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Geometry Difficulty 8.5 Shortlist Prove it Baltic Way

Let ω\omega be a circle and AA a point outside of ω\omega. Draw the tangents from AA to ω\omega and call the points of tangency XX and YY. Let BB and CC be points on the segments AXAX and AYAY, respectively, such that the perimeter of ABC\triangle ABC is equal to the length of the segment AXAX. Let DD be the reflection of AA in the line BCBC. Show that the circumcircle BDCBDC touches ω\omega.

Solution

Let BB' be the reflection of AA through BB. Since the perimeter of ABC\triangle ABC equals the length of the segment AXAX, ABAB is less than half of AXAX and, therefore, BB' lies on the segment AXAX.
Let the point CC' lie on AYAY such that BCB'C' touches ω\omega in the point ZZ. Let CC'' be the midpoint of ACAC'. Since BB and CC'' are midpoints of the sides ABAB' and ACAC', respectively, we have that the perimeter of ABC\triangle AB'C' is double that of ABC\triangle ABC''.
We also have that the perimeter of ABC\triangle AB'C' equals
AB+BC+CA=AB+BZ+ZC+CA=AB+BX+YC+CA=AX+AY=2AX. \begin{aligned} |AB'| + |B'C'| + |C'A| &= |AB'| + |B'Z| + |ZC'| + |C'A| \\ &= |AB'| + |B'X| + |YC'| + |C'A| \\ &= |AX| + |AY| \\ &= 2|AX|. \end{aligned}
Therefore, the perimeter of triangles ABC\triangle ABC and ABC\triangle ABC'' is the same, namely AX|AX|.

Figure 1

If we assume that CC'' lies between AA and CC we have that BC+AC=BC+AC|BC''| + |AC''| = |BC| + |AC|, so
BC=BC+CC. |BC''| = |BC| + |CC''|.
Which contradicts the triangle inequality, so CC'' does not lie between AA and CC. Similarly, CC'' cannot lie between CC and YY, and must therefore lie on CC. Hence, CC and CC'' are the same point so CC is the midpoint of ACAC'.
Now, ω\omega is tangent to the extensions of the sides ABAB' and ACAC' of ABC\triangle AB'C' as well as being tangent to the side BCB'C' and is therefore an excircle of the triangle.
Also, BB and CC are the midpoints of sides ABAB' and ACAC', respectively.
We have that the point DD lies on the line BCB'C', for DD, BB' and CC' are reflections of AA through points on BCBC. Also, since BCBCBC\parallel B'C', and ADBCAD \perp BC, we have that ADBCAD \perp B'C'. So DD is the foot of the altitude from AA in ABC\triangle AB'C'. Thus, the circle through B,D,CB, D, C is the nine-point circle of ABC\triangle AB'C'. According to Feuerbach's theorem, it touches the excircle ω\omega, as required.

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