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Geometry Difficulty 4.9 AIME Prove it Romania

Consider a triangular pyramidal frustum ABCABCABCA'B'C'. Points D(AA)D \in (AA'), E(BB)E \in (BB') and F(CC)F \in (CC') are such that the planes (AEF)(AEF) and (DBC)(DB'C') are parallel. Prove that the planes (AEF)(A'EF) and (DBC)(DBC) are also parallel.

Solution

Denote by VV the common point of the supporting lines of the lateral edges of the frustum. As planes (AEF)(AEF) and (DBC)(DB'C') are parallel, we have EFBCEF \parallel B'C' and DBAEDB' \parallel AE. Thales Theorem gives from DBAEDB' \parallel AE and ABABA'B' \parallel AB:
VDVA=VBVE,VAVA=VBVB. \frac{VD}{VA} = \frac{VB'}{VE}, \quad \frac{VA'}{VA} = \frac{VB'}{VB}.
The last two equalities give
VDVA=VBVE, \frac{VD}{VA'} = \frac{VB}{VE},
so AEDBA'E \parallel DB. As EFBCBCEF \parallel B'C' \parallel BC and AEDBA'E \parallel DB we conclude (AEF)(DBC)(A'EF) \parallel (DBC).

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