Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 8 / 51 of 180 #1751 of 1964

Problem 1751

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.1 Prove it

Consider a circle (O)(O) and two fixed points B,CB,C on (O)(O) such that BCBC is not the diameter of (O)(O). AA is an arbitrary point on (O)(O), distinct from B,CB,C. Let D,J,KD,J,K be the midpoints of BC,CA,ABBC,CA,AB, respectively, E,M,NE,M,N be the feet of perpendiculars from AA to BCBC, BB to DJDJ, CC to DKDK, respectively. The two tangents at M,NM,N to the circumcircle of triangle EMNEMN meet at TT. Prove that TT is a fixed point (as AA moves on (O)(O)).

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 Problem Setup:
- Consider a circle (O)(O) with fixed points BB and CC such that BCBC is not the diameter of (O)(O).
- Let AA be an arbitrary point on (O)(O), distinct from BB and CC.
- Define DD, JJ, and KK as the midpoints of BCBC, CACA, and ABAB, respectively.
- Define EE, MM, and NN as the feet of the perpendiculars from AA to BCBC, BB to DJDJ, and CC to DKDK, respectively.
- The tangents at MM and NN to the circumcircle of triangle EMNEMN meet at TT.

2. Identify Key Points and Properties:
- Let HH be the orthocenter of ABC\triangle ABC. Then HH and DD lie on the circumcircle of EMN\triangle EMN.
- Let QQ be a point on the circumcircle of EMN\triangle EMN such that HEDQHEDQ forms a rectangle.

3. Use Harmonic Division:
- The harmonic division property states that 1=(B,C;D,BC)-1 = (B, C; D, \infty_{BC}).
- Projecting through HH, we get (M,N;D,Q)(M, N; D, Q), implying that TT lies on DQDQ and TDBCTD \perp BC.

4. Lemma Application:
- Consider the medial triangle ΔMAMBMC\Delta M_AM_BM_C of ΔABC\Delta ABC.
- Let MM and NN be the feet from BB and CC to MAMCM_AM_C and MAMBM_AM_B, respectively.
- By the sine rule in ΔAMMC\Delta AMM_C and ΔANMB\Delta ANM_B, we can show that AMAM and ANAN are isogonal with respect to BAC\angle BAC.

5. Circumcircle Intersections:
- Let (BMD)\odot(BMD) and (CND)\odot(CND) intersect (ABC)\odot(ABC) at points FF and GG, respectively.
- Let FDFD and GDGD intersect (ABC)\odot(ABC) at points LL and PP.
- Let DPDP and DLDL intersect (BMD)\odot(BMD) and (CND)\odot(CND) at points RR and SS, respectively.

6. Cyclic Quadrilaterals and Reflections:
- Since CPCP and BLBL are diameters of (ABC)\odot(ABC), we have FBC=FMD=FAC\angle FBC = \angle FMD = \angle FAC.
- Since MDACMD \parallel AC, MM lies on AF\overline{AF} and NN lies on AG\overline{AG}.
- FGBCPLFG \parallel BC \parallel PL and BDF=CDG\angle BDF = \angle CDG.
- Points RR and SS are reflections of FF and GG over BCBC, implying RSBCRS \parallel BC and PRSLPRSL and BRSCBRSC are cyclic.

7. Orthocenter Reflection:
- The reflection HH' of HH over BCBC lies on (BFGC)\odot(BFGC), implying HH lies on (BRSC)\odot(BRSC).
- Let UU and VV be the midpoints of BDBD and CDCD, respectively.
- Since TDTD is the perpendicular bisector of UVUV, ΔTMUΔTNV\Delta TMU \cong \Delta TNV.

8. Cyclic Quadrilateral and Radical Center:
- Since BUOTBUOT is cyclic, we have TBU=UOD=FAC=FBC=RBU\angle TBU = \angle UOD = \angle FAC = \angle FBC = \angle RBU.
- Thus, RTBPG(BMD)R \equiv TB \cap PG \cap \odot(BMD) and SFLTC(CND)S \equiv FL \cap TC \cap \odot(CND).
- Therefore, TT is the radical center of (BMD)\odot(BMD), (CND)\odot(CND), and (BRSC)\odot(BRSC), which are all fixed circles.

9. Conclusion:
- Since the radical center of fixed circles is itself fixed, TT is a fixed point as AA moves on (O)(O).

\blacksquare

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