Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 8 / 115 of 180 #1815 of 2000

Problem 1815

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.4 Prove it

A regular nn-gonal truncated pyramid is circumscribed around a sphere. Denote the areas of the base and the lateral surfaces of the pyramid by S1,S2S_1, S_2, and SS, respectively. Let σ\sigma be the area of the polygon whose vertices are the tangential points of the sphere and the lateral faces of the pyramid. Prove that
σS=4S1S2cos2πn.\sigma S = 4S_1S_2 \cos^2 \frac{\pi}{n}.

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. Define the geometric elements:
- Let C1(r1)\mathcal{C}_1(r_1) and C2(r2)\mathcal{C}_2(r_2) be the incircles of the bases of the truncated pyramid, with r2>r1r_2 > r_1.
- Let C3(ϱ)\mathcal{C}_3(\varrho) be the circumcircle of the regular nn-gon whose vertices are the tangency points of the sphere E\mathcal{E} with the lateral faces.
- These circles are cross sections of a right cone with apex AA circumscribed around E\mathcal{E}.

2. Consider a plane through the axis of the cone:
- This plane cuts E\mathcal{E} into a circle (I)(I) and the bases C2(r2)\mathcal{C}_2(r_2) and C1(r1)\mathcal{C}_1(r_1) into segments BC=2r2BC = 2r_2 and MN=2r1MN = 2r_1 respectively.
- The quadrilateral BCNMBCNM is an isosceles trapezoid with incircle (I)(I).

3. **Determine the length DEDE:**
- If (I)(I) touches ABAB and ACAC at DD and EE respectively, then DE=2ϱDE = 2\varrho, NE=r1NE = r_1, and CE=r2CE = r_2.
- Using the formula for the length of the segment DEDE in terms of the other segments:
DE=BCEN+MNECNC DE = \frac{BC \cdot EN + MN \cdot EC}{NC}
Substituting the values, we get:
2ϱ=2r2r1+2r1r2r1+r2 2\varrho = \frac{2r_2 \cdot r_1 + 2r_1 \cdot r_2}{r_1 + r_2}
Simplifying, we find:
ϱ=2r1r2r1+r2() \varrho = \frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1 + r_2} \quad (\star)

4. Calculate the areas of the polygons:
- The area σ\sigma of the polygon whose vertices are the tangential points of the sphere and the lateral faces of the pyramid is given by:
σ=nϱ2cosπnsinπn \sigma = n \varrho^2 \cos \frac{\pi}{n} \sin \frac{\pi}{n}
- The area S1S_1 of the base with incircle C1(r1)\mathcal{C}_1(r_1) is:
S1=nr12tanπn S_1 = n \cdot r_1^2 \tan \frac{\pi}{n}
- The area S2S_2 of the base with incircle C2(r2)\mathcal{C}_2(r_2) is:
S2=nr22tanπn S_2 = n \cdot r_2^2 \tan \frac{\pi}{n}
- Therefore, the product S1S2S_1 S_2 is:
S1S2=n2r12r22tan2πn S_1 S_2 = n^2 r_1^2 r_2^2 \tan^2 \frac{\pi}{n}

5. **Calculate the lateral surface area SS:**
- The lateral faces of the truncated pyramid are congruent isosceles trapezoids with altitude r1+r2r_1 + r_2 and bases equal to the sides of the nn-gons with incircles C1(r1)\mathcal{C}_1(r_1) and C2(r2)\mathcal{C}_2(r_2).
- Therefore, the lateral surface area SS is:
S=n2(r1+r2)(2r1tanπn+2r2tanπn)=n(r1+r2)2tanπn S = \frac{n}{2} \cdot (r_1 + r_2) \cdot \left(2 r_1 \tan \frac{\pi}{n} + 2 r_2 \tan \frac{\pi}{n} \right) = n (r_1 + r_2)^2 \tan \frac{\pi}{n}

6. **Substitute ϱ\varrho, r1r2r_1r_2, and (r1+r2)(r_1 + r_2) into ()(\star):**
- Using the expression for ϱ\varrho:
ϱ=2r1r2r1+r2 \varrho = \frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1 + r_2}
- Substitute into the formula for σ\sigma:
σ=n(2r1r2r1+r2)2cosπnsinπn \sigma = n \left(\frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1 + r_2}\right)^2 \cos \frac{\pi}{n} \sin \frac{\pi}{n}
- Simplify:
σ=n4r12r22(r1+r2)2cosπnsinπn \sigma = n \cdot \frac{4r_1^2 r_2^2}{(r_1 + r_2)^2} \cos \frac{\pi}{n} \sin \frac{\pi}{n}

7. Combine the expressions:
- Substitute σ\sigma and SS into the desired equation:
σncosπnsinπn=4S1S2n2tan2πnntanπnS \frac{\sigma}{n \cos \frac{\pi}{n} \sin \frac{\pi}{n}} = \frac{4S_1 S_2}{n^2 \tan^2 \frac{\pi}{n}} \cdot \frac{n \tan \frac{\pi}{n}}{S}
- Simplify to get:
σS=4S1S2cos2πn \sigma S = 4 S_1 S_2 \cos^2 \frac{\pi}{n}

The final answer is σS=4S1S2cos2πn \boxed{ \sigma S = 4 S_1 S_2 \cos^2 \frac{\pi}{n} }

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