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Problem 1633

National Olympiad, first round
Geometry Difficulty 6.2 Prove it Slovenian Mathematical Olympiad · Slovenia · 2008

Let ABC\triangle ABC be a right triangle with the right angle at CC and let DD be a point on the segment BCBC. Denote the circumcircle of the triangle ABDABD by K\mathcal{K}. Let EE be a point on K\mathcal{K}, such that the chord DEDE is perpendicular to ABAB. Prove that the triangle AEBAEB is isosceles with the apex at BB if and only if CACA is tangent to K\mathcal{K}.

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

Let TT be the intersection of the chords DEDE and ABAB. We know that DTBDTB is a right triangle. First, assume that the triangle ABEABE is isosceles and write AEB=BAE=α\angle AEB = \angle BAE = \alpha. Inscribed angles EAB\angle EAB and EDB\angle EDB over BEBE are equal, so EDB=α\angle EDB = \alpha. Since DEDE is perpendicular to ABAB, we have ABD=π2α\angle ABD = \frac{\pi}{2} - \alpha. In the right triangle ABCABC we have ABC=π2α\angle ABC = \frac{\pi}{2} - \alpha, so CAB=α\angle CAB = \alpha and the angle CAB\angle CAB between the line ACAC and the segment ABAB is equal to the angle AEB\angle AEB over the chord ABAB. Thus, CACA is tangent to the circumcircle KK.

Conversely, assume that ACAC is tangent to KK. Let CAB=α\angle CAB = \alpha. The angle BAC\angle BAC is equal to the inscribed angle AEB\angle AEB over the chord ABAB, so AEB=α\angle AEB = \alpha. Also, ABC=π2α\angle ABC = \frac{\pi}{2} - \alpha, so TDB=α\angle TDB = \alpha. We see that EDB=α\angle EDB = \alpha and this angle is in turn equal to BAE\angle BAE, because they are both inscribed angles over the same chord BEBE. We have BAE=α=BEA\angle BAE = \alpha = \angle BEA and the triangle ABEABE is isosceles with the apex at BB.

Figure 1

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