Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2006

Geometry Difficulty 8.7 Shortlist Prove it IMO

A point DD is chosen on the side ACAC of a triangle ABCABC with C<A<90\angle C < \angle A < 90^{\circ} in such a way that BD=BABD = BA. The incircle of ABCABC is tangent to ABAB and ACAC at points KK and LL, respectively. Let JJ be the incentre of triangle BCDBCD. Prove that the line KLKL intersects the line segment AJAJ at its midpoint.
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Solution

Denote by PP the common point of AJAJ and KLKL. Let the parallel to KLKL through JJ meet ACAC at MM. Then PP is the midpoint of AJAJ if and only if AM=2ALAM = 2 \cdot AL, which we are about to show.

Figure 1

Denoting BAC=2α\angle BAC = 2\alpha, the equalities BA=BDBA = BD and AK=ALAK = AL imply ADB=2α\angle ADB = 2\alpha and ALK=90α\angle ALK = 90^{\circ} - \alpha. Since DJDJ bisects BDC\angle BDC, we obtain CDJ=12(180ADB)=90α\angle CDJ = \frac{1}{2} \cdot (180^{\circ} - \angle ADB) = 90^{\circ} - \alpha. Also DMJ=ALK=90α\angle DMJ = \angle ALK = 90^{\circ} - \alpha since JMKLJM \parallel KL. It follows that JD=JMJD = JM.

Let the incircle of triangle BCDBCD touch its side CDCD at TT. Then JTCDJT \perp CD, meaning that JTJT is the altitude to the base DMDM of the isosceles triangle DMJDMJ. It now follows that DT=MTDT = MT, and we have
DM=2DT=BD+CDBC. DM = 2 \cdot DT = BD + CD - BC.
Therefore
AM=AD+(BD+CDBC)=AD+AB+DCBC=AC+ABBC=2AL, \begin{aligned} AM & = AD + (BD + CD - BC) \\ & = AD + AB + DC - BC \\ & = AC + AB - BC \\ & = 2 \cdot AL, \end{aligned}
which completes the proof.

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