Problem

Source: Switzerland - Swiss TST 2003 p8

Tags: tangent circles, circles, geometry



Let $A_1A_2A_3$ be a triangle and $\omega_1$ be a circle passing through $A_1$ and $A_2$. Suppose that there are circles $\omega_2,...,\omega_7$ such that: (a) $\omega_k$ passes through $A_k$ and $A_{k+1}$ for $k = 2,3,...,7$, where $A_i = A_{i+3}$, (b) $\omega_k$ and $\omega_{k+1}$ are externally tangent for $k = 1,2,...,6$. Prove that $\omega_1 = \omega_7$.