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Geometry Difficulty 8.8 Shortlist Prove it Slovenia

The incircle of an acute triangle ABCABC touches the sides BCBC, CACA and ABAB at A1A_1, B1B_1 and C1C_1. Let KAK_A, KBK_B and KCK_C be the incircles of the triangles AB1C1AB_1C_1, A1BC1A_1BC_1 and A1B1C1A_1B_1C_1.
Let tAt_A denote the common tangent of KBK_B and KCK_C which intersects the segments ABAB and ACAC but not the segment BCBC. Let tBt_B be the common tangent of KAK_A and KCK_C which intersects the segments ABAB and BCBC but not the segment ACAC and let tCt_C be the common tangent of KAK_A and KBK_B which intersects the segments ACAC and BCBC but not the segment ABAB.
Prove that the lines tAt_A, tBt_B and tCt_C intersect at a single point.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

With this kind of problems it is very important to draw a big figure and try to see if there is anything we can say about the common intersection. First, we notice that the centres of KAK_A, KBK_B and KCK_C lie on the incircle KK of the triangle ABCABC.

Let A2A_2 be the point where the bisector of the angle B1A1C1B_1A_1C_1 intersects KK for the second time (A2A_2 is the midpoint of the arc B1C1B_1C_1). Then B1C1A2=B1A1A2=A2B1C1\overline{B_1C_1A_2} = \angle B_1A_1A_2 = \angle A_2B_1C_1, and the tangent-chord theorem implies that A2C1A=A2B1C1\angle A_2C_1A = \angle A_2B_1C_1. So, B1C1A2=A2C1A\angle B_1C_1A_2 = \angle A_2C_1A and C1A2C_1A_2 is the bisector of the angle B1C1AB_1C_1A. On the other hand, AA2AA_2 is the bisector of the angle BAC\angle BAC, so A2A_2 is the incentre of the triangle AC1B1AC_1B_1.

As we draw the line A1A2A_1A_2 onto the figure we notice that the common intersection of the tangents lies on this line. Let B2B_2 and C2C_2 be the centres of KBK_B and KCK_C. If we also draw B1B2B_1B_2 and C1C2C_1C_2, we see that they contain the common intersection of the tangents as well. The lines A1A2A_1A_2, B1B2B_1B_2 and C1C2C_1C_2 are the bisectors of the inner angles of the triangle A1B1C1A_1B_1C_1 and they meet in a point we denote by JJ. We wish to prove that each of the tangents tAt_A, tBt_B and tCt_C also contains JJ.

Figure 1

Since JJ is the intersection of the angle bisectors of the triangle A1B1C1A_1B_1C_1, we have
C2B2J=C2B2B1=C2C1B1=A1C1C2=A1B2C2 \angle C_2B_2J = \angle C_2B_2B_1 = \angle C_2C_1B_1 = \angle A_1C_1C_2 = \angle A_1B_2C_2
and
JC2B2=C1C2B2=C1B1B2=B2B1A1=B2C2A1 \angle JC_2B_2 = \angle C_1C_2B_2 = \angle C_1B_1B_2 = \angle B_2B_1A_1 = B_2C_2A_1

Figure 2

Hence, the triangles A1C2B2A_1C_2B_2 and JC2B2JC_2B_2 are similar. They also have a common side, so they are congruent. Reflect the outer tangent BCBC to the circles KBK_B and KCK_C in the line B2C2B_2C_2 connecting the two centres. We have just shown that this reflection maps A1A_1 to JJ. It also maps the tangent BCBC into a tangent passing through the image of A1A_1. This implies that JJ lies on tAt_A. Similarly, we show that JJ lies on tBt_B and tCt_C. We conclude that the three tangents intersect at a single point.

Solution 2

Let us find another way of describing the tangent tAt_A. We have noticed that it contains JJ. The figure also suggests that tAt_A is parallel to B1C1B_1C_1. Let ll be the line through JJ parallel to B1C1B_1C_1. We wish to show that ll is tangent to KBK_B and KCK_C.

Figure 3

Let us draw a less cluttered figure. We will not need the circles KAK_A and KCK_C. Let DD be the point on ll such that B2DB_2D is perpendicular to ll. We wish to show that B2D|B_2D| is the diameter of KBK_B.

First, let us find the angle B2JD\angle B_2JD. Since JDJD is parallel to B1C1B_1C_1, we have B2JD=B2B1C1=B2A1C1\angle B_2JD = \angle B_2B_1C_1 = \angle B_2A_1C_1. Let EE be the midpoint of A1C1A_1C_1. We wish to show that B2E=B2D|B_2E| = |B_2D|. We have B2JD=B2A1E\angle B_2JD = \angle B_2A_1E, so the triangles JDB2JDB_2 and A1EB2A_1EB_2 are similar. We wish to show that they are congruent, so A1E=JD|A_1E| = |JD| or A1B2=JB2|A_1B_2| = |JB_2|. The second equality is equivalent to the fact that B2A1JB_2A_1J is an isosceles triangle with the apex at B2B_2. Let A1C1B1=γ\angle A_1C_1B_1 = \gamma. Then
B2JA1=πA1JB1π(π+γ2)=πγ2. \angle B_2JA_1 = \pi - \angle A_1JB_1 \Rightarrow \pi - \left(\frac{\pi + \gamma}{2}\right) = \frac{\pi - \gamma}{2}.
Clearly, JB2A1=B1B2A1=B1C1A1=γ\angle JB_2A_1 = \angle B_1B_2A_1 = \angle B_1C_1A_1 = \gamma, so the third angle in the triangle is equal to A1B2=πγ2\angle A_1B_2 = \frac{\pi - \gamma}{2}. The triangle B2A1JB_2A_1J is isosceles with the apex at B2B_2, so A1B2=JB2|A_1B_2| = |JB_2| and the triangles JDB2JDB_2 and A1EB2A_1EB_2 are congruent. So, B2D=B2E|B_2D| = |B_2E| and JDJD (or ll) is tangent to KBK_B. Similarly, we show that ll is tangent to KCK_C, so l=tAl = t_A. The same arguments would show that tBt_B is the line through JJ parallel to A1C1A_1C_1 and tCt_C is the line through JJ parallel to A1B1A_1B_1. Hence, all three tangents intersect at a single point, namely JJ.

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