Let and be two points on the semicricle with diameter such that and are on distinct sides of the line . Denote by , and the midpoints of , and respectively. Let and the circumcentres of the triangles and . Show that the lines and are parallel.
Solution
1. Projection Setup:
We start by projecting all the points and onto the line . Let denote the projection of point onto .
2. Collinearity:
- Let be the midpoint of . Since is the center of the semicircle, it lies on the perpendicular bisector of .
- is the circumcenter of , so it lies on the perpendicular bisector of .
- is the circumcenter of , so it lies on the perpendicular bisector of .
- is the midpoint of , and is the midpoint of .
3. Equal Projections:
- Since is the midpoint of , we have .
- Since is the midpoint of , we have .
- Therefore, the projections of and onto are equidistant from , i.e., .
- Similarly, the projections of and onto are equidistant from , i.e., .
4. Midpoints and Projections:
- Since is the midpoint of , the projection is the midpoint of and .
- Since is the midpoint of , the projection is the midpoint of and .
- Therefore, .
5. Perpendicular Bisectors:
- Since lies on the perpendicular bisector of , the projection is equidistant from and .
- Since lies on the perpendicular bisector of , the projection is equidistant from and .
- Therefore, .
6. Parallel Lines:
- We need to show that the lines and are parallel.
- Consider the ratios of the distances:
- Since the ratios are equal, the lines and are parallel by the properties of similar triangles and equal ratios.