Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 2392

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.2 Prove it Preselection Tests for the Full-time Training · Saudi Arabia

△ABC\triangle ABC is a triangle with AB<BCAB < BC, C\mathcal{C} its circumcircle, KK the midpoint of the minor arc CA\text{CA} of the circle C\mathcal{C} and TT a point on C\mathcal{C} such that KTKT is perpendicular to BCBC. If A′A', B′B' are the intouch points of the incircle of △ABC\triangle ABC with the sides BCBC, ACAC, prove that the lines ATAT, BKBK, A′B′A'B' are concurrent.

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 EE be the intersection point of BKBK with ATAT. The problem is equivalent to prove that points A′A', EE, B′B' are collinear.

First solution. Let FF be the intersection point of BCBC with KTKT. Since KK is the midpoint of CA~\widetilde{CA}, by expressing the angles in terms of arc lengths we obtain
KEA = 1 2 ( KA + BT ) = 1 2 ( CK + BT ) = CFK = 90\text{KEA = 1 2 ( KA + BT ) = 1 2 ( CK + BT ) = CFK = 90}
But B′B' is an intouch point. This implies that
∡AB′I=90∘=∡AEI, \measuredangle AB'I = 90^\circ = \measuredangle AEI,
and the points AA, II, EE, B′B' are concyclic.

Figure 1

We deduce from this that
∡IB′E=∡IAE=90∘−∡EIA=90∘−12∡BAC−12∡CBA=12∡ACB. \measuredangle IB'E = \measuredangle IAE = 90^\circ - \measuredangle EIA = 90^\circ - \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle BAC - \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle CBA = \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle ACB .
On the other hand, triangle IA′B′IA'B' is isosceles (IA′=IB′IA' = IB'). Therefore,
∡IB′A′=12(180∘−∡A′IB′)=12∡ACB=∡IB′E, \measuredangle IB'A' = \frac{1}{2}\left(180^\circ - \measuredangle A'I B'\right) = \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle ACB = \measuredangle IB'E,
since ∡CA′I=90∘\measuredangle CA'I = 90^\circ. This proves that the points A′A', EE, B′B' are collinear.

Second solution. We prove as in the first solution that ∡KEA=90∘\measuredangle KEA = 90^\circ. Let DD be the intersection point of ATAT with BCBC. The pedal triangle of II with respect to triangle ADCADC is A′B′EA'B'E. Proving that points A′A', B′B', EE are collinear is equivalent to proving that II is on the circumcircle of triangle ADCADC and therefore, the line A′B′EA'B'E will be the Simson line of point II with respect to triangle ADCADC.

Figure 2

We have
∡CDA=∡DBA+∡BAD=∡CBA+90∘−12∡CBA=90∘+12∡CBA. \measuredangle CDA = \measuredangle DBA + \measuredangle BAD = \measuredangle CBA + 90^\circ - \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle CBA = 90^\circ + \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle CBA .
On the other hand
∡CIA=180∘−12∡BAC−12∡ACB=90∘+12∡CBA=∡CDA. \measuredangle CIA = 180^\circ - \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle BAC - \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle ACB = 90^\circ + \frac{1}{2} \measuredangle CBA = \measuredangle CDA .
This proves that II is on the circumcircle of triangle ADCADC and thus A′A', EE, B′B' are collinear.

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