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Geometry Difficulty 9.0 IMO level Prove it IMO

Let ABCABC be a fixed acute-angled triangle. Consider some points EE and FF lying on the sides ACAC and ABAB, respectively, and let MM be the midpoint of EFEF. Let the perpendicular bisector of EFEF intersect the line BCBC at KK, and let the perpendicular bisector of MKMK intersect the lines ACAC and ABAB at SS and TT, respectively. We call the pair (E,F)(E, F) interesting, if the quadrilateral KSATKSAT is cyclic.
Suppose that the pairs (E1,F1)(E_1, F_1) and (E2,F2)(E_2, F_2) are interesting. Prove that
E1E2AB=F1F2AC \frac{E_1E_2}{AB} = \frac{F_1F_2}{AC}

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

Solution 1. For any interesting pair (E,F)(E, F), we will say that the corresponding triangle EFKEFK is also interesting.
Let EFKEFK be an interesting triangle. Firstly, we prove that KEF=KFE=A\angle KEF = \angle KFE = \angle A, which also means that the circumcircle ω1\omega_1 of the triangle AEFAEF is tangent to the lines KEKE and KFKF.
Denote by ω\omega the circle passing through the points K,S,AK, S, A, and TT. Let the line AMAM intersect the line STST and the circle ω\omega (for the second time) at NN and LL, respectively (see Figure 1).
Since EFTSEF \parallel TS and MM is the midpoint of EFEF, NN is the midpoint of STST. Moreover, since KK and MM are symmetric to each other with respect to the line STST, we have KNS=MNS=LNT\angle KNS = \angle MNS = \angle LNT. Thus the points KK and LL are symmetric to each other with respect to the perpendicular bisector of STST. Therefore KLSTKL \parallel ST.
Let GG be the point symmetric to KK with respect to NN. Then GG lies on the line EFEF, and we may assume that it lies on the ray MFMF. One has
KGE=KNS=SNM=KLA=180KSA \angle KGE = \angle KNS = \angle SNM = \angle KLA = 180^\circ - \angle KSA
(if K=LK = L, then the angle KLAKLA is understood to be the angle between ALAL and the tangent to ω\omega at LL). This means that the points K,G,EK, G, E, and SS are concyclic. Now, since KSGTKSGT is a parallelogram, we obtain KEF=KSG=180TKS=A\angle KEF = \angle KSG = 180^\circ - \angle TKS = \angle A. Since KE=KFKE = KF, we also have KFE=KEF=A\angle KFE = \angle KEF = \angle A.

First method. We have just proved that all interesting triangles are similar to each other. This allows us to use the following lemma.
Lemma. Let ABCABC be an arbitrary triangle. Choose two points E1E_1 and E2E_2 on the side ACAC, two points F1F_1 and F2F_2 on the side ABAB, and two points K1K_1 and K2K_2 on the side BCBC, in a way that the triangles E1F1K1E_1F_1K_1 and E2F2K2E_2F_2K_2 are similar. Then the six circumcircles of the triangles AEiFiAE_iF_i, BFiKiBF_iK_i, and CEiKiCE_iK_i (i=1,2)(i=1,2) meet at a common point ZZ. Moreover, ZZ is the centre of the spiral similarity that takes the triangle E1F1K1E_1F_1K_1 to the triangle E2F2K2E_2F_2K_2.
Proof. Firstly, notice that for each i=1,2i=1,2, the circumcircles of the triangles AEiFiAE_iF_i, BFiKiBF_iK_i, and CKiEiCK_iE_i have a common point ZiZ_i by Miquel's theorem. Moreover, we have
(Z iF i, Z iE i) = (AB, CA), (Z iK i, Z iF i) = (BC, AB), (Z iE i, Z iK i) = (CA, BC)\text{(Z iF i, Z iE i) = (AB, CA), (Z iK i, Z iF i) = (BC, AB), (Z iE i, Z iK i) = (CA, BC)}.
This yields that the points Z1Z_1 and Z2Z_2 correspond to each other in similar triangles E1F1K1E_1F_1K_1 and E2F2K2E_2F_2K_2. Thus, if they coincide, then this common point is indeed the desired centre of a spiral similarity.
Finally, in order to show that Z1=Z2Z_1 = Z_2, one may notice that (AB, AZ 1) = (E 1F 1, E 1Z 1) = (E 2F 2, E 2Z 2) = (AB, AZ 2)\text{(AB, AZ 1) = (E 1F 1, E 1Z 1) = (E 2F 2, E 2Z 2) = (AB, AZ 2)} (see Figure 2). Similarly, one has (BC, BZ 1) = (BC, BZ 2)\text{(BC, BZ 1) = (BC, BZ 2)} and (CA, CZ 1) = (CA, CZ 2)\text{(CA, CZ 1) = (CA, CZ 2)}. This yields Z1=Z2Z_1 = Z_2.
Now, let PP and QQ be the feet of the perpendiculars from BB and CC onto ACAC and ABAB, respectively, and let RR be the midpoint of BCBC (see Figure 3). Then RR is the circumcentre of the cyclic quadrilateral BCPQBCPQ. Thus we obtain APQ=B\angle APQ = \angle B and RPC=C\angle RPC = \angle C, which yields QPR=A\angle QPR = \angle A. Similarly, we show that PQR=A\angle PQR = \angle A. Thus, all interesting triangles are similar to the triangle PQRPQR.
Figure 1
Figure 3
Figure 2
Figure 4
Denote now by ZZ the common point of the circumcircles of APQAPQ, BQRBQR, and CPRCPR. Let E1F1K1E_1F_1K_1 and E2F2K2E_2F_2K_2 be two interesting triangles. By the lemma, ZZ is the centre of any spiral similarity taking one of the triangles E1F1K1E_1F_1K_1, E2F2K2E_2F_2K_2, and PQRPQR to some other of them. Therefore the triangles ZE1E2ZE_1E_2 and ZF1F2ZF_1F_2 are similar, as well as the triangles ZE1F1ZE_1F_1 and ZPQZPQ. Hence
E1E2F1F2=ZE1ZF1=ZPZQ \frac{E_1E_2}{F_1F_2} = \frac{ZE_1}{ZF_1} = \frac{ZP}{ZQ}
Moreover, the equalities AZQ=APQ=ABC=180QZR\angle AZQ = \angle APQ = \angle ABC = 180^\circ - \angle QZR show that the point ZZ lies on the line ARAR (see Figure 4). Therefore the triangles AZPAZP and ACRACR are similar, as well as the triangles AZQAZQ and ABRABR. This yields
ZPZQ=ZPRCRBZQ=AZACABAZ=ABAC \frac{ZP}{ZQ} = \frac{ZP}{RC} \cdot \frac{RB}{ZQ} = \frac{AZ}{AC} \cdot \frac{AB}{AZ} = \frac{AB}{AC}
which completes the solution.

Second method. Now we will start from the fact that ω1\omega_1 is tangent to the lines KEKE and KFKF (see Figure 5). We prove that if (E,F)(E, F) is an interesting pair, then
AEAB+AFAC=2cosA. \begin{equation*} \frac{AE}{AB} + \frac{AF}{AC} = 2 \cos \angle A. \tag{1} \end{equation*}
Let YY be the intersection point of the segments BEBE and CFCF. The points B,KB, K, and CC are collinear, hence applying Pascal's theorem to the degenerated hexagon AFFYEEAFFYEE, we infer that YY lies on the circle ω1\omega_1.
Denote by ZZ the second intersection point of the circumcircle of the triangle BFYBFY with the line BCBC (see Figure 6). By Miquel's theorem, the points C,Z,YC, Z, Y, and EE are concyclic. Therefore we obtain
BFAB+CEAC=BYBE+CYCF=BZBC+CZBC=BC2. BF \cdot AB + CE \cdot AC = BY \cdot BE + CY \cdot CF = BZ \cdot BC + CZ \cdot BC = BC^2.
On the other hand, BC2=AB2+AC22ABACcosABC^2 = AB^2 + AC^2 - 2AB \cdot AC \cos \angle A, by the cosine law. Hence
(ABAF)AB+(ACAE)AC=AB2+AC22ABACcosA, (AB - AF) \cdot AB + (AC - AE) \cdot AC = AB^2 + AC^2 - 2AB \cdot AC \cos \angle A,
which simplifies to the desired equality (1).
Let now (E1,F1)(E_1, F_1) and (E2,F2)(E_2, F_2) be two interesting pairs of points. Then we get
AE1AB+AF1AC=AE2AB+AF2AC, \frac{AE_1}{AB} + \frac{AF_1}{AC} = \frac{AE_2}{AB} + \frac{AF_2}{AC},
which gives the desired result.

Third method. Again, we make use of the fact that all interesting triangles are similar (and equi-oriented). Let us put the picture onto a complex plane such that AA is at the origin, and identify each point with the corresponding complex number.
Let EFKEFK be any interesting triangle. The equalities KEF=KFE=A\angle KEF = \angle KFE = \angle A yield that the ratio ν=KEFE\nu = \frac{K-E}{F-E} is the same for all interesting triangles. This in turn means that the numbers EE, FF, and KK satisfy the linear equation
K=μE+νF, where μ=1ν. \begin{equation*} K = \mu E + \nu F, \quad \text{ where } \quad \mu = 1 - \nu. \tag{2} \end{equation*}
Now let us choose the points XX and YY on the rays ABAB and ACAC, respectively, so that CXA=AYB=A=KEF\angle CXA = \angle AYB = \angle A = \angle KEF (see Figure 7). Then each of the triangles AXCAXC and YABYAB is similar to any interesting triangle, which also means that
C=μA+νX=νX and B=μY+νA=μY. \begin{equation*} C = \mu A + \nu X = \nu X \quad \text{ and } \quad B = \mu Y + \nu A = \mu Y. \tag{3} \end{equation*}
Moreover, one has X/Y=C/BX / Y = \overline{C / B}.
Since the points E,FE, F, and KK lie on AC,ABAC, AB, and BCBC, respectively, one gets
E=ρY,F=σX, and K=λB+(1λ)C E = \rho Y, \quad F = \sigma X, \quad \text{ and } \quad K = \lambda B + (1 - \lambda) C
for some real ρ,σ\rho, \sigma, and λ\lambda. In view of (3), the equation (2) now reads λB+(1λ)C=K=μE+νF=ρB+σC\lambda B + (1 - \lambda) C = K = \mu E + \nu F = \rho B + \sigma C, or
(λρ)B=(σ+λ1)C. (\lambda - \rho) B = (\sigma + \lambda - 1) C.
Since the nonzero complex numbers BB and CC have different arguments, the coefficients in the brackets vanish, so ρ=λ\rho = \lambda and σ=1λ\sigma = 1 - \lambda. Therefore,
EY+FX=ρ+σ=1. \begin{equation*} \frac{E}{Y} + \frac{F}{X} = \rho + \sigma = 1. \tag{4} \end{equation*}
Now, if (E1,F1)(E_1, F_1) and (E2,F2)(E_2, F_2) are two distinct interesting pairs, one may apply (4) to both pairs. Subtracting, we get
E1E2Y=F2F1X, so E1E2F2F1=YX=BˉCˉ. \frac{E_1 - E_2}{Y} = \frac{F_2 - F_1}{X}, \quad \text{ so } \quad \frac{E_1 - E_2}{F_2 - F_1} = \frac{Y}{X} = \frac{\bar{B}}{\bar{C}}.
Taking absolute values provides the required result.

Solution 2

Solution 2. Let (E,F)(E, F) be an interesting pair. This time we prove that
AMAK=cosA. \begin{equation*} \frac{AM}{AK} = \cos \angle A. \tag{5} \end{equation*}
As in Solution 1, we introduce the circle ω\omega passing through the points K,S,AK, S, A, and TT, together with the points NN and LL at which the line AMAM intersect the line STST and the circle ω\omega for the second time, respectively. Let moreover OO be the centre of ω\omega (see Figures 8 and 9). As in Solution 1, we note that NN is the midpoint of STST and show that KLSTKL \parallel ST, which implies FAM=EAK\angle FAM = \angle EAK.
Figure 3
Figure 8
Figure 4
Figure 9
Suppose now that KLK \neq L (see Figure 8). Then KLSTKL \parallel ST, and consequently the lines KMKM and KLKL are perpendicular. It implies that the lines LOLO and KMKM meet at a point XX lying on the circle ω\omega. Since the lines ONON and XMXM are both perpendicular to the line STST, they are parallel to each other, and hence LON=LXK=MAK\angle LON = \angle LXK = \angle MAK. On the other hand, OLN=MKA\angle OLN = \angle MKA, so we infer that triangles NOLNOL and MAKMAK are similar. This yields
AMAK=ONOL=ONOT=cosTON=cosA. \frac{AM}{AK} = \frac{ON}{OL} = \frac{ON}{OT} = \cos \angle TON = \cos \angle A.
If, on the other hand, K=LK = L, then the points A,M,NA, M, N, and KK lie on a common line, and this line is the perpendicular bisector of STST (see Figure 9). This implies that AKAK is a diameter of ω\omega, which yields AM=2OK2NK=2ONAM = 2OK - 2NK = 2ON. So also in this case we obtain
AMAK=2ON2OT=cosTON=cosA. \frac{AM}{AK} = \frac{2ON}{2OT} = \cos \angle TON = \cos \angle A.

Thus (5) is proved.
Let PP and QQ be the feet of the perpendiculars from BB and CC onto ACAC and ABAB, respectively (see Figure 10). We claim that the point MM lies on the line PQPQ. Consider now the composition of the dilatation with factor cosA\cos \angle A and centre AA, and the reflection with respect to the angle bisector of BAC\angle BAC. This transformation is a similarity that takes B,CB, C, and KK to P,QP, Q, and MM, respectively. Since KK lies on the line BCBC, the point MM lies on the line PQPQ.
Figure 5
Figure 10

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