GeometryDifficulty 7.3National Olympiad, round 2Prove itUnited States
Let ABC be an acute triangle with circumcircle ω, and let H be the foot of the altitude from A to BC. Let P and Q be the points on ω with PA=PH and QA=QH. The tangent to ω at P intersects lines AC and AB at E1 and F1 respectively; the tangent to ω at Q intersects lines AC and AB at E2 and F2 respectively. Show that the circumcircles of △AE1F1 and △AE2F2 are congruent, and the line through their centers is parallel to the tangent to ω at A.
Solution
Let O be the center of ω, and let M=PQ∩AB and N=PQ∩AC be the midpoints of AB and AC respectively. Refer to the diagram below.
The main idea is to prove two key claims involving O, which imply the result: (i) quadrilaterals AOE1F1 and AOE2F2 are cyclic (giving the radical axis is AO), (ii) △OE1F1≅△OE2F2 (giving the congruence of the circles).
We first note that (i) and (ii) are equivalent. Indeed, because OP=OQ, (ii) is equivalent to just the similarity △OE1F1∼△OE2F2, and then by the spiral similarity lemma (or even just angle chasing) we have (i) ⟺ (ii).
Proof of (i) by angle chasing
Note that ∠F2E2O=∠QE2O=∠QNO=∠MNO=∠MAO=∠F2AO and hence E2OAF2 is cyclic. Similarly, E1OAF1 is cyclic.
Proof of (i) by Simson lines
Since P,M,N are collinear, we see that PMN is the Simson line of O with respect to △AE1F1.
Proof of (ii) by butterfly theorem
By BUTTERFLY THEOREM on the three chords AC, PQ, PQ, it follows that E1N=NE2. Thus E1P=E1A⋅E1C=E2A⋅E2C=E2P. But also OP=OQ and hence △OPE1≅△OQE2. Similarly for the other pair.
Proof of (ii) by projective geometry
Let T=PP∩QQ. Let S be on PQ with ST∥AC; then TS⊥ON, and it follows ST is the polar of N (it passes through T by La Hire). Now, −1=(PQ;NT)≅T(E1E2;N∞) with ∞=AC∩ST the point at infinity. Hence E1N=NE2 and we can proceed as in the previous solution.
Proof of (ii) by complex numbers
We will give using complex numbers on △ABC a proof that ∣E1P∣=∣E2Q∣. We place APBCQ on the unit circle. Since PQ∥BC, we have pq=bc. Also, the midpoint of AB lies on PQ, so p+q=2a+b+2a+b⋅pq=2a+b+2aba+b⋅bc=2aa(a+b)+2ac(a+b)=2a(a+b)(a+c).
Now, p−e1∣PE1∣2=p−pp−acpp(a+c)−ac(p+p)=pp−acp(p2−p(a+c)+ac)=p2−ac(p−a)(p−c)=(p−e1)⋅p−e1=p2−ac(p−a)(p−c)⋅p21−ac1(p1−a1)(p1−c1)=−(p2−ac)2(p−a)2(p−c)2. Similarly, ∣QE2∣2=−(q2−ac)2(q−a)2(q−c)2. But actually, we claim that p2−ac(p−a)(p−c)=(q2−ac)2(q−a)(q−c). One calculates (p−a)(p−c)(q2−ac)=p2q2−pq2a−pq2c+q2ac−p2ac+pa2c+pac2−(ac)2 Thus (p−a)(p−c)(q2−ac)−(q−a)(q−c)(p2−ac) is equal to −(a+c)(pq)(q−p)+(q2−p2)ac−(p2−q2)ac+ac(a+c)(p−q)=(p−q)[(a+c)pq−2(p+q)ac+ac(a+c)]=(p−q)[(a+c)bc−2⋅2a(a+b)(a+c)⋅ac+ac(a+c)]=(p−q)(a+c)[bc−c(a+b)+ac]=0. This proves ∣E1P∣=∣E2Q∣. Together with the similar ∣F1P∣=∣F2Q∣, we have proved (ii).
Remark. The assumption that △ABC is acute is not necessary; it is only present to ensure that P lies on segment E1F1 and Q lies on segment E2F2, which may be helpful for contestants. The argument presented above is valid in all configurations. When one of ∠B and ∠C is a right angle, some of the points E1,F1,E2,F2 lie at infinity; when one of them is obtuse, both P and Q lie outside segments E1F1 and E2F2 respectively.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: MathNet,
licensed CC-BY-4.0.
Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.