Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 1354

AIME late
Geometry Difficulty 5.1 Prove it Saudi Arabian Mathematical Competitions · Saudi Arabia · 2015

Let ABCABC be a triangle, Ha,HbH_{a}, H_{b} and HcH_{c} the feet of its altitudes from A,BA, B and CC, respectively, Ta,Tb,TcT_{a}, T_{b}, T_{c} its intouch points on the sides BC,CABC, CA and ABAB, respectively. The circumcircles of triangles AHbHcA H_{b} H_{c} and ATbTcA T_{b} T_{c} intersect again at A′A'. The circumcircles of triangles BHcHaB H_{c} H_{a} and BTcTaB T_{c} T_{a} intersect again at B′B'. The circumcircles of triangles CHaHbC H_{a} H_{b} and CTaTbC T_{a} T_{b} intersect again at C′C'. Prove that the points A′,B′,C′A', B', C' are collinear.

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

Figure 1

Let HH and II be the orthocenter and the incenter of triangle ABCABC, respectively. Because ∠AHbH=∠HHcA=90∘\angle A H_{b} H = \angle H H_{c} A = 90^{\circ}, AHAH is a diameter of the circumcircle of AHcHHbA H_{c} H H_{b}, and therefore ∠AA′H=90∘\angle A A' H = 90^{\circ}. Because ∠ATbI=∠ITcA=90∘\angle A T_{b} I = \angle I T_{c} A = 90^{\circ}, AIAI is a diameter of the circumcircle of ATcITbA T_{c} I T_{b}, and therefore ∠AA′I=90∘\angle A A' I = 90^{\circ}. We deduce that point A′A' is on the line HIHI.

Similarly, we prove that the points B′B' and C′C' are on the line HIHI, which prove that the points A′,B′,C′A', B', C' are collinear.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.