The points P and Q are chosen on the side BC of an acute-angled triangle ABC so that ∠PAB=∠ACB and ∠QAC=∠CBA. The points M and N are taken on the rays AP and AQ, respectively, so that AP=PM and AQ=QN. Prove that the lines BM and CN intersect on the circumcircle of the triangle ABC.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Denote by S the intersection point of the lines BM and CN. Let moreover β=∠QAC=∠CBA and γ=∠PAB=∠ACB. From these equalities it follows that the triangles ABP and CAQ are similar (see Figure 1). Therefore we obtain PMBP=PABP=QCAQ=QCNQ. Moreover, ∠BPM=β+γ=∠CQN. Hence the triangles BPM and NQC are similar. This gives ∠BMP=∠NCQ, so the triangles BPM and BSC are also similar. Thus we get ∠CSB=∠BPM=β+γ=180∘−∠BAC, which completes the solution.
Figure 1
Solution 2
As in the previous solution, denote by S the intersection point of the lines BM and NC. Let moreover the circumcircle of the triangle ABC intersect the lines AP and AQ again at K and L, respectively (see Figure 2).
Note that ∠LBC=∠LAC=∠CBA and similarly ∠KCB=∠KAB=∠BCA. It implies that the lines BL and CK meet at a point X, being symmetric to the point A with respect to the line BC. Since AP=PM and AQ=QN, it follows that X lies on the line MN. Therefore, using Pascal's theorem for the hexagon ALBSCK, we infer that S lies on the circumcircle of the triangle ABC, which finishes the proof.
Figure 2
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