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Geometry Difficulty 5.9 AIME, harder Prove it

Question 2 Let circle Γ\Gamma be the circumcircle of ABC\triangle ABC, and let point PP be an interior point of ABC\triangle ABC. The rays APAP, BPBP, and CPCP intersect circle Γ\Gamma at points A1A_1, B1B_1, and C1C_1, respectively. Let the points A1A_1, B1B_1, and C1C_1 be symmetric to points A2A_2, B2B_2, and C2C_2 with respect to the midpoints of sides BCBC, CACA, and ABAB, respectively. Prove that the circumcircle of A2B2C2\triangle A_2 B_2 C_2 passes through the orthocenter of ABC\triangle ABC.
(Feng Zuming)

Solution

Proof 1: Let OO and HH be the circumcenter and orthocenter of ABC\triangle ABC, respectively, and let DD, EE, and FF be the midpoints of sides BCBC, CACA, and ABAB, respectively. Choose three points A3A_3, B3B_3, and C3C_3 on circle Γ\Gamma such that AA3AA_3, BB3BB_3, and CC3CC_3 are diameters of circle Γ\Gamma (as shown in Figure 1).

Since A3BABA_3B \perp AB, we have A3BCHA_3B \parallel CH.
Similarly, A3CBHA_3C \parallel BH.
Thus, we obtain quadrilateral A3CHBA_3CHB and DD is the midpoint of HA3HA_3.
Similarly, EE and FF are the midpoints of HB3HB_3 and HC3HC_3, respectively.
Let the orthogonal projections of point OO on lines PAPA, PBPB, and PCPC be A4A_4, B4B_4, and C4C_4, respectively. Then points A4A_4, B4B_4, and C4C_4 all lie on the circle with diameter OPOP, denoted as Γ1\Gamma_1.

Since DD is both the midpoint of HA3HA_3 and A1A2A_1A_2, we have HA2=A1A3HA_2 = A_1A_3.

Also, in right triangles AA1A3AA4O\triangle AA_1A_3 \sim \triangle AA_4O, and AOAA3=12\frac{AO}{AA_3} = \frac{1}{2}, we have A1A3=2A4OA_1A_3 = 2A_4O. Therefore,
HA2=A1A3=2OA4HA_2 = A_1A_3 = 2OA_4.
Similarly, HB2=2OB4HB_2 = 2OB_4, HC2=2OC4HC_2 = 2OC_4.
Thus, there exists a homothety that maps points (H,A2,B2,C2)(H, A_2, B_2, C_2) to (O,A4,B4,C4)(O, A_4, B_4, C_4).

Since OO, A4A_4, B4B_4, and C4C_4 lie on circle Γ1\Gamma_1, points A2A_2, B2B_2, C2C_2, and HH are concyclic.

It is worth noting that a simpler proof can be obtained using vectors.

Proof 2: Let DD, EE, and FF be the midpoints of BCBC, CACA, and ABAB, respectively. Choose point XX such that OX=PH\boldsymbol{OX} = \boldsymbol{PH}.

We will prove that XB2=XH|XB_2| = |XH| (i.e., point XX lies on the perpendicular bisector of HB2HB_2, and similarly, point XX lies on the perpendicular bisectors of HC2HC_2 and HA2HA_2, thus, point XX is the center).
Notice that
OX=PH=OHOP=OA+OB+OCOP. \begin{array}{l} OX = PH = OH - OP \\ = OA + OB + OC - OP. \end{array}
(Using OH=3OGOH = 3OG (Euler line) =OA+OB+OC= OA + OB + OC)
Also, OA2=OA1+A1A2=OA1+2A1D=OA1+2(ODOA1)=OA1+2(OB+OC2OA1)=OB+OCOA1. \begin{array}{l} \text{Also, } OA_2 = OA_1 + A_1A_2 = OA_1 + 2A_1D \\ = OA_1 + 2\left(OD - OA_1\right) \\ = OA_1 + 2\left(\frac{OB + OC}{2} - OA_1\right) \\ = OB + OC - OA_1. \end{array}

Similarly, OB2=OA+OCOB1OB_2 = OA + OC - OB_1.
Subtracting (2) from (1), we get
B2X=OXOB2=OB+OB1OP=OB+PB1=OB+BP=OP, \begin{array}{l} B_2X = OX - OB_2 = OB + OB_1 - OP \\ = OB + PB_1 = OB + BP' = OP', \end{array}
where point PP' lies on BB1BB_1 such that BP=PB1\boldsymbol{BP'} = \boldsymbol{PB_1}.
Thus, B2X=OP=OP|B_2X| = |OP'| = |OP|.
But quadrilateral OXHPOXHP is a parallelogram, so
OP=XH|OP| = |XH|.
Therefore, XB2=XH|XB_2| = |XH|.
Additionally, it is easy to find variations of this problem, such as changing "P is an interior point of ABC\triangle ABC" to "P is any point in the plane of ABC\triangle ABC", and discussing how the conclusion changes; or changing "the symmetric points about the midpoints of sides BCBC, CACA, and ABAB" to "the symmetric points about sides BCBC, CACA, and ABAB", or to "the symmetric points about the circumcenter OO of ABC\triangle ABC", and conducting similar research.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.