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Geometry Difficulty 6.4 National olympiad Prove it Romania

Let ABCABC be a scalene triangle and let II be its incenter. Consider the circles γ\gamma, δ\delta, of diameters IBIB, respectively ICIC. The circles γ\gamma', δ\delta' are the mirror images of γ\gamma, δ\delta in ICIC, respectively IBIB. Prove that the circumcenter of the triangle ABCABC lies on the line joining the common points of the circles γ\gamma' and δ\delta'.
Cosmin Pohoăță

Solution

Let B1B_1 be the symmetrical of the point BB with respect to the line ICIC, and let C1C_1 be the symmetrical of the point CC with respect to the line IBIB. Denote by B2B_2 the midpoint of the segment IB1IB_1, and by C2C_2 the midpoint of the segment IC1IC_1. The circles γ\gamma' and δ\delta' have diameters IB1IB_1 and IC1IC_1, hence their centers are B2B_2 and C2C_2. The line passing through the meeting points of circles γ\gamma' and δ\delta' is perpendicular to the centers line. Since II belongs to both circles γ\gamma' and δ\delta', the requirement comes to OIB2C2OI \perp B_2C_2. Since B2C2B_2C_2 is midline in triangle IB1C1IB_1C_1, one has B1C1B2C2B_1C_1 \parallel B_2C_2, and the requirement writes OIB1C1OI \perp B_1C_1. It is enough to show OB12OC12=IB12IC12OB_1^2 - OC_1^2 = IB_1^2 - IC_1^2. Let DD be the projection of II onto the line BCBC. DD is the touching point of the incircle of triangle ABCABC with the side BCBC, and BD=pbBD = p - b, DC=pcDC = p - c. From symmetry considerations we have IB1=IBIB_1 = IB, IC1=ICIC_1 = IC, and
IB12IC12=IB2IC2==DB2DC2==(pb)2(pc)2==a(cb). \begin{aligned} IB_1^2 - IC_1^2 &= IB^2 - IC^2 = \\ &= DB^2 - DC^2 = \\ &= (p-b)^2 - (p-c)^2 = \\ &= a(c-b). \end{aligned}
Denote by MM the midpoint of the side ACAC, and by NN the midpoint of the side ABAB; then we have
OB12OC12==(OM2+MB12)(ON2+NC12)==(MB12+OA2MA2)(NC12+OB2NB2)==(MB12MA2)(NC12NB2), \begin{aligned} OB_1^2 - OC_1^2 &= \\ &= (OM^2 + MB_1^2) - (ON^2 + NC_1^2) = \\ &= (MB_1^2 + OA^2 - MA^2) - \\ &\qquad (NC_1^2 + OB^2 - NB^2) = \\ &= (MB_1^2 - MA^2) - (NC_1^2 - NB^2), \end{aligned}
since OA=OBOA = OB. As MB12MA2=MB12MC2=(MB1MC)(MB1+MC)=a(ab)MB_1^2 - MA^2 = MB_1^2 - MC^2 = (MB_1 - MC)(MB_1 + MC) = a(a - b), and analogously NC12NB2=a(ac)NC_1^2 - NB^2 = a(a - c), it follows that OB12OC12=a(cb)OB_1^2 - OC_1^2 = a(c - b), which is what was left to prove.

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