let O1C1 and O2C2 be parallel radii of these circles such that C1 and C2 are on the same side of O1O2. Prove that the circumcircles of triangles C1AC2 and C1BC2 have the same radius.
Solution
Let D1 and D2 be points on the circles such that C1D1 and C2D2 are diameters. We want to show that the reflection in the line C1C2 of the circumcircle of △C1BC2 is the circumcircle of △C1AC2. Equivalently we can show that the reflection of B in the line C1C2 is on the circumcircle of △C1AC2, which is equivalent to ∠C1BC2=180∘−∠C1AC2. Instead of using reflection in the line C1C2, we could also argue with the extended Sine-Rule, which tells us that the circumradius of △C1AC2 is equal to ∣C1C2∣/2sin(∠C1AC2) and the circumradius of △C1BC2 is equal to ∣C1C2∣/2sin(∠C1BC2). We then see that these circles have the same radius if sin(∠C1AC2)=sin(∠C1BC2), which follows when we have shown ∠C1BC2=180∘−∠C1AC2.
∠C1AC2=∠C1D1B+∠BD2C2. As C1D1 and C2D2 are parallel, ∠C1D1D2+∠D1D2C2=180∘. Using the previously obtained equation this yields ∠C1AC2=∠C1D1B+∠BD2C2=180∘−(∠BD1D2+∠D1D2B)=∠D1BD2. Since C1D1 and C2D2 are diameters, ∠C1BD1=90∘=∠C2BD2 and we finally obtain ∠C1BC2=180∘−∠D1BD2=180∘−∠C1AC2, as desired.
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