Triangle is scalene with angle having a measure greater than 90 degrees. Determine
the set of points that lie on the extended line , for which
where refers to the (positive) distance between and .
Problem 1341
Official solution
1. Understanding the Problem:
We need to find the set of points on the extended line such that . This condition is reminiscent of the power of a point theorem, which states that for a point relative to a circle, the product of the lengths of the segments of any line through that intersects the circle is constant.
2. Using the Power of a Point Theorem:
The given condition suggests that lies on the radical axis of the circle passing through and . This circle is the circumcircle of .
3. Constructing the Circumcircle:
To find the circumcircle of , we need to find the perpendicular bisectors of any two sides of . The intersection of these bisectors is the circumcenter of the triangle.
4. **Locating Point :**
Since must satisfy the power of a point condition relative to the circumcircle, must lie on the line extended. The power of point theorem tells us that the power of with respect to the circumcircle is .
5. Special Case Analysis:
- If is the circumcenter, then is equidistant from and , and cannot be greater than in a scalene triangle.
- Since is greater than , is not the circumcenter, and the circumcenter lies outside .
6. Conclusion:
The point must lie on the line such that the power of with respect to the circumcircle is equal to . This implies that is the point where the perpendicular from to (or its extension) intersects . However, since is obtuse, the perpendicular from to will not intersect within the segment , but rather on its extension.
The final answer is lies on the extension of such that .