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Geometry Difficulty 8.2 Shortlist Prove it IMO

Let ABCABC be a triangle. The points KK, LL, and MM lie on the segments BCBC, CACA, and ABAB, respectively, such that the lines AKAK, BLBL, and CMCM intersect in a common point. Prove that it is possible to choose two of the triangles ALMALM, BMKBMK, and CKLCKL whose inradii sum up to at least the inradius of the triangle ABCABC.

Solution

Denote
a=BKKC,b=CLLA,c=AMMB a = \frac{BK}{KC}, \quad b = \frac{CL}{LA}, \quad c = \frac{AM}{MB}
By Ceva's theorem, abc=1abc = 1, so we may, without loss of generality, assume that a1a \geqslant 1. Then at least one of the numbers bb or cc is not greater than 11. Therefore at least one of the pairs (a,b)(a, b), (b,c)(b, c) has its first component not less than 11 and the second one not greater than 11. Without loss of generality, assume that 1a1 \leqslant a and b1b \leqslant 1.

Therefore, we obtain bc1bc \leqslant 1 and 1ca1 \leqslant ca, or equivalently
AMMBLACLandMBAMBKKC \frac{AM}{MB} \leqslant \frac{LA}{CL} \quad \text{and} \quad \frac{MB}{AM} \leqslant \frac{BK}{KC}
The first inequality implies that the line passing through MM and parallel to BCBC intersects the segment ALAL at a point XX (see Figure 1). Therefore the inradius of the triangle ALMALM is not less than the inradius r1r_1 of triangle AMXAMX.

Similarly, the line passing through MM and parallel to ACAC intersects the segment BKBK at a point YY, so the inradius of the triangle BMKBMK is not less than the inradius r2r_2 of the triangle BMYBMY. Thus, to complete our solution, it is enough to show that r1+r2rr_1 + r_2 \geqslant r, where rr is the inradius of the triangle ABCABC. We prove that in fact r1+r2=rr_1 + r_2 = r.

Figure 1
Figure 1

Since MXBCMX \parallel BC, the dilation with centre AA that takes MM to BB takes the incircle of the triangle AMXAMX to the incircle of the triangle ABCABC. Therefore
r1r=AMAB,and similarlyr2r=MBAB \frac{r_1}{r} = \frac{AM}{AB}, \quad \text{and similarly} \quad \frac{r_2}{r} = \frac{MB}{AB}
Adding these equalities gives r1+r2=rr_1 + r_2 = r, as required.

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