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Geometry Difficulty 8.4 Shortlist Prove it Romania

Given a triangle ABCABC, let DD be the midpoint of the side ACAC and let MM be the point that divides the segment BDBD in the ratio 1/21/2; that is, MB/MD=1/2MB/MD = 1/2. The rays AMAM and CMCM meet the sides BCBC and ABAB at points EE and FF, respectively. Assume the two rays are perpendicular: AMCMAM \perp CM. Show that the quadrangle AFEDAFED is cyclic if and only if the line of support of the median from AA in triangle ABCABC meets the line EFEF at a point situated on the circle ABCABC.
BMO Shortlist 2011, Saudi Arabia

Solution

Denote by aa, bb, cc the sidelengths, and by mam_a, mbm_b, mcm_c the lengths of the medians of the triangle ABCABC. Since MDMD is median in the right-angled triangle AMCAMC, it follows that 2mb/3=MD=AD=CD=b/22m_b/3 = MD = AD = CD = b/2, so mb=3b/4m_b = 3b/4, whence (3b/4)2=mb2=(a2+c2)/2b2/4(3b/4)^2 = m_b^2 = (a^2 + c^2)/2 - b^2/4; that is, 13b2=8(a2+c2)13b^2 = 8(a^2 + c^2).

Next, apply the Menelaus theorem to get EC/EB=4=FA/FBEC/EB = 4 = FA/FB and deduce thereby that the lines ACAC and EFEF are parallel. The quadrangle AFEDAFED is therefore a trapezium; it is cyclic if and only if AF=DEAF = DE.

Express the two in terms of aa, bb and cc. Recall that FA/FB=4FA/FB = 4 to obtain AF=4c/5AF = 4c/5. Next, apply Stewart's theorem in triangle BCDBCD to get DE2=b2/24a2/25DE^2 = b^2/2 - 4a^2/25. By the preceding, the quadrangle AFEDAFED is cyclic if and only if 25b28a2=32c225b^2 - 8a^2 = 32c^2. Recall that 13b2=8(a2+c2)13b^2 = 8(a^2 + c^2) to express bb and cc in terms of aa: b=2a2/3b = 2a\sqrt{2}/3 and c=2a/3c = 2a/3.

Figure 1

Finally, let NN be the midpoint of the side BCBC and let the lines ANAN and EFEF meet at PP. Notice that EN=a/2a/5=3a/10EN = a/2 - a/5 = 3a/10, and the triangles ANCANC and PNEPNE are similar, to obtain NP=3ma/5NP = 3m_a/5, so
NANP=3ma2/5=3(2(b2+c2)a2)/20=a2/4=NBNC. NA \cdot NP = 3m_a^2/5 = 3(2(b^2 + c^2) - a^2)/20 = a^2/4 = NB \cdot NC.
The conclusion follows.

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