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Geometry Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Prove it Ireland

Two circles Ω1\Omega_1 and Ω2\Omega_2 intersect at AA and BB. From any point PP on Ω1\Omega_1 straight lines are drawn through AA and BB meeting Ω2\Omega_2 again at EE and FF, respectively. Prove that the length of the line segment EFEF is the same for all PP on Ω1\Omega_1.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

Solution 1. Draw the tangent to Ω1\Omega_1 at AA and let HH be its second point of intersection with Ω2\Omega_2. First suppose PP is not inside circle Ω2\Omega_2.

Figure 1

By the Alternate Segment Theorem, HAE=PBA\angle HAE = \angle PBA. From the cyclic quadrilateral ABFEABFE we see that PBA=AEF\angle PBA = \angle AEF, hence HAE=AEF\angle HAE = \angle AEF. We also have FAH=FEH\angle FAH = \angle FEH (standing on the same arc of Ω2\Omega_2). Therefore,
FAE=FAH+HAE=FEH+AEF=AEH. \angle FAE = \angle FAH + \angle HAE = \angle FEH + \angle AEF = \angle AEH.
This implies that the segment EFEF has the same length as AHAH. If PP is inside circle Ω2\Omega_2, we can proceed in a similar way.

Figure 2

Looking at triangle PBEPBE we find that FBE=BPABEA\angle FBE = \angle BPA - \angle BEA. The Alternate Segment Theorem shows that the angle between ABAB and the tangent AHAH is equal to BPA\angle BPA. From cyclic quadrilateral ABEHABEH we see that the same angle between ABAB and the tangent AHAH is equal to BEH\angle BEH. Hence,
FBE=BPABEA=BEHBEA=AEH. \angle FBE = \angle BPA - \angle BEA = \angle BEH - \angle BEA = \angle AEH.
Therefore, for each PP on Ω1\Omega_1, segments EFEF and AHAH have the same length.

Solution 2

Solution 2. The length of the chord EF of circle Ω2\Omega_2 is determined by angle FAE\angle FAE. First suppose PP is not inside circle Ω2\Omega_2.

Figure 3

In this case FAE\angle FAE is an external angle of triangle PFAPFA, hence is equal to APF+AFP\angle APF + \angle AFP. These two angles are the same for each point PP on Ω1\Omega_1, because APF\angle APF stands on the arc ABAB of circle Ω1\Omega_1, and AFP\angle AFP stands on the arc ABAB of circle Ω2\Omega_2.

Figure 4

If PP is on the arc of Ω1\Omega_1 that is inside the circle Ω2\Omega_2, the angle FAE\angle FAE is an internal angle of triangle PFAPFA and so is equal to 180(APF+AFP)180^\circ - (\angle APF + \angle AFP). This angle subtends the same chord as the angle APF+AFP\angle APF + \angle AFP, which does not change when PP varies, and which has the same value as in the other case. Hence, FAE\angle FAE is the same for each point PP on Ω1\Omega_1.

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