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Geometry Difficulty 7.1 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Given a acute triangle PA1B1PA_1B_1 is inscribed in the circle Γ\Gamma with radius 11. for all integers n1n \ge 1 are defined:
CnC_n the foot of the perpendicular from PP to AnBnA_nB_n
OnO_n is the center of (PAnBn)\odot (PA_nB_n)
An+1A_{n+1} is the foot of the perpendicular from CnC_n to PAnPA_n
Bn+1PBnOnAn+1B_{n+1} \equiv PB_n \cap O_nA_{n+1}

If PC1=2PC_1 =\sqrt{2}, find the length of PO2015PO_{2015}

Cono Sur Olympiad - 2015 - Day 1 - Problem 3

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

Given an acute triangle PA1B1 PA_1B_1 inscribed in the circle Γ\Gamma with radius 1, we have the following recursive setup and task to find PO2015 PO_{2015} .

Definitions:
- Cn C_n is the foot of the perpendicular from P P to AnBn A_nB_n .
- On O_n is the center of the circumcircle (PAnBn) \odot (PA_nB_n) .
- An+1 A_{n+1} is the foot of the perpendicular from Cn C_n to PAn PA_n .
- Bn+1PBnOnAn+1 B_{n+1} \equiv PB_n \cap O_nA_{n+1} .
- Given PC1=2 PC_1 = \sqrt{2} .

Objective:
Find PO2015 PO_{2015} .

Analysis:
1. Since PA1B1 PA_1B_1 is inscribed in Γ\Gamma with radius 1, the circumradius R1 R_1 of PA1B1 \triangle PA_1B_1 is 1.

2. The given PC1=2 PC_1 = \sqrt{2} helps determine P P 's relation to the center of Γ\Gamma.

3. In each step, the sequence (An,Bn,Cn) (A_n, B_n, C_n) is such that Cn C_n is always the foot of a perpendicular, which remains consistent under the transformations defined.

4. The key recursive behavior:
- Use that point On O_n forms continuously with halved distances due to the perpendicular projections and geometric transformations enforced by the problem constraints.

5. Recognizing the pattern obtained from perpendicular foot C C reductions and orthogonality implies:
POn+1=12POn PO_{n+1} = \frac{1}{2} PO_n
At each step from n n to n+1 n+1 , the circumscribed circumcircle radius for triangle PAnBn \triangle PA_nB_n is halved.

6. Initial radius R1=1 R_1 = 1 . Calculating POn PO_{n} based on PO1=PC12=22 PO_1 = \frac{PC_1}{2} = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} .

7. Therefore, after any step n n :
POn=12n1PO1 PO_n = \frac{1}{2^{n-1}} \cdot PO_1

8. Taking specific n=2015 n = 2015 :
PO2015=12201422 PO_{2015} = \frac{1}{2^{2014}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}

9. Since 22=12=121/2\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{1}{2^{1/2}}, simplifying gives:
PO2015=122014+1/2=122014.5=121007 PO_{2015} = \frac{1}{2^{2014 + 1/2}} = \frac{1}{2^{2014.5}} = \frac{1}{2^{1007}}

Thus, the length of PO2015 PO_{2015} is:
121007 \boxed{\frac{1}{2^{1007}}}

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