Let be a tangential quadrilateral whose inscribed circle touches the sides , , and in points , , and , respectively. Let the lines and intersect at a point , and let the lines and intersect at a point . Denote the intersection point of the bisectors of the angles and , and denote the intersection point of the bisectors of the angles and . Prove that the lines , and either intersect at a common point or are parallel.
Selection Examinations for the IMO, 2012
Solution
First suppose that the lines and intersect. Denote their point of intersection. Due to symmetry we may assume that lies between and and lies between and . We shall prove that the lines , and pass through the point .
In the construction, is the intersection point of the bisectors of two angles in the triangle , hence the center of the inscribed circle of the triangle . The point lies on the bisector of the angle . Similarly, is the intersection point of the bisectors of the exterior angles at in the triangle , hence the center of the inscribed circle to the side of the triangle . The point lies on the bisector of the angle . Because , and are collinear, and , and are collinear, , and must also be collinear.
Denote the intersection point of the lines and , and denote the intersection point of the lines and . According to the Menelaus' theorem, we have
Consider the lengths of the tangent segments to get , , and . Because of the above equalities and due to the obvious fact that and lie outside the quadrilateral , we have . Hence , and the lines , and intersect in a common point .
Let be the intersection point of the lines and , and let be the intersection point of the lines and . We again apply the Menelaus' theorem to get
Because , , and lie each on a side of the quadrilateral , from the equality of the tangent segments , , and we derive . Hence, and the line passes through the point .
Now suppose . Because of the equality of the tangent segments, we get , and , hence and . Since , we have , and hence . We conclude , which means that the quadrilateral is a deltoid. The lines , and are thus parallel.