Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 8 / 146 of 180 #1846 of 1964

Problem 1846

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.6 Prove it International Mathematical Olympiad Shortlisted Problems · IMO

Let ω\omega be the circumcircle of a triangle ABCA B C. Denote by MM and NN the midpoints of the sides ABA B and ACA C, respectively, and denote by TT the midpoint of the arcBC\operatorname{arc} B C of ω\omega not containing AA. The circumcircles of the triangles AMTA M T and ANTA N T intersect the perpendicular bisectors of ACA C and ABA B at points XX and YY, respectively; assume that XX and YY lie inside the triangle ABCA B C. The lines MNM N and XYX Y intersect at KK. Prove that KA=KTK A=K T.

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.

Official solutions — 2

Solution 1

Let OO be the center of ω\omega, thus O=MYNXO = M Y \cap N X. Let \ell be the perpendicular bisector of ATA T (it also passes through OO). Denote by rr the operation of reflection about \ell. Since ATA T is the angle bisector of BAC\angle B A C, the line r(AB)r(A B) is parallel to ACA C. Since OMABO M \perp A B and ONACO N \perp A C, this means that the line r(OM)r(O M) is parallel to the line ONO N and passes through OO, so r(OM)=ONr(O M) = O N. Finally, the circumcircle γ\gamma of the triangle AMTA M T is symmetric about \ell, so r(γ)=γr(\gamma) = \gamma. Thus the point MM maps to the common point of ONO N with the arc AMTA M T of γ\gamma - that is, r(M)=Xr(M) = X.

Similarly, r(N)=Yr(N) = Y. Thus, we get r(MN)=XYr(M N) = X Y, and the common point KK of MNM N and XYX Y lies on \ell. This means exactly that KA=KTK A = K T.

Let XX^{\prime} be the common point of the line NXN X with the external bisector of BAC\angle B A C; notice that it lies outside the triangle ABCA B C. Then we have TAX=90\angle T A X^{\prime} = 90^{\circ} and XA=XCX^{\prime} A = X^{\prime} C, so we get XAM=90+BAC/2=180XAC=180XCA=XCL\angle X^{\prime} A M = 90^{\circ} + \angle B A C / 2 = 180^{\circ} - \angle X^{\prime} A C = 180^{\circ} - \angle X^{\prime} C A = \angle X^{\prime} C L. Thus the triangles XAMX^{\prime} A M and XCLX^{\prime} C L are congruent, and therefore
MXL=AXC+(CXLAXM)=AXC=1802XAC=BAC=MAL. \angle M X^{\prime} L = \angle A X^{\prime} C + (\angle C X^{\prime} L - \angle A X^{\prime} M) = \angle A X^{\prime} C = 180^{\circ} - 2 \angle X^{\prime} A C = \angle B A C = \angle M A L .
This means that XX^{\prime} lies on γ\gamma.
Thus we have TXN=TXX=TAX=90\angle T X N = \angle T X X^{\prime} = \angle T A X^{\prime} = 90^{\circ}, so TXACT X \parallel A C. Then XTA=TAC=TAM\angle X T A = \angle T A C = \angle T A M, so the cyclic quadrilateral MATXM A T X is an isosceles trapezoid. Similarly, NATYN A T Y is an isosceles trapezoid, so again the lines MNM N and XYX Y are the reflections of each other about the perpendicular bisector of ATA T. Thus KK belongs to this perpendicular bisector.

Solution 2

Let LL be the second common point of the line ACA C with the circumcircle γ\gamma of the triangle AMTA M T. From the cyclic quadrilaterals ABTCA B T C and AMTLA M T L we get BTC=180BAC=MTL\angle B T C = 180^{\circ} - \angle B A C = \angle M T L, which implies BTM=CTL\angle B T M = \angle C T L. Since ATA T is an angle bisector in these quadrilaterals, we have BT=TCB T = T C and MT=TLM T = T L. Thus the triangles BTMB T M and CTLC T L are congruent, so CL=BM=AMC L = B M = A M.

Let XX^{\prime} be the common point of the line NXN X with the external bisector of BAC\angle B A C; notice that it lies outside the triangle ABCA B C. Then we have TAX=90\angle T A X^{\prime} = 90^{\circ} and XA=XCX^{\prime} A = X^{\prime} C, so we get XAM=90+BAC/2=180XAC=180XCA=XCL\angle X^{\prime} A M = 90^{\circ} + \angle B A C / 2 = 180^{\circ} - \angle X^{\prime} A C = 180^{\circ} - \angle X^{\prime} C A = \angle X^{\prime} C L. Thus the triangles XAMX^{\prime} A M and XCLX^{\prime} C L are congruent, and therefore

Similarly, r(N)=Yr(N) = Y. Thus, we get r(MN)=XYr(M N) = X Y, and the common point KK of MNM N and XYX Y lies on \ell. This means exactly that KA=KTK A = K T.

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