The incircle (with centre O) of an isosceles triangle ABC with AB=AC meets BC, CA, AB at K, L, M respectively. Let N be the intersection of the lines OL and KM, and let Q be the intersection of the lines BN and CA. Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from A to BQ. Suppose BP=AP+2PQ. Determine the possible value(s) of BCAB.
Solution
BCAB can be 22 or 210. It is well-known that Q is the midpoint of AC. We first consider the case when P lies inside △ABC. Let X be the projection of C on BQ, and let Y be the point on the line BQ such that XY=XC, and X lies between B and Y. Note that △QAP≅△QCX, and hence PQ=XQ. By the given condition, we have BP=AP+2PQ=CX+PX=XY+PX=PY. Together with AP⊥BY, we know that △ABY is an isosceles triangle, with AY=AB=AC. Thus, AX is the perpendicular bisector of CY. This implies ∠ACX=∠AYX=∠YBA. Therefore, A, B, C, X are concyclic, and ∠BAC=∠BXC=90∘. Conversely, when ∠BAC=90∘, one can work backward and show that BP=AP+2PQ. (In that proof, one should define Y as the point on the line BQ such that AB=AY, and then show that XC=XY.) Thus, this gives one possibility, where BCAB=21.
Next we consider the case when P lies outside △ABC. Similarly, let X be the projection of C on BQ. As above, we have △QAP≅△QCX, and hence QX=QP. By the given condition, we have BP=AP+2PQ=CX+PX. This implies BX=CX. Therefore, BC=2CX=2AP. Let PQ=QX=x and CX=AP=y. Noting that ∠PBA=∠XCQ, we have △PAB∼△XQC. It follows that XQPA=XCPB. This implies xy=y2x+y.
This can be rewritten as (2x−y)(x+y)=0. Thus, we find that y=2x, and hence BCAB=BCPA2+PB2=2yy2+(2x+y)2=210. When BCAB=210, it is not hard to find that ABBQ=253, and cos∠CBQ=21. Then one can deduce BX=CX, and the condition holds.
To conclude, BCAB can be 22 or 210.
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