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Problem 1749

National Olympiad, first round
Geometry Difficulty 6.1 Prove it Indian National Mathematical Olympiad · India

In an acute-angled triangle ABCA B C, a point DD lies on the segment BCB C. Let O1,O2O_{1}, O_{2} denote the circumcentres of triangles ABDA B D and ACDA C D, respectively. Prove that the line joining the circumcentre of triangle ABCA B C and the orthocentre of triangle O1O2DO_{1} O_{2} D is parallel to BCB C.

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

Solution:

Without loss of generality assume that ∠ADC≥90∘\angle A D C \geq 90^{\circ}. Let OO denote the circumcenter of triangle ABCA B C and KK the orthocentre of triangle O1O2DO_{1} O_{2} D. We shall first show that the points OO and KK lie on the circumcircle of triangle AO1O2A O_{1} O_{2}. Note that circumcircles of triangles ABDA B D and ACDA C D pass through the points AA and DD, so ADA D is perpendicular to O1O2O_{1} O_{2} and, triangle AO1O2A O_{1} O_{2} is congruent to triangle DO1O2D O_{1} O_{2}. In particular, ∠AO1O2=∠O2O1D=∠B\angle A O_{1} O_{2}=\angle O_{2} O_{1} D=\angle B since O2O1O_{2} O_{1} is the perpendicular bisector of ADA D. On the other hand since OO2O O_{2} is the perpendicular bisector of ACA C it follows that ∠AOO2=∠B\angle A O O_{2}=\angle B. This shows that OO lies on the circumcircle of triangle AO1O2A O_{1} O_{2}. Note also that, since ADA D is perpendicular to O1O2O_{1} O_{2}, we have ∠O2KA=90∘−∠O1O2K=∠O2O1D=∠B\angle O_{2} K A=90^{\circ}-\angle O_{1} O_{2} K=\angle O_{2} O_{1} D=\angle B. This proves that KK also lies on the circumcircle of triangle AO1O2A O_{1} O_{2}.

Therefore ∠AKO=180∘−∠AO2O=∠ADC\angle A K O=180^{\circ}-\angle A O_{2} O=\angle A D C and hence OKO K is parallel to BCB C.

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