Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 8 / 19 of 180 #1719 of 1964

Problem 1719

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.0 Prove it

Given are three pairwise externally tangent circles K1 K_{1} , K2 K_{2} and K3 K_{3}. denote by P1 P_{1} tangent point of K2 K_{2} and K3 K_{3} and by P2 P_{2} tangent point of K1 K_{1} and K3 K_{3}.

Let AB AB (A A and B B are different from tangency points) be a diameter of circle K3 K_{3}. Line AP2 AP_{2} intersects circle K1 K_{1} (for second time) at point X X and line BP1 BP_{1} intersects circle K2 K_{2}(for second time) at Y Y.

If Z Z is intersection point of lines AP1 AP_{1} and BP2 BP_{2} prove that points X X, Y Y and Z Z are collinear.

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.

Official solution

1. Define the given elements and their relationships:
- Let K1 K_1 , K2 K_2 , and K3 K_3 be three pairwise externally tangent circles.
- Let P1 P_1 be the tangency point of K2 K_2 and K3 K_3 .
- Let P2 P_2 be the tangency point of K1 K_1 and K3 K_3 .
- Let AB AB be a diameter of K3 K_3 , where A A and B B are points on K3 K_3 different from the tangency points.
- Let AP2 AP_2 intersect K1 K_1 at point X X (for the second time).
- Let BP1 BP_1 intersect K2 K_2 at point Y Y (for the second time).
- Let Z Z be the intersection point of lines AP1 AP_1 and BP2 BP_2 .

2. **Prove that points X X , Y Y , and Z Z are collinear:**
- Denote AP2K1=X1 AP_2 \cap K_1 = X_1 , AP1K2=X2 AP_1 \cap K_2 = X_2 , BP1K2=Y1 BP_1 \cap K_2 = Y_1 , BP2K1=Y2 BP_2 \cap K_1 = Y_2 , AP1BP2=Z1 AP_1 \cap BP_2 = Z_1 , and AP2BP1=Z2 AP_2 \cap BP_1 = Z_2 .
- We need to prove that X1,Y1,Z1 X_1, Y_1, Z_1 are collinear and X2,Y2,Z2 X_2, Y_2, Z_2 are collinear.

3. **Prove collinearity of X1,P3,Y1 X_1, P_3, Y_1 and X2,P3,Y2 X_2, P_3, Y_2 :**
- Let K1K2=P3 K_1 \cap K_2 = P_3 .
- We need to show that X1,P3,Y1 X_1, P_3, Y_1 and X2,P3,Y2 X_2, P_3, Y_2 are collinear.
- Consider the angles formed by these points:
Y2P3X2=Y2P3P2+P2P3P1+P1P3X2 \angle Y_2 P_3 X_2 = \angle Y_2 P_3 P_2 + \angle P_2 P_3 P_1 + \angle P_1 P_3 X_2
=(180P3Y2P2P3P2Y2)+P2P3P1+(180P3P1X2P3X2P1) = (180^\circ - \angle P_3 Y_2 P_2 - \angle P_3 P_2 Y_2) + \angle P_2 P_3 P_1 + (180^\circ - \angle P_3 P_1 X_2 - \angle P_3 X_2 P_1)
=180P3Y2P2(180P3P2Z1)+P2P3P1+180(180P3P1Z1)P3X2P1 = 180^\circ - \angle P_3 Y_2 P_2 - (180^\circ - \angle P_3 P_2 Z_1) + \angle P_2 P_3 P_1 + 180^\circ - (180^\circ - \angle P_3 P_1 Z_1) - \angle P_3 X_2 P_1
=P3P2Z1+P3P1Z1+P2P3P1P3Y2P2P3X2P1 = \angle P_3 P_2 Z_1 + \angle P_3 P_1 Z_1 + \angle P_2 P_3 P_1 - \angle P_3 Y_2 P_2 - \angle P_3 X_2 P_1
=P3P2Z1+P3P1Z1+P2P3P1(180P2Z1P3) = \angle P_3 P_2 Z_1 + \angle P_3 P_1 Z_1 + \angle P_2 P_3 P_1 - (180^\circ - \angle P_2 Z_1 P_3)
=P3P2Z1+P3P1Z1+P2P3P1+P2Z1P3180 = \angle P_3 P_2 Z_1 + \angle P_3 P_1 Z_1 + \angle P_2 P_3 P_1 + \angle P_2 Z_1 P_3 - 180^\circ
=180    X2,P3,Y2 are collinear. = 180^\circ \implies X_2, P_3, Y_2 \text{ are collinear.}

4. Prove collinearity using diameters:
- Since Y1X2 Y_1 X_2 and X1Y2 X_1 Y_2 are diameters of K2 K_2 and K1 K_1 respectively, we have:
Y1P3X2=X1P3Y2=90 \angle Y_1 P_3 X_2 = \angle X_1 P_3 Y_2 = 90^\circ
- Therefore, X2,P3,Y2 X_2, P_3, Y_2 and X1,P3,Y1 X_1, P_3, Y_1 are collinear.

5. **Prove collinearity of P3,Y1,Z1 P_3, Y_1, Z_1 and X2,Z2,P3 X_2, Z_2, P_3 :**
- Use the fact that P1P2P3Z1Z2 P_1 P_2 P_3 Z_1 Z_2 is cyclic.
- Show that P3,Y1,Z1 P_3, Y_1, Z_1 are collinear:
P3,Y1,Z1 are collinearY1P3P1=Z1P3P1 P_3, Y_1, Z_1 \text{ are collinear} \Leftrightarrow \angle Y_1 P_3 P_1 = \angle Z_1 P_3 P_1
Z1P3P1=Z1P2P1=BP2P1=BAP1=P1X2Y1 \angle Z_1 P_3 P_1 = \angle Z_1 P_2 P_1 = \angle B P_2 P_1 = \angle B A P_1 = \angle P_1 X_2 Y_1
P1X2Y1=P1P3Y1=P1P3Z1    P3,Y1,Z1 are collinear \angle P_1 X_2 Y_1 = \angle P_1 P_3 Y_1 = \angle P_1 P_3 Z_1 \implies P_3, Y_1, Z_1 \text{ are collinear}
    X1,Y1,Z1 are collinear. \implies X_1, Y_1, Z_1 \text{ are collinear.}
- Show that X2,Z2,P3 X_2, Z_2, P_3 are collinear:
Z2P3Z1=Z2P3Y1=90 \angle Z_2 P_3 Z_1 = \angle Z_2 P_3 Y_1 = 90^\circ
Y2P3Y1=Y1P3X2=90 \angle Y_2 P_3 Y_1 = \angle Y_1 P_3 X_2 = 90^\circ
    Z2P3Y1=Y2P3Y1    Y2,Z2,P3 are collinear \implies \angle Z_2 P_3 Y_1 = \angle Y_2 P_3 Y_1 \implies Y_2, Z_2, P_3 \text{ are collinear}
    Y2,Z2,X2 are collinear. \implies Y_2, Z_2, X_2 \text{ are collinear.}

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