Example 4 Given that D is a moving point on side BC of △ABC, and the incenters of △ABC, △ABD, and △ACD are I, I1, and I2 respectively. The circumcircles of △IAI1 and △IAI2 intersect the circumcircle of △ABC at points M and N respectively. Prove: The line MN passes through a fixed point. [4]
Solution
Let IA be the center of the excircle opposite to vertex A of △ABC. Let the composite transformation h: first perform an inversion with A as the inversion center and AB⋅AC as the inversion power, then perform a reflection with AI as the axis of symmetry. Then BhC,ChB,⊙Oh to line BC,IhIA. As shown in Figure 4, let the circumcircles of △IAI1 and △IAI2 be ⊙O1 and ⊙O2, respectively.
Since ⊙O1 and ⊙O2 intersect at points A and I, we know that O1O2 is the perpendicular bisector of AI. Therefore, ∠AO1O2+∠AO2O1=∠AI1I+∠AI2I=∠ABI1+∠BAI1+∠ACI2+∠CAI2=21∠B+21∠C+21∠BAD+21∠CAD=21(∠BAC+∠B+∠C)=90∘.
Thus, ∠O1AO2=90∘, meaning ⊙O1 and ⊙O2 are orthogonal. Let MhM′,NhN′. Since points M and N lie on ⊙O, points M′ and N′ lie on line BC. Therefore, ⊙O1hIAM′,⊙O2hIAN′. Since ⊙O1 and ⊙O2 are orthogonal, by the property of inversion, we know that IAM′⊥IAN′. Let the projection of point IA on BC be X. Then X is a fixed point. In △IAM′N′, by the projection theorem, XM′⋅XN′=XIA2 (a constant). Since MNh to the circumcircle Γ of △AM′N′, thus, AX is the common radical axis of the moving circle Γ. Let AX intersect circle Γ at point Y. By XA⋅XY=XM′⋅XN′=XIA2, we know that Y is a fixed point. Let Y0hY. Then Y0 is also a fixed point, and Y0 lies on line MN, meaning line MN passes through a fixed point (Y0).
When the problem only involves multiple circles, it is advisable to use the radical center of the multiple circles, combined with the properties and theorems of circles, to solve by first performing an inversion and then a central symmetry.
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