Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 8 / 127 of 180 #1827 of 2000

Problem 1827

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.5 Prove it 56th International Mathematical Olympiad Shortlisted Problems · IMO

Let ABCABC be a triangle inscribed into a circle Ω\Omega with center OO. A circle Γ\Gamma with center AA meets the side BCBC at points DD and EE such that DD lies between BB and EE. Moreover, let FF and GG be the common points of Γ\Gamma and Ω\Omega. We assume that FF lies on the arc ABAB of Ω\Omega not containing CC, and GG lies on the arc ACAC of Ω\Omega not containing BB. The circumcircles of the triangles BDFBDF and CEGCEG meet the sides ABAB and ACAC again at KK and LL, respectively. Suppose that the lines FKFK and GLGL are distinct and intersect at XX. Prove that the points AA, XX, and OO are collinear.

Figure 1
Figure 1

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, read the official solution, then mark yourself honestly — the ladder only means something if the record is true.

Official solutions — 2

Solution 1

It suffices to prove that the lines FKFK and GLGL are symmetric about AOAO. Now the segments AFAF and AGAG, being chords of Ω\Omega with the same length, are clearly symmetric with respect to AOAO. Hence it is enough to show
KFA=AGL. \begin{equation*} \angle KFA = \angle AGL . \tag{1} \end{equation*}
Let us denote the circumcircles of BDFBDF and CEGCEG by ωB\omega_B and ωC\omega_C, respectively. To prove (1), we start from
KFA=DFG+GFADFK. \angle KFA = \angle DFG + \angle GFA - \angle DFK .
In view of the circles ωB\omega_B, Γ\Gamma, and Ω\Omega, this may be rewritten as
KFA=CEG+GBADBK=CEGCBG. \angle KFA = \angle CEG + \angle GBA - \angle DBK = \angle CEG - \angle CBG .
Due to the circles ωC\omega_C and Ω\Omega, we obtain KFA=CLGCAG=AGL\angle KFA = \angle CLG - \angle CAG = \angle AGL. Thereby the problem is solved.

Solution 2

Again, we denote the circumcircle of BDKFBDKF by ωB\omega_B. In addition, we set α=BAC\alpha= \angle BAC, φ=ABF\varphi=\angle ABF, and ψ=EDA=AED\psi=\angle EDA=\angle AED (see Figure 2). Notice that AF=AGAF=AG entails φ=GCA\varphi=\angle GCA, so all three of α,φ\alpha, \varphi, and ψ\psi respect the "symmetry" between BB and CC of our configuration. Again, we reduce our task to proving (1).
This time, we start from
2KFA=2(DFADFK). 2 \angle KFA = 2(\angle DFA - \angle DFK) .
Since the triangle AFDAFD is isosceles, we have
DFA=ADF=EDFψ=BFD+EBFψ. \angle DFA = \angle ADF = \angle EDF - \psi = \angle BFD + \angle EBF - \psi .
Moreover, because of the circle ωB\omega_B we have DFK=CBA\angle DFK = \angle CBA. Altogether, this yields
2KFA=DFA+(BFD+EBFψ)2CBA, 2 \angle KFA = \angle DFA + (\angle BFD + \angle EBF - \psi) - 2 \angle CBA,
which simplifies to
2KFA=BFA+φψCBA. 2 \angle KFA = \angle BFA + \varphi - \psi - \angle CBA .
Now the quadrilateral AFBCAFBC is cyclic, so this entails 2KFA=α+φψ2 \angle KFA = \alpha + \varphi - \psi.
Due to the "symmetry" between BB and CC alluded to above, this argument also shows that 2AGL=α+φψ2 \angle AGL = \alpha + \varphi - \psi. This concludes the proof of (1).

Figure 2
Figure 2

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.