Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 1871

National Olympiad, first round
Geometry Difficulty 6.4 Prove it Belarusian Mathematical Olympiad · Belarus

Points KK and MM are the midpoints of the sides ABAB and ACAC of triangle ABCABC, respectively. The equilateral triangles AMNAMN and BKLBKL are constructed on the sides AMAM and BKBK to the exterior of the triangle ABCABC. Point FF is the midpoint of the segment LNLN.
Find the value of the angle KFMKFM.

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

Answer: 90∘90^\circ.

Let points AA, BB, and CC lie in the same half-plane with respect to the line LNLN. Let EE and DD be the midpoints of the segments ALAL and ANAN, respectively (see the Fig.). By condition, the triangle BKLBKL is equilateral and KK is the midpoint of the side ABAB, so BK=KA=KLBK = KA = KL. Therefore, the triangle BLABLA is a right-angled triangle (the median LKLK is half as long as the side ABAB) and ∠BLA=90∘\angle BLA = 90^\circ. By condition, ∠KBL=60∘\angle KBL = 60^\circ, so ∠LAB=30∘\angle LAB = 30^\circ. By condition, the triangle ANMANM is equilateral, then ∠NAM=60∘\angle NAM = 60^\circ. Therefore,
∠LAN=360∘−∠LAK−∠NAM−∠KAM==360∘−30∘−60∘−∠KAM=270∘−∠KAM.(1) \begin{aligned} \angle LAN &= 360^\circ - \angle LAK - \angle NAM - \angle KAM = \\ &= 360^\circ - 30^\circ - 60^\circ - \angle KAM = 270^\circ - \angle KAM. \end{aligned} \quad (1)
Since FDFD and FEFE are the midlines of the triangle LANLAN, we have FD∥LAFD \parallel LA and FE∥NAFE \parallel NA, so EFDAEFDA is a parallelogram. Then
∠FDA=∠FEA=180∘−∠LAN=(1)∠KAM−90∘.(2) \angle FDA = \angle FEA = 180^\circ - \angle LAN \stackrel{(1)}{=} \angle KAM - 90^\circ. \quad (2)
Since DD is the midpoint of the side ANAN of the equilateral triangle ANMANM, we have ∠MDA=90∘\angle MDA = 90^\circ. Now from (2) it follows that:
∠FDM=∠FDA+∠MDA=∠KAM−90∘+90∘=∠KAM.(3) \angle FDM = \angle FDA + \angle MDA = \angle KAM - 90^\circ + 90^\circ = \angle KAM. \quad (3)

In the similar way, we easily find that
∠FEK=∠KAM.(4) \angle FEK = \angle KAM. \quad (4)

Since EFDAEFDA is a parallelogram, we have
FD=EA=[∠KEA=90∘,∠EAK=30∘]=KA32. FD = EA = [\angle KEA = 90^\circ, \angle EAK = 30^\circ] = KA \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}.
Also DM=[∠MDA=90∘,∠MAD=60∘]=MA32DM = [\angle MDA = 90^\circ, \angle MAD = 60^\circ] = MA \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}. Therefore, FD:DM=KA:MAFD : DM = KA : MA, so, taking into account (3), we see that the triangles FDMFDM and KAMKAM are similar, hence ∠MFD=∠MKA\angle MFD = \angle MKA, ∠FMD=∠KMA\angle FMD = \angle KMA. Thus,
∠KMF=∠KMA+∠AMF=∠FMD+∠AMF=∠AMD=30∘. \angle KMF = \angle KMA + \angle AMF = \angle FMD + \angle AMF = \angle AMD = 30^\circ.
In the same way, we get △KEF∼△FAM\triangle KEF \sim \triangle FAM, since
KE:EF=KE:AD=12KA:12MA=KA:MA,∠KEF=∠KAM. KE : EF = KE : AD = \frac{1}{2}KA : \frac{1}{2}MA = KA : MA, \quad \angle KEF = \angle KAM.
So ∠EKF=∠AKM\angle EKF = \angle AKM, and then
∠FKM=∠FKA+∠AKM=∠FKA+∠EKF=∠EKA=60∘. \angle FKM = \angle FKA + \angle AKM = \angle FKA + \angle EKF = \angle EKA = 60^\circ.
Thus, ∠KFM=180∘−∠KMF−∠FKM=180∘−30∘−60∘=90∘. \text{Thus, } \angle KFM = 180^\circ - \angle KMF - \angle FKM = 180^\circ - 30^\circ - 60^\circ = 90^\circ.

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