The point P lies in the interior of the triangle ABC and satisfies B P C- B A C= C P A- C B A= A P B- A C B . Prove that then it holds: PA⋅BC=PB⋅AC=PC⋅AB First one convinces oneself that B P C=60 + , C P A=60 + , A P B=60 +. For reasons of symmetry it suffices to show one of the two claimed equalities. (Hint: For an angle X Y Z with 0 < X Y Z<180 in the mathematically positive sense, set Z Y X:= 180 - X Y Z. With this convention it holds, e.g., for four pairwise distinct points W,X,Y,Z on a circle always X Y Z= X W Z).
Solution
Solution:
1. The extensions of AP,BP,CP meet the circumcircle of triangle ABC again in A′, B′, C′. By means of the inscribed angle theorem and a simple angle-sum argument we find B’ A’ C’ = B’ A’ A + A A’ C’ = B’ B A + A C C’ = B P C - B A C = 60. Likewise A’ C’ B’ = 60 and hence the triangle A′B′C′ is equilateral, i.e. A′B′=B′C′=C′A′. As usual we have APB∼B′PA′ and APC∼C′PA′; from this it follows that ACAP=C′A′C′P and BCBP=C′B′C′P. Combined with the previous, this teaches ACAP=BCBP and thus indeed AB⋅PC=AC⋅PB.
2. Choose the point J such that the triangles ABC, PBJ (equally oriented) are similar. Then BPAB=BJBC and P B A = J B C, wherefore the triangles ABP, CBJ (equally oriented) must also be similar. Consequently C J P = C J B - P J B = (60 + ) - = 60. Since also J P C = B P C - B P J = (60 + ) - = 60, the triangle PCJ is equilateral and hence PC=PJ. By the choice of J we have ACAB=PJPB and from this it follows with the help of the previous, as desired, AC⋅PB=AB⋅PJ=AB⋅PC.
3. Over the segment BP the equilateral triangle BPT is erected. The intersection point of PT with AB is called G. Furthermore, on AC the point H is chosen with C P H = 60. Because of A P G = and H P A = we must have H P G + G A H = 180, i.e. the quadrilateral GAHP is inscribed in a circle. Accordingly H G A = H P A =, from which it is immediately concluded that GH∥BC. For this reason ACAB=CHBG (1). Furthermore, simple angle considerations show H C P = 60 - P B G = G B T, which together with C P H = B T G [=60 ] teaches the similarity of the triangles PCH and TBG. Hence we have CHBG=CPBT (2). Since the triangle BPT is equilateral by construction, in particular BT=BP holds. Together with (1) and (2) we obtain from this ACAB=CPBP and thus indeed AB⋅PC=AC⋅PB.
4. Choose the point G such that the triangles AGC, PBC (equally oriented) are similar. As in the second solution we see that then the triangles GBC and APC (equally oriented) are also similar. Furthermore B A G = C A G - C A B = (60 + ) - = 60 and likewise G B A = 60. The triangle AGB is thus equilateral and hence AG=AB. By AGC∼PBC we thus have PB:PC=AG:AC=AB:AC. Therefore, as claimed, AB⋅PC=AC⋅PB.
5. Let the feet of the perpendiculars from P onto the sides BC, CA, AB be called X,Y,Z. By Thales' theorem the quadrilaterals PXCY, PYAZ, PZBX each have a circumcircle. We now find Z X Y = Z X P + P X Y = Z B P + P C Y = 60 and analogously X Y Z = Y Z X = 60. The triangle XYZ is thus equilateral. For the length of the side XY we find, by two applications of the law of sines, XY=PC⋅sinγ=2RAB⋅PC, where R denotes the radius of the circumcircle of triangle ABC. Likewise XZ=2RAC⋅PB. From XY=XZ it now follows, as required, AB⋅PC=AC⋅PB.
6. The circumcircle of triangle ABP intersects AC a second time at Q. We obtain B Q A = B P A = + 60 and from this, by the exterior angle theorem, Q B C = 60. Moreover, from B P Q = 180 - and C P B = 60 + we immediately get Q P C = 120. Furthermore, if we set A B P =, we immediately obtain C Q P =. By repeated use of the law of sines we now obtain PAPC=CQPC⋅QBCQ⋅APQB=sin120∘sinφ⋅sinγsin60∘⋅sinφsinα=sinγsinα=ABBC From this it follows immediately AB⋅PC=AP⋅BC.
7. Over the side AB one erects the equilateral triangle ABQ inward. Simple angle considerations now show Q A P = 60 - P A B = B C P and likewise P B Q = P C A. If we now introduce into the consideration the intersection point of AC with BQ as T, the quadrilateral BCTP will be a cyclic quadrilateral because of P B T = P B Q = P C A = P C T. Consequently B T P = B C P = Q A P, hence P T Q + Q A P = 180 and thus PTQA is also a cyclic quadrilateral. For this reason B Q P = T Q P = T A P = C A P holds, from which, together with P B Q = P C A, the similarity of the triangles BQP, CAP follows. From this it is evident that PC:AC=PB:BQ=PB:AB, hence, as desired, AB⋅PC=AC⋅PB.
8. Set A C P = ’, P B C = ”, P B A = ”. Now by the law of sines sinγ′sinβ′′=APsinβ′′⋅sinγ′AP=csin(60∘+γ)⋅sin(60∘+β)b=sinγsin(60∘+γ)⋅sin(60∘+β)sinβ=1+3cotβ1+3cotγ Since however β′′+γ′=60∘ we also have sinγ′sinβ′′=sinγ′sin(60∘−γ′)=23cotγ′−21 These two equations together yield cotγ′=1+3cotβ3+cotβ+2cotγ Furthermore sinγ′sinγ′′=sinγ′sin(γ−γ′)=sinγcotγ′−cosγ Herein we insert the equation found previously and obtain sinγ′sinγ′′=sinβ+3cosβ(3sinβsinγ+cosβsinγ+2sinβcosγ)−(sinβcosγ+3cosβcosγ)=sinβ+3cosβsinα+3cosα=sin(60∘+β)sin(60∘+α) Therefore by the law of sines ACAP=sin(β+60∘)sinγ′=sin(α+60∘)sinγ′′=BCBP i.e. as desired AP⋅BC=BP⋅AC.
9. The circumcircle of triangle APB meets the line CP a second time at J. Then A J P = A B P. Together with A B P + P C A = 60 this teaches C A J = 120. Likewise we see J B C = 120. Thus we have A C B C = A C J C J C B C = A J C C A J J B C C J B = A J P P J B = A B P P A B = A P B P , i.e. as claimed AC⋅BP=BC⋅AP.
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