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Geometry Difficulty 5.9 AIME, harder Prove it

One, (50 points) As shown in Figure 1, point PP is inside ABC\triangle A B C and BAP=CAP\angle B A P = \angle C A P. Connect BPB P and extend it to intersect ACA C at point QQ. Given BAC=60\angle B A C = 60^{\circ} and 1BP+1PC=1PQ\frac{1}{B P} + \frac{1}{P C} = \frac{1}{P Q}. Prove: PP is the incenter of ABC\triangle A B C.

Solution

As shown in Figure 6, let PCQ=γ,PBA=θ\angle P C Q = \gamma, \angle P B A = \theta. From the given conditions, we have
PCBP+1=PCPQ, i.e., PCPAPABP+1=PCPQ. \frac{P C}{B P} + 1 = \frac{P C}{P Q}, \text{ i.e., } \frac{P C}{P A} \cdot \frac{P A}{B P} + 1 = \frac{P C}{P Q}.

By the Law of Sines, we get
sin30sinγsinθsin30+1=sin(θ+60)sinγ, \begin{array}{l} \frac{\sin 30^{\circ}}{\sin \gamma} \cdot \frac{\sin \theta}{\sin 30^{\circ}} + 1 \\ = \frac{\sin \left(\theta + 60^{\circ}\right)}{\sin \gamma}, \end{array}

which simplifies to
sinθ+sinγ=sin(θ+60). \begin{array}{l} \sin \theta + \sin \gamma \\ = \sin \left(\theta + 60^{\circ}\right). \end{array}

Thus, sinγ\sin \gamma
=sin(θ+60)sinθ=2cos(θ+30)sin30=sin(60θ). \begin{array}{l} = \sin \left(\theta + 60^{\circ}\right) - \sin \theta \\ = 2 \cos \left(\theta + 30^{\circ}\right) \sin 30^{\circ} = \sin \left(60^{\circ} - \theta\right). \end{array}

Therefore, 60θ>060^{\circ} - \theta > 0^{\circ}, and γ=60θ\gamma = 60^{\circ} - \theta or γ+(60θ)=180\gamma + (60^{\circ} - \theta) = 180^{\circ}, i.e.,
γ+θ=60 or γ=θ+120. \gamma + \theta = 60^{\circ} \text{ or } \gamma = \theta + 120^{\circ}.

Note that BPC=θ+γ+60\angle B P C = \theta + \gamma + 60^{\circ}. If γ=θ+120\gamma = \theta + 120^{\circ}, then BPC=θ+(θ+120)+60=2θ+180>180\angle B P C = \theta + (\theta + 120^{\circ}) + 60^{\circ} = 2 \theta + 180^{\circ} > 180^{\circ}, which contradicts BPC<180\angle B P C < 180^{\circ}. Therefore, only γ+θ=60\gamma + \theta = 60^{\circ}, and in this case, BPC=60+60=120\angle B P C = 60^{\circ} + 60^{\circ} = 120^{\circ}.

Let II be the incenter of ABC\triangle A B C. Then point II lies on PAP A or the extension of APA P, and
BIC=180B+C2=1801202=120=BPC. \begin{array}{l} \angle B I C = 180^{\circ} - \frac{\angle B + \angle C}{2} = 180^{\circ} - \frac{120^{\circ}}{2} \\ = 120^{\circ} = \angle B P C. \end{array}

Therefore, point PP must coincide with II.
Thus, PP is the incenter of ABC\triangle A B C.

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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.