Given a scalene triangle ABC. On the rays AC→ and BC→, the points Ca and Cb are chosen, respectively, such that ACa=BCb=AB. We denote by Oc the center of the circumcircle about △CCaCb. Analogously, we define the points Oa and Ob. Prove that the lines AOa, BOb and COc intersect at a point that lies on the circumcircle of the triangle ABC.
(Alexander Ivanov)
Solution
Let O and I be the centers of the circumscribed and inscribed circle of ABC, and A1, B1, C1 be the centers of the arcs AB, AC, BC (not containing the third vertices) of the circumscribed circle. By symmetry with respect to AA1 we have A1Ca=A1B=A1C and together with OcC=OcCa it follows that A1Oc is the segment bisector of CCa. Analogously, B1Oc is the segment bisector of CCb. Thus, the quadrilateral OA1OcB1 is a parallelogram with OA1=OB1, i.e. rhombus. In other words, O and Oc are symmetric about A1B1, and this is also true for C and I, i.e. COc is symmetric to OI with respect to A1B1. Analogously, AOa and BOb are symmetric on OI with respect to B1C1 and A1C1, respectively. Since I is the orthocenter of A1B1C1, finally the lines AOa, BOb, and COc intersect at the Anti-Steiner point for the line OI and triangle A1B1C1 (circumscribed about ABC). □
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