Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 230 of 300 #1630 of 2000

Problem 1630

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

Let AABCCBAA'BCC'B' be a convex cyclic hexagon such that ACAC is tangent to the incircle of the triangle ABCA'B'C', and ACA'C' is tangent to the incircle of the triangle ABCABC. Let the lines ABAB and ABA'B' meet at XX and let the lines BCBC and BCB'C' meet at YY.

Prove that if XBYBXBYB' is a convex quadrilateral, then it has an incircle.

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 incircles and their centers:
Let ω\omega and ω\omega' be the incircles of ABC\triangle ABC and ABC\triangle A'B'C', centered at II and II', respectively.

2. **Identify the intersection point KK:**
Let K=ACACK = AC \cap A'C'. By symmetry, KK lies on the line IIII'.

3. **Define the intersection point TT:**
Let T=AAIIT = AA' \cap II'. The claim is that TT is the exsimilicenter of ω\omega and ω\omega'.

4. Setup additional intersection points:
Define the following points:
- P=ACBCP = A'C' \cap BC
- P=ACBCP' = AC \cap B'C'
- Q=ACBAQ = A'C' \cap BA
- Q=ACBAQ' = AC \cap B'A'

5. Apply Pascal's theorem:
By Pascal's theorem on the hexagon ACBBCAA'C'B'BCA, we get that the lines AAAA', BBBB', and PP' are concurrent. Similarly, lines CCCC', BBBB', and QQQQ' are concurrent.

6. Apply DDIT (Desargues' Dual Involution Theorem):
We will apply DDIT four times to establish involutions at TT:
- On AAPPAA'PP' at TT, we get an involution Φ1\Phi_1 swapping {TA,TP}\{TA, TP\}, {TA,TP}\{TA', TP'\}, {TK,TB}\{TK, TB\}.
- On CCQQCC'QQ' at TT, we get an involution Φ2\Phi_2 swapping {TC,TQ}\{TC, TQ\}, {TC,TQ}\{TC', TQ'\}, {TK,TB}\{TK, TB\}.
- On CBQKCBQK with incircle ω\omega at TT, we get an involution Φ3\Phi_3 swapping {TC,TQ}\{TC, TQ\}, {TA,TP}\{TA, TP\}, {TK,TB}\{TK, TB\}. It also swaps the two tangents from TT to ω\omega.
- On CBYKC'B'Y'K with incircle ω\omega' at TT, we get an involution Φ4\Phi_4 swapping {TC,TQ}\{TC', TQ'\}, {TA,TP}\{TA', TP'\}, {TK,TB}\{TK, TB\}. It also swaps the two tangents from TT to ω\omega'.

7. Compare the involutions:
Observe that Φ1\Phi_1 shares two reciprocal pairs with both Φ3\Phi_3 and Φ4\Phi_4, and so does Φ2\Phi_2. Thus, we deduce that Φ1=Φ2=Φ3=Φ4=Φ\Phi_1 = \Phi_2 = \Phi_3 = \Phi_4 = \Phi.

8. Conclude the tangents must coincide:
If the tangents from TT to ω\omega and ω\omega' were different, then Φ\Phi would be the reflection across TKTK, which is absurd because it swaps {TK,TB}\{TK, TB\}. Thus, the tangents must coincide, and TT is indeed the exsimilicenter.

9. Apply Monge's theorem:
Consider a circle Ω\Omega tangent to segments BABA, BCBC, and BAB'A'. By Monge's theorem, the exsimilicenter of Ω\Omega and ω\omega' must lie on BTBT. However, it must also lie on BAB'A', so it is indeed BB', and thus BCB'C' is also tangent to Ω\Omega.

10. Conclusion:
Since XBYBXBYB' is a convex quadrilateral and it has an incircle, the proof is complete.

\blacksquare

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