On the plane, let ABC be the acute and non-isosceles triangle. Let B′,C′ be the symmetric points of B,C with respect to the lines CA,AB, respectively. Assume that BC′,B′C meet at A0. Let A1 be the circumcenter of triangle AB′C′ and A2 be the center of the circle passing through the projections of A0 on the lines BC,CA,AB. The points B1,B2,C1,C2 are defined similarly.
Prove that A1A2,B1B2,C1C2 are concurrent at the Euler point of the triangle ABC.
Solution
First, we will prove two following lemmas:
Lemma 1.
Let ABC be the acute and non-isosceles triangle. The points M,N are the feet of the perpendicular line from A to the exterior angle bisector B,C of triangle ABC. Let P be the tangent point of line BC and the excircle (I) with respect to BC, AQ is the altitude of triangle ABC. Then MNPQ is the isosceles trapezoid and P is the orthocenter of triangle MNI.
Prove.
Without loss of generality, we can assume that AB<AC. Let D,E be the intersection of AM,AN and the line BC. It is easy to see that triangle BAD is isosceles with BA=BD and BM is the altitude of this triangle (with M∈AD) then M is also the midpoint of segment AD. Similarly, N is the midpoint of segment AE. Hence, the line MN is parallel to the line BC.
We also have DP=EP=2AB+BC+CA, then point P is the midpoint of segment DE. Because QN=21AE=MP, then the quadrilateral MNPQ is isosceles trapezoid. Furthermore, we have PM∥AE,NI⊥AE, so PM⊥NI; similarly, PN⊥MI then P is the orthocenter of triangle MNI. The lemma is proved.
Lemma 2.
Let triangle ABC have the centroid G and point D is the projection of the Euler point of triangle ABC on AC and E is the symmetric point of point B about line AC. Prove that GE=4GD.
Let H,N,O be orthocenter, Euler point and circumcenter of triangle ABC. Assume that K,D,M in order are the projections of H,N,O on the line AC. Because N is the midpoint of the segment OH so D is also the midpoint of segment KM. It is easy to see that GHGN=41andND=21(OM+HK)=41BH+41(HE−BH)=41HE. Hence, GHGN=HEND so G,D,E are collinear and GE=4GD. The lemma is proved.
Back to the original problem, let E be the Euler point of triangle ABC. First, we will prove that the line AA1 passes through the point E.
Indeed, we know that in a triangle, the circumcenter and the orthocenter are isogonal conjugate points. We have ∠BAC′=∠BAC=∠B′AC then AB′,AC′ are symmetric about the angle bisector of ∠BAC. Then, each pair of isogonal lines with respect to angle A in triangle ABC is also a pair of isogonal lines with respect to angle A in triangle AB′C′; so we have to prove that the isogonal line of AE with respect to angle A in triangle ABC passes through the orthocenter of triangle AB′C′. Let B′′,C′′ be the projections of point E on the segment AC,AB. Based on Lemma 2, B′,C′ are the image of B′′,C′′ under the dilation center G, ratio 4 with G as the centroid of triangle ABC.
From this result, we get B′C′∥B′′C′′. And based on the properties of isogonal conjugates, the isogonal line of AE is perpendicular to B′′C′′ and this exactly is the altitude from A of triangle AB′C′. Then, the isogonal line of AE in triangle AB′C′ passes through the orthocenter of triangle AB′C′, or the line AA1 passes through point E.
Next, we will prove that AA2 also passes through E. Let O,H be the circumcenter and orthocenter of triangle ABC, respectively; R,S be the projections of point E on the sides AB,AC, respectively and R,S are the midpoints of segment AB,AC, respectively. Let M,N,P be the projections of A0 on the lines AB,BC,CA, respectively.
It is easy to see that OR∥A0M,OS∥A0P so if we set k=AMAR=APAS then the dilation Φ center A, ratio k such that Φ:R→M,Φ:S→P and Φ:O→A0.
Then point A is the center of the excircle opposite to A0 of triangle A0BC and M,P are the projections of A0 on the exterior angle bisector of B,C of triangle A0BC.
Based on Lemma 1, MP∥BC and if K is the projection of A on the line BC then quadrilateral MKNP is an isosceles trapezoid. Hence, K belongs to the circle (A2) and K is the orthocenter of triangle AMP.
Let T be the midpoint of segment AH then T∈(E). So RT∥BH and BH∥MK leads to RT∥MK and Φ:T→K.
Therefore, Φ:ΔRST→ΔMPK or Φ:E→A2 (because E is the center of the circle passing through three points R,S,T).
Then three points A,E,A2 are collinear. Mixing with the above result, we get A,A1,A2,E are all collinear or line A1A2 passes through point E.
It's quite similar to prove that B1B2,C1C2 also pass through point E.
So A1A2,B1B2,C1C2 are concurrent at the Euler point E of triangle ABC. (Q.E.D)
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