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Geometry Difficulty 8.4 Shortlist Prove it Romania

Let γ1\gamma_1 and γ2\gamma_2 be two circles tangent at point TT, and let 1\ell_1 and 2\ell_2 be two lines through TT. The lines 1\ell_1 and 2\ell_2 meet again γ1\gamma_1 at points AA and BB, respectively, and γ2\gamma_2 at points A1A_1 and B1B_1, respectively. Let further XX be a point in the complement of γ1γ212\gamma_1 \cup \gamma_2 \cup \ell_1 \cup \ell_2. The circles ATXATX and BTXBTX meet again γ2\gamma_2 at points A2A_2 and B2B_2, respectively. Prove that the lines TX,A1B2TX, A_1B_2 and A2B1A_2B_1 are concurrent.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

Let the circle ATXATX and the line A2B1A_2B_1 meet again at the point YY, and let the circle BTXBTX and the line A1B2A_1B_2 meet again at the point ZZ. Notice that the lines AB,AYAB, AY and AZAZ are all parallel to the line A1B1A_1B_1 to deduce that the points A,B,YA, B, Y and ZZ are collinear.

Next, consider the cyclic quadrangles A1B1A2B2A_1B_1A_2B_2, A1B1B2TA_1B_1B_2T and BTB2ZBTB_2Z to get successively B2A2Y=B1A1B2=B1TB2=BZB2\angle B_2A_2Y = \angle B_1A_1B_2 = \angle B_1TB_2 = \angle BZB_2, and infer thereby that the points A2,B2,YA_2, B_2, Y and ZZ are co-cyclic. It then follows that the lines TX,A1B2TX, A_1B_2 and A2B1A_2B_1 are the radical lines of the pairs of circles ATXATX and BTX,BTXBTX, BTX and A2B2YZA_2B_2YZ, and A2B2YZA_2B_2YZ and ATXATX, respectively, whence the conclusion.

Solution 2

Apply an inversion of pole TT to rephrase the statement as follows
Let δ1\delta_1 and δ2\delta_2 be two parallel lines, let TT be a point in the complement of δ1δ2\delta_1 \cup \delta_2, and let 1\ell_1 and 2\ell_2 be two lines through TT. The lines 1\ell_1 and 2\ell_2 meet δ1\delta_1 at points AA and BB, respectively, and δ2\delta_2 at points A1A_1 and B1B_1, respectively. Let further XX be a point in the complement of δ1δ212\delta_1 \cup \delta_2 \cup \ell_1 \cup \ell_2. The lines AXAX and BXBX meet δ2\delta_2 at points A2A_2 and B2B_2, respectively. Prove that the circles TA1B2TA_1B_2 and TA2B1TA_2B_1 meet again at a point on the line TXTX.

In other words, we must prove that the line TXTX is the radical line of the circles TA1B2TA_1B_2 and TA2B1TA_2B_1. It is sufficient to show that the point YY where the line TXTX meets δ2\delta_2 is of equal powers with respect to the two circles. To this end, apply Menelaus' theorem to triangles AA1A2AA_1A_2 and BB1B2BB_1B_2 and transversal TXYTXY, to get, upon multiplication and suitable rearrangement of factors,
YA1YB2=(YA2YB1)(TBTB1TA1TA)(XAXA2XB2XB). YA_1 \cdot YB_2 = (YA_2 \cdot YB_1) \left( \frac{TB}{TB_1} \cdot \frac{TA_1}{TA} \right) \left( \frac{XA}{XA_2} \cdot \frac{XB_2}{XB} \right).
Finally, notice that the last two products in the parentheses above both equal 1, by similarity of triangles TABTAB and TA1B1TA_1B_1, and XABXAB and XA2B2XA_2B_2, to conclude that YY is indeed of equal powers with respect to the circles TA1B2TA_1B_2 and TA2B1TA_2B_1.

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