Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 1250

AIME late
Geometry Difficulty 5.3 Prove it Saudi Arabian Mathematical Competitions · Saudi Arabia

Let ABCABC be a triangle, II its incenter, and ω\omega a circle of center II. Points AA', BB', CC' are on ω\omega such that rays IAIA', IBIB', ICIC' starting from II intersect perpendicularly sides BCBC, CACA, ABAB, respectively. Prove that lines AAAA', BBBB', CCCC' 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 solutions — 2

Solution 1

Define AA'', BB'', CC'' to be the intersection points of the lines AAAA', BBBB', CCCC' with the sides BCBC, CACA, ABAB, respectively, BaB_a, CaC_a the intersection points of the tangent line to ω\omega at AA' with the lines ABAB, ACAC, respectively, CbC_b, AbA_b the intersection points of the tangent line to ω\omega at BB' with the lines BCBC, BABA, respectively, AcA_c, BcB_c the intersection points of the tangent line to ω\omega at CC' with the lines CACA, CBCB, respectively, A1A_1, B1B_1, C1C_1 the intersection points of the three tangent lines to ω\omega at AA', BB', CC', as shown in the figure, rr the radius of ω\omega and r0r_0 the inradius of triangle ABCABC.
The distance from A1A_1 to each line ABAB, ACAC is equal to rr0|r - r_0|. Therefore, A1A_1 is on the bisector of angle BAC\angle BAC. But AAbA1AcAA_bA_1A_c is a parallelogram. We deduce that AAbA1AcAA_bA_1A_c is a rhombus and therefore A1Ab=A1AcA_1A_b = A_1A_c. On the other hand, we have A1B=A1CA_1B' = A_1C' as tangents to ω\omega from A1A_1. We deduce that AbB=AcCA_bB' = A_cC'. We deduce in a similar way that BcC=BaAB_cC' = B_aA' and CaA=CbBC_aA' = C_bB'.

Figure 1

Because lines BaCaB_aC_a and BCBC are parallel, we have from Thales
BAAC=BaAACa. \frac{BA''}{A''C} = \frac{B_aA'}{A'C_a}.
We have similarly
CBBA=CbBBAb, \frac{CB''}{B''A} = \frac{C_bB'}{B'A_b},
and
ACCB=AcCCBc. \frac{AC''}{C''B} = \frac{A_cC'}{C'B_c}.
Therefore
BAACCBBAACCB=BaAACaCbBBAbAcCCBc=1, \frac{BA''}{A''C} \cdot \frac{CB''}{B''A} \cdot \frac{AC''}{C''B} = \frac{B_aA'}{A'C_a} \cdot \frac{C_bB'}{B'A_b} \cdot \frac{A_cC'}{C'B_c} = 1,
and by Ceva's theorem, lines AAAA', BBBB', CCCC' are concurrent.

Solution 2

Because IAIA' and ICIC' are perpendicular to BCBC and ABAB, respectively, at the intouch points of the incircle of ABCABC, and IA=ICIA' = IC', we have CBA=CBA\angle CBA' = \angle C'BA and ABA=CBC\angle A'BA = \angle CBC' as oriented angles. We have in a similar way BAC=BAC\angle BAC' = \angle B'AC, CAC=BAB\angle C'AC = \angle BAB', ACB=ACB\angle ACB' = \angle A'CB and BCB=ACA\angle B'CB = \angle ACA' as oriented angles.
Because AAAA', BABA', CACA' intersect in a point AA', we have from the trigonometric form of Ceva's theorem
sinBAAsinAAC=sinABAsinCBAsinACBsinACA. \frac{\sin \angle BAA'}{\sin \angle A'AC} = \frac{\sin \angle A'BA}{\sin \angle CBA'} \cdot \frac{\sin \angle A'CB}{\sin \angle ACA'}.
Similarly, we have
sinCBBsinBBA=sinBCBsinACBsinBACsinBAB, \frac{\sin \angle CBB'}{\sin \angle B'BA} = \frac{\sin \angle B'CB}{\sin \angle ACB'} \cdot \frac{\sin \angle B'AC}{\sin \angle BAB'},
and
sinACCsinCCB=sinCACsinBACsinCBAsinCBC. \frac{\sin \angle ACC'}{\sin \angle C'CB} = \frac{\sin \angle C'AC}{\sin \angle BAC'} \cdot \frac{\sin \angle C'BA}{\sin \angle CBC'}.
Figure 2

After multiplication and cancellation, we obtain
sinBAAsinAACsinCBBsinBBAsinACCsinCCB=1. \frac{\sin \angle BAA'}{\sin \angle A'AC} \cdot \frac{\sin \angle CBB'}{\sin \angle B'BA} \cdot \frac{\sin \angle ACC'}{\sin \angle C'CB} = 1.
We deduce from the trigonometric form of Ceva's theorem that AAAA', BBBB', CCCC' are concurrent.

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