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Belorusija, 2012

Geometry Difficulty 6.0 National Olympiad Prove it Belarus

A parabola y=ax2y = a x^2, a>0a > 0, and the hyperbola y=1/xy = 1/x meet at point TT. The common tangent of these curves touches the hyperbola at point QQ and touches the parabola at point PP.
a) Prove that some two medians of the triangle PQTPQT are perpendicular.
b) Determine the area of the triangle PQTPQT.
(V. Karamzin)

Solution

b) Answer: S=27/4S = 27/4.
Figure 1
We find the coordinates (xT;yT)(x_T; y_T) of the point of intersection of the parabola y=ax2y = a x^2 and the hyperbola y=1/xy = 1/x. We have axT2=1/xTa x_T^2 = 1/x_T, so xT=1/a=1/tx_T = 1/\sqrt{a} = 1/t and yT=1/xT=ty_T = 1/x_T = t. The equation of the tangent to the parabola at point P(xP;yP)P(x_P; y_P) has the form y−yP=2axP(x−xP)y - y_P = 2a x_P(x - x_P), and the equation of the tangent to the hyperbola at point Q(xQ;yQ)Q(x_Q; y_Q) has the form y−yQ=(−1/xQ2)(x−xQ)y - y_Q = (-1/x_Q^2)(x - x_Q). Since the tangent is a common tangent for both the graphs, we have
2axP=−1/xQ2,(1) 2a x_P = -1/x_Q^2, \qquad (1)
−2axP2+yP=1/xQ+yQ.(2) -2a x_P^2 + y_P = 1/x_Q + y_Q. \qquad (2)
Since yP=axP2y_P = a x_P^2 and yQ=1/xQy_Q = 1/x_Q, the obtained equality has the form
−axP2=2/xQ.(2) -a x_P^2 = 2/x_Q. \qquad (2)
From equations (1), (2) it follows that xQ=−1/(2t)x_Q = -1/(2t), xP=−2/tx_P = -2/t, and so yQ=−2ty_Q = -2t, yP=4ty_P = 4t. Therefore,
T(1t;t),P(−2t;4t),Q(−12t;−2t).(3) T(\frac{1}{t}; t), \quad P(-\frac{2}{t}; 4t), \quad Q(-\frac{1}{2t}; -2t). \qquad (3)
Let M,K,LM, K, L be the midpoints of the sides PQ,PT,TQPQ, PT, TQ respectively. Then
M(−54t;t),K(−12t;52t);L(14t;−t2). M(-\frac{5}{4t}; t), \quad K(-\frac{1}{2t}; \frac{5}{2}t); \quad L(\frac{1}{4t}; -\frac{t}{2}).
Comparing the obtained values with (3), we note that MTMT parallel to the axis OxOx, since yM=yTy_M = y_T, and QKQK parallel to OyOy, since yQ=yKy_Q = y_K. Therefore, medians MTMT and QKQK in the triangle PQTPQT are perpendicular, as required.
Let HH be a centroid of the triangle PQTPQT. Then
S(PQT)=2S(QKT)=[TH⊥QK]=2⋅12QK⋅TH==[TH=23MT]=23QK⋅TM. S(PQT) = 2S(QKT) = [TH \perp QK] = 2 \cdot \frac{1}{2} QK \cdot TH = \\ = [TH = \frac{2}{3}MT] = \frac{2}{3}QK \cdot TM.
Since TM∥OxTM \parallel Ox, we have TM=1/t−(−5/(4t))=9/(4t)TM = 1/t - (-5/(4t)) = 9/(4t), Similarly, since QK∥OyQK \parallel Oy, we have QK=5t/2−(−2t)=9t/2QK = 5t/2 - (-2t) = 9t/2. Therefore,
S(PQT)=23⋅94t⋅9t2=274. S(PQT) = \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{9}{4t} \cdot \frac{9t}{2} = \frac{27}{4}.

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