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International Mathematical Olympiad Spain

Geometry Difficulty 8.8 Shortlist Prove it IMO

There is given a convex quadrilateral ABCDA B C D. Prove that there exists a point PP inside the quadrilateral such that
∠PAB+∠PDC=∠PBC+∠PAD=∠PCD+∠PBA=∠PDA+∠PCB=90∘(1) \angle P A B+\angle P D C=\angle P B C+\angle P A D=\angle P C D+\angle P B A=\angle P D A+\angle P C B=90^{\circ} \tag{1}

Solution

if and only if the diagonals ACA C and BDB D are perpendicular.

For a point PP in ABCDA B C D which satisfies (1), let K,L,M,NK, L, M, N be the feet of perpendiculars from PP to lines AB,BC,CD,DAA B, B C, C D, D A, respectively. Note that K,L,M,NK, L, M, N are interior to the sides as all angles in (1) are acute. The cyclic quadrilaterals AKPNA K P N and DNPMD N P M give
∠PAB+∠PDC=∠PNK+∠PNM=∠KNM. \angle P A B+\angle P D C=\angle P N K+\angle P N M=\angle K N M .
Analogously, ∠PBC+∠PAD=∠LKN\angle P B C+\angle P A D=\angle L K N and ∠PCD+∠PBA=∠MLK\angle P C D+\angle P B A=\angle M L K. Hence the equalities (1) imply ∠KNM=∠LKN=∠MLK=90∘\angle K N M=\angle L K N=\angle M L K=90^{\circ}, so that KLMNK L M N is a rectangle. The converse also holds true, provided that K,L,M,NK, L, M, N are interior to sides AB,BC,CD,DAA B, B C, C D, D A.

i. Suppose that there exists a point PP in ABCDA B C D such that KLMNK L M N is a rectangle. We show that ACA C and BDB D are parallel to the respective sides of KLMNK L M N.
Let OAO_{A} and OCO_{C} be the circumcentres of the cyclic quadrilaterals AKPNA K P N and CMPLC M P L. Line OAOCO_{A} O_{C} is the common perpendicular bisector of LML M and KNK N, therefore OAOCO_{A} O_{C} is parallel to KLK L and MNM N. On the other hand, OAOCO_{A} O_{C} is the midline in the triangle ACPA C P that is parallel to ACA C. Therefore the diagonal ACA C is parallel to the sides KLK L and MNM N of the rectangle. Likewise, BDB D is parallel to KNK N and LML M. Hence ACA C and BDB D are perpendicular.

Figure 1

ii. Suppose that ACA C and BDB D are perpendicular and meet at RR. If ABCDA B C D is a rhombus, PP can be chosen to be its centre. So assume that ABCDA B C D is not a rhombus, and let BR<DRB R<D R without loss of generality.
Denote by UAU_{A} and UCU_{C} the circumcentres of the triangles ABDA B D and CDBC D B, respectively. Let AVAA V_{A} and CVCC V_{C} be the diameters through AA and CC of the two circumcircles. Since ARA R is an altitude in triangle ADBA D B, lines ACA C and AVAA V_{A} are isogonal conjugates, i.e. ∠DAVA=∠BAC\angle D A V_{A}=\angle B A C. Now BR<DRB R<D R implies that ray AUAA U_{A} lies in ∠DAC\angle D A C. Similarly, ray CUCC U_{C} lies in ∠DCA\angle D C A. Both diameters AVAA V_{A} and CVCC V_{C} intersect BDB D as the angles at BB and DD of both triangles are acute. Also UAUCU_{A} U_{C} is parallel to ACA C as it is the perpendicular bisector of BDB D. Hence VAVCV_{A} V_{C} is parallel to ACA C, too. We infer that AVAA V_{A} and CVCC V_{C} intersect at a point PP inside triangle ACDA C D, hence inside ABCDA B C D.
Construct points K,L,M,N,OAK, L, M, N, O_{A} and OCO_{C} in the same way as in the introduction. It follows from the previous paragraph that K,L,M,NK, L, M, N are interior to the respective sides. Now OAOCO_{A} O_{C} is a midline in triangle ACPA C P again. Therefore lines AC,OAOCA C, O_{A} O_{C} and UAUCU_{A} U_{C} are parallel.
The cyclic quadrilateral AKPNA K P N yields ∠NKP=∠NAP\angle N K P=\angle N A P. Since ∠NAP=∠DAUA=∠BAC\angle N A P=\angle D A U_{A}= \angle B A C, as specified above, we obtain ∠NKP=∠BAC\angle N K P=\angle B A C. Because PKP K is perpendicular to ABA B, it follows that NKN K is perpendicular to ACA C, hence parallel to BDB D. Likewise, LML M is parallel to BDB D.
Consider the two homotheties with centres AA and CC which transform triangles ABDA B D and CDBC D B into triangles AKNA K N and CMLC M L, respectively. The images of points UAU_{A} and UCU_{C} are OAO_{A} and OCO_{C}, respectively. Since UAUCU_{A} U_{C} and OAOCO_{A} O_{C} are parallel to ACA C, the two ratios of homothety are the same, equal to λ=AN/AD=AK/AB=AOA/AUA=COC/CUC=CM/CD=CL/CB\lambda=A N / A D=A K / A B=A O_{A} / A U_{A}=C O_{C} / C U_{C}=C M / C D=C L / C B. It is now straightforward that DN/DA=DM/DC=BK/BA=BL/BC=1−λD N / D A=D M / D C=B K / B A=B L / B C=1-\lambda. Hence KLK L and MNM N are parallel to ACA C, implying that KLMNK L M N is a rectangle and completing the proof.

Solution 2:

For a point PP distinct from A,B,C,DA, B, C, D, let circles (APDA P D) and (BPCB P C) intersect again at QQ (Q=PQ=P if the circles are tangent). Next, let circles (AQBA Q B) and (CQDC Q D) intersect again at RR. We show that if PP lies in ABCDA B C D and satisfies (1) then ACA C and BDB D intersect at RR and are perpendicular; the converse is also true. It is convenient to use directed angles. Let ∡(UV,XY)\measuredangle(U V, X Y) denote the angle of counterclockwise rotation that makes line UVU V parallel to line XYX Y. Recall that four noncollinear points U,V,X,YU, V, X, Y are concyclic if and only if ∡(UX,VX)=∡(UY,VY)\measuredangle(U X, V X)=\measuredangle(U Y, V Y).
The definitions of points P,QP, Q and RR imply
∡(AR,BR)=∡(AQ,BQ)=∡(AQ,PQ)+∡(PQ,BQ)=∡(AD,PD)+∡(PC,BC),∡(CR,DR)=∡(CQ,DQ)=∡(CQ,PQ)+∡(PQ,DQ)=∡(CB,PB)+∡(PA,DA),∡(BR,CR)=∡(BR,RQ)+∡(RQ,CR)=∡(BA,AQ)+∡(DQ,CD)=∡(BA,AP)+∡(AP,AQ)+∡(DQ,DP)+∡(DP,CD)=∡(BA,AP)+∡(DP,CD). \begin{aligned} \measuredangle(A R, B R) & =\measuredangle(A Q, B Q)=\measuredangle(A Q, P Q)+\measuredangle(P Q, B Q)=\measuredangle(A D, P D)+\measuredangle(P C, B C), \\ \measuredangle(C R, D R) & =\measuredangle(C Q, D Q)=\measuredangle(C Q, P Q)+\measuredangle(P Q, D Q)=\measuredangle(C B, P B)+\measuredangle(P A, D A), \\ \measuredangle(B R, C R) & =\measuredangle(B R, R Q)+\measuredangle(R Q, C R)=\measuredangle(B A, A Q)+\measuredangle(D Q, C D) \\ & =\measuredangle(B A, A P)+\measuredangle(A P, A Q)+\measuredangle(D Q, D P)+\measuredangle(D P, C D) \\ & =\measuredangle(B A, A P)+\measuredangle(D P, C D) . \end{aligned}
Observe that the whole construction is reversible. One may start with point RR, define QQ as the second intersection of circles (ARBA R B) and (CRDC R D), and then define PP as the second intersection of circles (AQDA Q D) and (BQCB Q C). The equalities above will still hold true.
Assume in addition that PP is interior to ABCDA B C D. Then
∡(AD,PD)=∠PDA,∡(PC,BC)=∠PCB,∡(CB,PB)=∠PBC,∡(PA,DA)=∠PAD∡(BA,AP)=∠PAB,∡(DP,CD)=∠PDC. \begin{aligned} \measuredangle(A D, P D)=\angle P D A, \measuredangle(P C, B C) & =\angle P C B, \measuredangle(C B, P B)=\angle P B C, \measuredangle(P A, D A)=\angle P A D \\ \measuredangle(B A, A P) & =\angle P A B, \measuredangle(D P, C D)=\angle P D C . \end{aligned}

i. Suppose that PP lies in ABCDA B C D and satisfies (1). Then ∡(AR,BR)=∠PDA+∠PCB=90∘\measuredangle(A R, B R)=\angle P D A+\angle P C B=90^{\circ} and similarly ∡(BR,CR)=∡(CR,DR)=90∘\measuredangle(B R, C R)=\measuredangle(C R, D R)=90^{\circ}. It follows that RR is the common point of lines ACA C and BDB D, and that these lines are perpendicular.

ii. Suppose that ACA C and BDB D are perpendicular and intersect at RR. We show that the point PP defined by the reverse construction (starting with RR and ending with PP) lies in ABCDA B C D. This is enough to finish the solution, because then the angle equalities above will imply (1).
One can assume that QQ, the second common point of circles (ABRA B R) and (CDRC D R), lies in ∠ARD\angle A R D. Then in fact QQ lies in triangle ADRA D R as angles AQRA Q R and DQRD Q R are obtuse. Hence ∠AQD\angle A Q D is obtuse, too, so that BB and CC are outside circle (ADQA D Q) (∠ABD\angle A B D and ∠ACD\angle A C D are acute).
Now ∠CAB+∠CDB=∠BQR+∠CQR=∠CQB\angle C A B+\angle C D B=\angle B Q R+\angle C Q R=\angle C Q B implies ∠CAB<∠CQB\angle C A B<\angle C Q B and ∠CDB<∠CQB\angle C D B< \angle C Q B. Hence AA and DD are outside circle (BCQB C Q). In conclusion, the second common point PP of circles (ADQA D Q) and (BCQB C Q) lies on their arcs⁡ADQ\operatorname{arcs} A D Q and BCQB C Q.
We can assume that PP lies in ∠CQD\angle C Q D. Since
∠QPC+∠QPD=(180∘−∠QBC)+(180∘−∠QAD)==360∘−(∠RBC+∠QBR)−(∠RAD−∠QAR)=360∘−∠RBC−∠RAD>180∘, \begin{gathered} \angle Q P C+\angle Q P D=\left(180^{\circ}-\angle Q B C\right)+\left(180^{\circ}-\angle Q A D\right)= \\ =360^{\circ}-(\angle R B C+\angle Q B R)-(\angle R A D-\angle Q A R)=360^{\circ}-\angle R B C-\angle R A D>180^{\circ}, \end{gathered}
point PP lies in triangle CDQC D Q, and hence in ABCDA B C D. The proof is complete.

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