10. G4 (GBR) For a triangle T=ABC we take the point X on the side (AB) such that XBAX=54, the point Y on the segment (CX) such that CY=2YX, and, if possible, the point Z on the ray (CA such that ∡CXZ=180∘−∡ABC. We denote by Σ the set of all triangles T for which ∡XYZ=45∘. Prove that all the triangles from Σ are similar and find the measure of their smallest angle.
Solution
10. We use the following lemma. Lemma. Let ABC be a triangle and X∈AB such that AX:XB=m:n. Then (m+n)cot∠CXB=ncotA−mcotB and mcot∠ACX=(n+m)cotC+ncotA. Proof. Let CD be the altitude from C and h its length. Then using oriented segments we have AX=AD+DX=hcotA−hcot∠CXB and BX=BD+DX=hcotB+hcot∠CXB. The first formula in the lemma now follows from n⋅AX=m⋅BX. The second formula immediately follows from the first part applied to the triangle ACX and the point X′∈AC such that XX′∥BC. Let us set cotA=x,cotB=y, and cotC=z. Applying the second formula in the lemma to △ABC and the point X, we obtain 4cot∠ACX=9z+5x. Applying the first formula in the lemma to △CXZ and the point Y and using ∠XYZ=45∘ and cot∠CXZ=−y, we obtain 3cot∠XYZ=cot∠ACX−2cot∠CXZ=49z+5x+2y⇒5x+8y+9z=12. We now use the well-known relation for cotangents of a triangle xy+yz+xz=1 to get 9=9(x+y)z+9xy=(x+y)(12−5x−8z)+9xy=9⇒(4y+x−3)2+9(x−1)2=0⇒x=1,y=21,z=31. It follows that x,y, and z have fixed values, and hence all triangles T in Σ are similar, with their smallest angle A having cotangent 1 and thus being equal to ∠A=45∘.
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