The circumcentre of an acute triangle ABC is O. Line AC intersects the circumcircle of AOB at a point X, in addition to the vertex A. Prove that the line XO is perpendicular to the line BC.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
By the properties of inscribed angles ∠CXO=∠ABO (Fig. 8) independent of whether the point X lies on the side CA or on the extension of CA over A. Since O is the circumcentre of ABC, we have ∠ABO=∠BAO. Let the intersection of lines XO and BC be Y and let the point on the circumcircle of ABC lying diametrically opposite A be Z. Since ∠CXY=∠ZAB, and ∠YCX=∠BZA as inscribed angles subtending the same arc AB, the triangles CXY and ZAB are similar. Hence ∠CYX=∠ZBA=90∘, as ∠ZBA is subtended by a diameter.
Fig. 8
Solution 2
Obviously ∠OBC=∠OCB. If X lies on segment AC (Fig. 9), then ∠OBX=∠OAX=∠OAC=∠OCA. If X lies on the extension of AC over A, then ∠OBX=180∘−∠OAX=∠OAC=∠OCA. In both cases we have ∠OBX=∠OCA and ∠XBC=∠OBX+∠OBC=∠OCA+∠OCB=∠ACB=∠XCB. Therefore XBC is an isosceles triangle with the apex X, hence X lies on the perpendicular bisector of BC. Since O lies on the same line, the line XO is the perpendicular bisector of the side BC.
Fig. 9
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