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Geometry Difficulty 5.9 AIME, harder Prove it Ireland

Prove that the point of intersection of the line L={(x,y)y=mx}L = \{(x, y) \mid y = mx\} and the line joining the reflection of (1,1)(1, 1) in LL with the point (1,1)(-1, 1) lies on the circle of unit radius centred at (0,1)(0, 1).

Solution

First of all, the reflection (x,y)(x', y') of (x0,y0)(x_0, y_0) in LL is given by
x=(1m2)x0+2my01+m2,y=2mx0+(m21)y01+m2. x' = \frac{(1 - m^2)x_0 + 2my_0}{1 + m^2}, \quad y' = \frac{2mx_0 + (m^2 - 1)y_0}{1 + m^2}.
This is so because
x+x0=2(x0+my0)1+m2,y+y0=2m(x0+my0)1+m2. x' + x_0 = \frac{2(x_0 + my_0)}{1 + m^2}, \quad y' + y_0 = \frac{2m(x_0 + my_0)}{1 + m^2}.
Thus the reflection of (1,1)(1, 1) in LL has coordinates
x=1+2mm21+m2,y=m2+2m11+m2. x' = \frac{1 + 2m - m^2}{1 + m^2}, \quad y' = \frac{m^2 + 2m - 1}{1 + m^2}.
Next, if m+10m+1 \neq 0, the slope of the line joining (x,y)(x', y') to (1,1)(-1, 1) is given by
μ=y1x+1=m2+2m1(1+m2)1+2mm2+1=m1m+1. \mu = \frac{y' - 1}{x' + 1} = \frac{m^2 + 2m - 1 - (1 + m^2)}{1 + 2m - m^2 + 1} = \frac{m - 1}{m + 1}.
Hence, the line joining (1,1)(-1, 1) and (x,y)(x', y') has equation
(m+1)(y1)=(m1)(x+1). (m+1)(y-1) = (m-1)(x+1).
This line meets LL at the point PP with coordinates
x=2mm2+1,y=2m2m2+1. x = \frac{2m}{m^2+1}, \quad y = \frac{2m^2}{m^2+1}.
Since
x2+(y1)2=4m2(m2+1)2+(m21m2+1)2=4m2+m42m2+1(m2+1)2=1, x^2 + (y - 1)^2 = \frac{4m^2}{(m^2 + 1)^2} + \left(\frac{m^2 - 1}{m^2 + 1}\right)^2 = \frac{4m^2 + m^4 - 2m^2 + 1}{(m^2 + 1)^2} = 1,
the point PP traverses an arc of the circle of unit radius centred at (0,1)(0, 1).

Second Solution:
To solve this problem using synthetic geometry, we denote the unit circle centred at (0,1)(0, 1) by CC and let A=(0,0)A = (0, 0), B=(1,1)B = (1, 1) and C=(1,1)C = (-1, 1). The line LL intersects CC at AA and a second point PP. Let BB' be the intersection point of the line PCPC with the line which is perpendicular to LL and passes through BB. Let MM be the intersection point of PAPA and BBBB'.

The statement we have to show is then equivalent to BM=MB|BM| = |MB'|. We obtain this as follows. Because the two arcs CACA and ABAB are equal (both are quarter circles or π/2\pi/2), we have CPA=APB\angle CPA = \angle APB if PP is on the arc BCBC not containing AA and we have CPA=180BPA=MPB\angle CPA = 180^\circ - \angle BPA = \angle MPB if PP is on the arc ABAB not containing CC. The case where PP is on the arc ACAC not containing BB is similar and if PP coincides with AA, BB or CC the statement is obvious. Because PMB=BMP\angle PMB' = \angle BMP (both are right angles), the two triangles BPMBPM and PBMPB'M share the common side PMPM and have equal adjacent angles, hence are congruent. This shows BM=MB|BM| = |MB'|.

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