Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2008

Geometry Difficulty 5.7 AIME, harder Prove it JBMO

Problem:

For a fixed triangle ABCA B C we choose a point MM on the ray CAC A (after AA), a point NN on the ray ABA B (after BB), and a point PP on the ray BCB C (after CC) in a way such that AMBC=BNAC=CPABA M - B C = B N - A C = C P - A B. Prove that the angles of triangle MNPM N P do not depend on the choice of M,N,PM, N, P.

Solution

Solution:

Consider the points MM' on the ray BAB A (after AA), NN' on the ray CBC B (after BB), and PP' on the ray ACA C (after CC), so that AM=AMA M = A M', BN=BNB N = B N', CP=CPC P = C P'. Since AMBC=BNAC=BNACA M - B C = B N - A C = B N' - A C, we get CM=AC+AM=BC+BN=CNC M = A C + A M = B C + B N' = C N'. Thus triangle MCNM C N' is isosceles, so the perpendicular bisector of [MN][M N'] bisects angle ACBA C B and hence passes through the incenter II of triangle ABCA B C.

Arguing similarly, we may conclude that II lies also on the perpendicular bisectors of [NP][N P'] and [PM][P M']. On the other side, II clearly lies on the perpendicular bisectors of [MM][M M'], [NN][N N'], and [PP][P P']. Thus the hexagon MMNNPPM' M N' N P' P is cyclic.

Then angle PMNP M N equals angle PNNP N' N, which measures 90β290^{\circ} - \frac{\beta}{2} (the angles of triangle ABCA B C are α,β,γ\alpha, \beta, \gamma). In the same way, angle MNPM N P measures 90γ290^{\circ} - \frac{\gamma}{2} and angle MPNM P N measures 90α290^{\circ} - \frac{\alpha}{2}.

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