Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 226 of 300 #1626 of 2000

Problem 1626

National olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Geometry Difficulty 7.5 Prove it

Given a circle and a chord ABAB, different from the diameter. Point CC moves along the large arc ABAB. The circle passing through passing through points A,CA, C and point HH of intersection of altitudes of of the triangle ABCABC, re-intersects the line BCBC at point PP. Prove that line PHPH passes through a fixed point independent of the position of point CC.

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 solution

1. **Fixing Point CC on the Circle:**
We start by fixing point CC on the circle with chord ABAB. We need to show that PP is the reflection of BB across AHAH.

2. **Proving PP is the Reflection of BB across AHAH:**
Since AHBPAH \perp BP, we need to prove that BAH=HAP\measuredangle BAH = \measuredangle HAP.

3. Introducing Perpendiculars:
Let DD and FF be the feet of the perpendiculars from AA and CC to BCBC and ABAB respectively. Since AFC=ADC=90\measuredangle AFC = \measuredangle ADC = 90^{\circ}, quadrilateral AFDCAFDC is cyclic.

4. Using Cyclic Quadrilateral Properties:
From the cyclic nature of AFDCAFDC, we have:
BAH=FAD=FCD=HCP=HAP \measuredangle BAH = \measuredangle FAD = \measuredangle FCD = \measuredangle HCP = \measuredangle HAP
This shows that PP is the reflection of BB across AHAH.

5. **Extending PHPH to Meet (AHB)(AHB) Again:**
Extend PHPH until it meets the circumcircle of AHB\triangle AHB for a second time at point XX. We will show that XX is a fixed point.

6. **Claim 1: XBXB is Tangent to (ABC)(ABC):**
To prove this, we need to show that XBA=BCA\measuredangle XBA = \measuredangle BCA.
XBA=XHA=PHA=PCA=BCA \measuredangle XBA = \measuredangle XHA = \measuredangle PHA = \measuredangle PCA = \measuredangle BCA
This proves that XBXB is tangent to (ABC)(ABC).

7. **Claim 2: AX=ABAX = AB:**
We previously proved that XBA=BCA\measuredangle XBA = \measuredangle BCA. Also, we have:
AXB=AHB=PHA=PCA=BCA \measuredangle AXB = \measuredangle AHB = \measuredangle PHA = \measuredangle PCA = \measuredangle BCA
Since AXB=XBA\measuredangle AXB = \measuredangle XBA, it follows that AX=ABAX = AB.

8. **Defining XX Independently of CC:**
Now, we can define XX based only on AA, BB, and the circle. XX is the intersection of the tangent at BB to the circle containing AA, BB, and CC, and the circle centered at AA with radius ABAB other than BB. This point XX is independent of the position of CC.

X \boxed{X}

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.