A circle with diameter AB and center O is given. Let C be a point on the circle (different from A and from B), and draw the line r parallel to AC through O. Let D be the intersection of r with the circle on the opposite side of C with respect to AB.
i) Prove that DO is the bisector of CDB.
ii) Prove that triangle CDB is similar to triangle AOD.
Solution
Solution:
We have ACD=CDO, because they are alternate interior angles with respect to the parallels AC and DO; moreover ACD=ABD, since they subtend the same arc of the circle. Triangle DOB is formed by two radii, and is therefore isosceles; from this we obtain the congruence of its base angles ODB and OBD. Hence, summing up, CDO=ACD=ABD=ODB: DO is the bisector of CDB.
DCB=DAB, since they subtend the same arc. Moreover AOD=2ABD (central angle and inscribed angle subtending the same arc), and hence AOD=CDB. But then triangles AOD and CDB are similar by the first criterion of similarity (three congruent angles).
Alternatively, once the congruence of one of the two aforementioned angles has been shown, one can proceed as follows. DO is both the bisector and the altitude of triangle CDB (DO is parallel to AC and AC is perpendicular to CB, since ACB subtends a diameter). Therefore triangle CDB is isosceles on base BC; but triangle ADO is also isosceles, having two radii as sides. From this it follows that the two triangles are similar by the second criterion of similarity.
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 translated into English from it; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.