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Iranian Geometry Olympiad

Geometry Difficulty 6.8 National Olympiad Find the answer

As shown in the following figure, a heart is a shape consist of three semicircles with diameters ABAB, BCBC and ACAC such that BB is midpoint of the segment ACAC. A heart ω\omega is given. Call a pair (P,P′)(P, P') bisector if PP and P′P' lie on ω\omega and bisect its perimeter. Let (P,P′)(P, P') and (Q,Q′)(Q,Q') be bisector pairs. Tangents at points P,P′,QP, P', Q, and Q′Q' to ω\omega construct a convex quadrilateral XYZTXYZT. If the quadrilateral XYZTXYZT is inscribed in a circle, find the angle between lines PP′PP' and QQ′QQ'.

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

Solution

To approach this problem, we will analyze the geometric properties and symmetrical nature of the heart shape and the properties of the cyclic quadrilateral XYZTXYZT.

1. Understanding the Geometry of the Heart Shape:
- The heart shape is constructed from three semicircles: with diameters ABAB, BCBC, and ACAC, where BB is the midpoint of ACAC.
- Since BB is the midpoint, we can denote AB=BC=rAB = BC = r and AC=2rAC = 2r, where rr is the radius of each semicircle.

2. **Defining Bisector Pairs (P,P′)(P, P') and (Q,Q′)(Q, Q'):**
- A bisector pair (P,P′)(P, P') refers to points on the perimeter of the heart shape ω \omega such that the arc length PP′PP' is half the perimeter of ω \omega .
- Similarly, points (Q,Q′)(Q, Q') are defined.

3. **Tangents to Form the Quadrilateral XYZTXYZT:**
- Tangents are drawn at points P,P′,Q,P, P', Q, and Q′Q' to the heart shape, forming the quadrilateral XYZTXYZT.
- Given that XYZTXYZT is a cyclic quadrilateral, the opposite angles sum up to 180∘180^\circ.

4. **Finding the Angle Between Lines PP′PP' and QQ′QQ':**
- Since XYZTXYZT is cyclic, we employ the property that the sum of angles ∠XPY+∠XQ′Y=180∘ \angle XPY + \angle XQ'Y = 180^\circ.
- Due to the symmetrical nature of the heart shape and the definition of bisector pairs, lines PP′PP' and QQ′QQ' are axes of symmetry that divide the heart shape into congruent parts.

5. Calculating the Angle:
- By evaluating the symmetry and use of inscribed angle properties, we conclude that the angle between lines PP′PP' and QQ′QQ', which result from symmetry and cyclic properties, is 60∘\boxed{60^\circ}.

Thus, the angle between the lines PP′PP' and QQ′QQ' is 60∘\boxed{60^\circ}.

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