GeometryDifficulty 5.0AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem:
Let ABC be a right triangle with ∠A=90∘. A circle ω centered on BC is tangent to AB at D and AC at E. Let F and G be the intersections of ω and BC so that F lies between B and G. If lines DG and EF intersect at X, show that AX=AD.
Solutions — 5
Solution 1
Solution:
In all solutions, let O be the center of ω. Then ∠DOE=90∘, so ∠DFE=45∘, so ∠DXE=135∘. Let Γ be the circle centered at A with radius AD=AE, and let X′=AX∩Γ. Then ∠DXE=∠DX′E=135∘, so X=X′.
Solution 2
Solution:
Let N be the midpoint of arc FDEG. Note that DOEA is a square. Also, DXEN is a parallelogram; one way to see this is that by considering inscribed angles, ∠NEX=∠NEF=45∘, ∠NDX=∠NDG=45∘, and ∠END=135∘. This means that △AXD≅△ONE, because AD=OE, XD=NE, and ∠ADX=∠OEN by considering parallel lines. So AX=ON=OE=AD.
Solution 3
Solution:
Let Y=DF∩EG. Since GX⊥FY and FX⊥GY, X is the orthocenter of △FGY. Since (AODE) passes through the midpoint of FG, and the feet of altitudes from F and G, (AODE) is the nine-point circle of △FGY. Since AO is the diameter of (AODE), it follows that A is the midpoint of XY, so A is the center of (DXEY), so AX=AD.
Solution 4
Solution:
Let Z=DE∩FG, possibly at infinity. Then A and X are on the polar of Z with respect to ω, so AX⊥BC. Let J=AX∩BC. Then (XJFD) is cyclic, so ∠ADX=∠DFJ=∠DXA, so AX=AD.
Solution 5
Solution:
We use complex numbers, with (FDEG) being the unit circle, and d=−1, e=−i. As FG is a diameter of the unit circle, we have g=−f. We have a=−1−i, from either intersecting the tangents to the unit circle at D and E or noting that ADOE is a square. Now, intersecting the chords DG and EF, we obtain x=dg−efdg(e+f)−ef(d+g)=f+iff(i+f)+if(1−f)=1+if−i−i−if=−1−i+f⋅1+i1−i. So, ∣x−a∣=f⋅1+i1−i=1⋅22=1 So AX and AD have the same length (1 unit), as desired.
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