is a tetrahedron with the following property: denoting by , , , , respectively, the incenters of the faces , , and , it holds that the lines , , and have a common point. Prove that the product of the lengths of two opposite edges of the tetrahedron is constant, that is, that .
Solution
Solution:
Let be the point of intersection of the lines , , , , and consider the plane passing through , , . Since contains the lines and , it contains the points , , which lie on such lines; thus, denoting by the bisector of the angle at in the triangle and by the bisector of the angle at in the triangle , we have that the points and also belong to , since the lines and (which contain these points) do. On the other hand, the line is not contained in the plane (otherwise the tetrahedron would be degenerate); it contains and and has at most one point of intersection with the plane, so and coincide. From this it obviously follows that ; but, by the angle bisector theorem, and , whence , that is . The same reasoning applied to the plane through , , gives , whence the thesis.