Points A1,B1,C1 lie on the sides BC, AC and AB of a triangle ABC, respectively, such that AB1−AC1=CA1−CB1=BC1−BA1. Let IA,IB,IC be the incenters of triangles AB1C1, A1BC1 and A1B1C respectively. Prove that the circumcenter of triangle IAIBIC is the incenter of triangle ABC.
Solution
If we orient positively the line AB from A to B, the line BC from B to C and the line CA from C to A, we get B1A−AC1=A1C−CB1=C1B−BA1. Let A0,B0,C0 be the intouch points of the incircle of triangle ABC and the sides BC, CA, AB, respectively. We have B1A−AC1=B1B0+B0A−AC0−C0C1=B1B0+C1C0, and similarly A1C−CB1=A1A0+B1B0, and C1B−BA1=C1C0+A1A0. We deduce that B1B0+C1C0=A1A0+B1B0=C1C0+A1A0, which is equivalent to A0A1=B0B1=C0C1. Because IA0=IB0=IC0 and ∠A1A0I=∠B1B0I=∠C1C0I, the triangles IA0A1, IB0B1 and IC0C1 are congruent and I is the circumcenter of triangle A1B1C1.
Because ∠AB0I=∠BC0I=90∘, quadrilateral AC0IB0 is cyclic. Because ∠B0IB1=∠C0IC1, we have ∠B1IC1=∠B0IC0=180∘−∠B1AC1. We deduce that quadrilateral AC1IB1 is cyclic. Because I is the midpoint of the minor arcC1B1 of the circumcircle of triangle AC1B1 not containing A, we deduce that IB1=IC1=II1. Therefore IA is on the circumcircle of triangle A1B1C1 of center I. Similarly, one can prove that IB,IC are on the circumcircle of triangle A1B1C1. Hence the circumcenter of triangle IAIBIC is the incenter of triangle ABC.
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