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Geometry Difficulty 8.5 Shortlist Prove it Romania

The circles Γ1\Gamma_1, Γ2\Gamma_2, and Γ3\Gamma_3 in the plane are pairwise externally tangent. Let P2P_2 be the point of tangency between the circles Γ1\Gamma_1 and Γ3\Gamma_3, and P1P_1 the point of tangency between the circles Γ2\Gamma_2 and Γ3\Gamma_3. Consider points AA and BB on the circle Γ3\Gamma_3 that are diametrically opposite, such that the quadrilateral ABP1P2ABP_1P_2 is convex.
The line through AA and P2P_2 intersects the circle Γ1\Gamma_1 a second time at point XX, the line through BB and P1P_1 intersects the circle Γ2\Gamma_2 a second time at point YY, and the lines AP1AP_1 and BP2BP_2 intersect at ZZ.
Prove that the points X,YX, Y, and ZZ are collinear.

Figure 1

Solution

Let {P3}=Γ1Γ2\{P_3\} = \Gamma_1 \cap \Gamma_2 be the second point of intersection of the circles Γ1\Gamma_1 and Γ2\Gamma_2, and let O1,O2,O3O_1, O_2, O_3 be the centers of the circles Γ1,Γ2\Gamma_1, \Gamma_2, and Γ3\Gamma_3, respectively. Denote by O4O_4 the intersection point of the common tangents to the circles Γ1\Gamma_1 and Γ2\Gamma_2.

P1ZP2^=12(AB^+P1P2^)=12(180+P1O3P2^)=12(180+180P1O2P3^P2O1P3^)==12(180P1O2P3^)+12(180P2O1P3^)=O1P3P2^+O2P3P1^=180P1P3P2^, \begin{align*} \widehat{P_1ZP_2} &= \frac{1}{2} (\widehat{AB} + \widehat{P_1P_2}) = \frac{1}{2} (180^\circ + \widehat{P_1O_3P_2}) \\ &= \frac{1}{2} (180^\circ + 180^\circ - \widehat{P_1O_2P_3} - \widehat{P_2O_1P_3}) = \\ &= \frac{1}{2} (180^\circ - \widehat{P_1O_2P_3}) + \frac{1}{2} (180^\circ - \widehat{P_2O_1P_3}) \\ &= \widehat{O_1P_3P_2} + \widehat{O_2P_3P_1} = 180^\circ - \widehat{P_1P_3P_2}, \end{align*}
so the quadrilateral ZP1P3P2ZP_1P_3P_2 is cyclic.

We will prove that X,P3X, P_3, and ZZ are collinear. It suffices to show that XP3O1^=ZP3O2^\widehat{XP_3O_1} = \widehat{ZP_3O_2}. Since triangle O1XP3O_1XP_3 is isosceles and BP2AXBP_2 \perp AX (because ABAB is a diameter), we have:
XP3O1^=12(180XO1P3^)=9012XP3^=XP2B^XP2P3^=BP2P3^=ZP2P3^=12ZP1P3^. \begin{align*} \widehat{XP_3O_1} &= \frac{1}{2} (180^\circ - \widehat{XO_1P_3}) = 90^\circ - \frac{1}{2} \widehat{XP_3} = \widehat{XP_2B} - \widehat{XP_2P_3} = \widehat{BP_2P_3} \\ &= \widehat{ZP_2P_3} = \frac{1}{2} \widehat{ZP_1P_3}. \end{align*}
Because O1O2O_1O_2 is tangent to the circumcircle of triangle P1P2P3P_1P_2P_3, it follows that P1P3O2^=12P1P3^\widehat{P_1P_3O_2} = \frac{1}{2}\widehat{P_1P_3}. Therefore, ZP3O2^=ZP3P1^+P1P3O2^=12ZP1^+12P1P3^=12ZP1P3^=XP3O1^\widehat{ZP_3O_2} = \widehat{ZP_3P_1} + \widehat{P_1P_3O_2} = \frac{1}{2}\widehat{ZP_1} + \frac{1}{2}\widehat{P_1P_3} = \frac{1}{2}\widehat{ZP_1P_3} = \widehat{XP_3O_1}.
Hence, points X,ZX, Z, and P3P_3 are collinear. Similarly, one can show that Y,ZY, Z, and P3P_3 are collinear, and thus X,YX, Y, and ZZ are collinear as well.

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.