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Geometry Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Find the answer

Let ABC\triangle A B C be a scalene triangle. Let hah_{a} be the locus of points PP such that PBPC=ABAC|P B-P C|=|A B-A C|. Let hbh_{b} be the locus of points PP such that PCPA=BCBA|P C-P A|=|B C-B A|. Let hch_{c} be the locus of points PP such that PAPB=CACB|P A-P B|=|C A-C B|. In how many points do all of ha,hbh_{a}, h_{b}, and hch_{c} concur?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

The idea is similar to the proof that the angle bisectors concur or that the perpendicular bisectors concur. Assume WLOG that BC>AB>CAB C>A B>C A. Note that hah_{a} and hbh_{b} are both hyperbolas. Therefore, hah_{a} and hbh_{b} intersect in four points (each branch of hah_{a} intersects exactly once with each branch of hbh_{b} ). Note that the branches of hah_{a} correspond to the cases when PB>PCP B>P C and when PB<PCP B<P C. Similarly, the branches of hbh_{b} correspond to the cases when PC>PAP C>P A and PC<PAP C<P A. If either PA<PB<PCP A<P B<P C or PC<PB<PAP C<P B<P A (which each happens for exactly one point of intersection of hah_{a} and hbh_{b} ), then PCPA=PCPB+PBPA=ABAC+BCBA=BCAC|P C-P A|=|P C-P B|+|P B-P A|=|A B-A C|+|B C-B A|=|B C-A C|, and so PP also lies on hch_{c}. So, exactly two of the four points of intersection of hah_{a} and hbh_{b} lie on hch_{c}, meaning that ha,hbh_{a}, h_{b}, and hch_{c} concur in four points.

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