Two points A and B are marked on the right branch of the hyperbola y=1/x (x>0). The straight line ℓ passing through the origin O is perpendicular to the line AB and meets AB and the given branch of the hyperbola at points D and C, respectively. The circle S passes through the points A,B,C and meets ℓ at F. Find all possible values of the ratio OD:CF.
Solution
Let A(a;1/a), B(b;1/b), C(c;1/c). It is easy to see that y=−abx+a1+b1 is the equation of the line AB and y=abx is the equation of the line OD because OD is perpendicular to AB. Then we easily calculate the coordinates of C: C=(ab1,ab).
Let (x−t)2+(y−l)2=r2 be the equation of the circle S. Since A,B,C lie on the hyperbola, we have (x−t)2+(x1−l)2=r2⟹x4−2tx3+(t2+l2−r2)x2−2lx+1=0.(1) Equation (1) has even number of real roots. Since S passes through A,B,C, equation (1) has four real roots (not necessarily different). Let α be the fourth root of (1), then 1=αabc=αabab=αab⟹α=ab1. By Vieta's theorem, 2t=a+b+2ab1,2l=a1+b1+2ab,t2+l2−r2=ab+ab1+2aba+b. Hence r2=(2a+b+ab1)2+(2aba+b+ab)2−ab−ab1−2aba+b= =(2a+b)2(1+a2b21).
Let a+b=n, ab=m, then (x−2n−m1)2+(y−2m2n−m)2=(2n)2(1+m41). Find the coordinates of the intersection points of S and the line OD. Since the equation of OD is y=abx=m2x, we have (x−2n−m1)2+(m2x−2m2n−m)2=r2.(2) This equation has two roots, one of them is the abscissa of C, i.e., m1 and the other is the abscissa of F (it is easy to verify that x=m1 satisfies (2)). Let F=(f;g). Then, by Vieta's theorem, m1+f=1+m42(2n+m1+2n+m3)=m4+12n+m2⟹f=m4+12n+m1. Then g=abf=m2f=m+m4+12nm2. Therefore CF2=(m1−m1−m4+12n)2+(m−m−m4+12nm2)2==(m4+12n)2(m4+1)=m4+14n2. Let D=(d;e). Since D is the intersection point of OD and AB, we have abd=−abd+a1+b1⟹aba+b=d(ab+ab1)⟹ d=1+a2b2a+b=m4+1n, e=abd=m2d=m4+1m2n. Therefore OD2=(m4+1)2n2+(m4+1)2m4n2=m4+1n2. Then CF2OD2=m4+1n2⋅4n2m4+1=41⟹CFOD=21.
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