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Problem 1994

National Olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Geometry Difficulty 7.2 Prove it Iranian Mathematical Olympiad · Iran

Point XX is chosen inside of a non-trapezoid quadrilateral ABCDABCD such that AXD+BXC=180\angle AXD + \angle BXC = 180^\circ. Suppose the angle bisector of ABX\angle ABX meets the DD-altitude of triangle ADXADX at KK, and the angle bisector of DCX\angle DCX meets the AA-altitude of triangle ADXADX at LL. Let BKCXBK \perp CX and CLBXCL \perp BX. If the circumcenter of ADXADX lies on the line KLKL, prove that KLADKL \perp AD.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

We start our solution with the following lemma.
Lemma. Let HH be the orthocenter of the triangle ABCABC and E,FE, F be the intersections of BH,CHBH, CH with perpendicular bisectors of ABAB and ACAC, respectively. If QQ is the intersection of tangents from EE and FF to circumcircle of triangle HEFHEF, then BQ=CQBQ = CQ.
Proof. Let LL and KK be the intersections of the perpendicular bisectors of BCBC with BHBH and CHCH, respectively. According to the pascal's theorem, it suffices to prove that KEKE and LFLF intersect on the circumcircle of HEFHEF. In doing so, we should prove that BEK=CFL\angle BEK = \angle CFL. By symmetry, we have

EBK=FCL\angle EBK = \angle FCL. If we can show BEBK=CFCL\frac{BE}{BK} = \frac{CF}{CL}, then triangles BEK,CFLBEK, CFL are similar and we have BEK=CFL\angle BEK = \angle CFL as desired.
BE=BNcosEBA=AB2sinABK=CMcosKCB=BC2sinBBEBK=ABsinBBCsinA, BE = \frac{BN}{\cos \angle EBA} = \frac{AB}{2 \sin \angle A} \\ BK = \frac{CM}{\cos \angle KCB} = \frac{BC}{2 \sin \angle B} \Rightarrow \frac{BE}{BK} = \frac{AB \cdot \sin \angle B}{BC \cdot \sin \angle A},
similarly we have CFCL=ACsinCBCsinA\frac{CF}{CL} = \frac{AC \sin \angle C}{BC \sin \angle A}, by using law of sines we shall obtain the desired equality.

Figure 1

Now for the original problem, assume that HH is the orthocenter of AXDAXD and EE and FF are the intersections of AHAH and BHBH with CKCK and CLCL, respectively. We have BECXBE \perp CX and AXD+BXC=180\angle AXD + \angle BXC = 180^\circ. Therefore,
EBX=BXC90=90AXD=EAX. \angle EBX = \angle BXC - 90^\circ = 90^\circ - \angle AXD = \angle EAX.
Hence AEXBAEXB is cyclic and AE=AXAE = AX. Similarly CXFDCXFD is cyclic and DF=FXDF = FX. Let PP be the intersection of BEBE and CFCF, we have
AEB=AXB=180DXC=180DFC=HFP. \angle AEB = \angle AXB = 180^\circ - \angle DXC = 180^\circ - \angle DFC = \angle HFP.
Implying that HEPFHEPF is cyclic. Let QQ be the intersection of tangents from EE and FF to the circumcircle of HEPFHEPF, by Pascal's theorem QQ lies on KLKL and by the above lemma we have AQ=DQAQ = DQ. If QQ and OO are two different points then we have QOADQO \perp AD, as desired.

Figure 2

If QOQ \equiv O, then it is clear that HFOEHF \parallel OE. Therefore EHF=OEF=EFH\angle EHF = \angle OEF = \angle EFH. Similarly EHF=FEH\angle EHF = \angle FEH, hence the triangle HEFHEF is equilateral and EHF=60\angle EHF = 60^\circ. This implies that AXD=60\angle AXD = 60^\circ and
ABX=180AEX=2EAX=60. \angle ABX = 180^\circ - \angle AEX = 2\angle EAX = 60^\circ.
Analogously, we have DCX=60\angle DCX = 60^\circ, and
ABX+DCX=120=180AXD=BXC. \angle ABX + \angle DCX = 120^\circ = 180^\circ - \angle AXD = \angle BXC.
But this implies that ABCDAB \parallel CD, a contradiction. ■

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