Let ABCD be a convex parallelogram that is acute-angled at A. The reflections of A across the lines BC and CD are denoted by P and Q, respectively. Moreover, the line BD intersects the segments AP and AQ in their interior at the points R and S, respectively.
Prove that the circumcircles of the triangles BRP and DQS are tangent to each other.
Solution
Solution:
We consider the reflection Z of A under reflection across BD. We will prove that the two circles mentioned in the problem statement are tangent to each other at Z.
First, because of ∡BZR=∡RAB=∡BPR and the converse of the inscribed angle theorem, it is clear that Z lies on the circumcircle ω1 of BRP. Analogously, one shows that Z also lies on the circumcircle ω2 of DQS. The tangent-chord angle of the chord ZB of ω1 is ∠ZRB=∡BRA. Since AR is perpendicular to BC and hence also to AD, this angle has the size 90∘−∠ADB. Analogously, one shows that the tangent-chord angle of the chord ZD of ω2 equals 90∘−∠DBA. The sum of these two angles is now 180∘−∡ADB−∠DBA=∠BAD=∠DZB, which shows that the tangents to ω1 and ω2 at the point Z coincide. Thus the two circles are indeed tangent to each other.
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