Olympiad Maths Prep

Track / Stage 8 / 19 of 180 #1719 of 2000

Problem 1719

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Geometry Difficulty 8.1 Find the answer imo_shortlist

The incenter of the triangle ABC ABC is K. K. The midpoint of AB AB is C1 C_1 and that of AC AC is B1. B_1. The lines C1K C_1K and AC AC meet at B2, B_2, the lines B1K B_1K and AB AB at C2. C_2. If the areas of the triangles AB2C2 AB_2C_2 and ABC ABC are equal, what is the measure of angle CAB? \angle CAB?

Official solution

To find the measure of angle CAB \angle CAB in triangle ABC \triangle ABC given the conditions about the incenter K K and the midpoints, follow these steps:

Given:
- K K is the incenter of triangle ABC \triangle ABC .
- C1 C_1 and B1 B_1 are the midpoints of AB AB and AC AC , respectively.
- C1K C_1K intersects AC AC at B2 B_2 .
- B1K B_1K intersects AB AB at C2 C_2 .
- The area of triangle AB2C2 \triangle AB_2C_2 is equal to the area of triangle ABC \triangle ABC .

### Analysis

1. Centroid Property: For median intersecting points of triangles to maintain equal area property, AB2C2 \triangle AB_2C_2 being equal in area to ABC \triangle ABC implies reflective symmetry or a special angle configuration.

2. Equal Area Condition:

Since the area of AB2C2 \triangle AB_2C_2 is equal to ABC \triangle ABC , this condition largely depends on the special properties of angles or symmetries involving the incenter and equal areas.

3. Determine Configuration:

We need to analyze if a special angle or type of triangle would simplify this configuration. If the triangle is equilateral, given it has special symmetry properties, midpoints and intersecting lines describe equal distance and alignment features that could fulfill the condition.

4. Assumption of Equilateral Triangle:

Assume ABC \triangle ABC is equilateral with each angle 60 60^{\circ} :
- Here, the incenter coincides with the centroid and orthocenter.
- The lines C1K C_1K and B1K B_1K , intersecting at points on sides AC AC and AB AB , will ensure that such equal area property holds due to symmetry and uniform distance/angle division.

5. Verification:

Most critical angles like CAB \angle CAB in an equilateral triangle are 60 60^{\circ} .
The condition comparing the area of triangles AB2C2 \triangle AB_2C_2 and ABC \triangle ABC satisfies due to symmetrical bisection of sides by midpoints and equal division through incenter alignment.

Thus, through analysis with considerations of triangle properties, the measure of CAB \angle CAB in ABC \triangle ABC is:
60 \boxed{60^{\circ}}

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