Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral. Show that there exists a square $A'B'C'D'$ (Vertices maybe ordered clockwise or counter-clockwise) such that $A \not = A', B \not = B', C \not = C', D \not = D'$ and $AA',BB',CC',DD'$ are all concurrent.
Problem
Source: China Mathematical Olympiad 2016 Q5
Tags: geometry
17.12.2015 19:06
What an odd question. Let $K$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $D$ onto $AB$. Let $L$ and $M$ be defined such that $KDLM$ is a square, and $M$ lies on $AB$. Suppose $AB$ and $CD$ not parallel. Extend $CL$ to meet $AB$ at $X$. Now scale $KDLM$ towards $X$ with some factor such that the points don't coincide with any of $A, B, C, D$. Let $K'$ be $A'$, $M'$ be $B'$, $L'$ be $C'$, and $D'$ remains what it is. This square fulfils the question requirements, with the lines meeting at $X$. If $AB$ and $CD$ are parallel, but $BC$ and $AD$ aren't, then we can do a similar strategy, just permuting the letter labels. If $ABCD$ is a rectangle, WLOG $AB\ge BC$. Construct a square $DBC'A'$, then project $C'C$ and $A'A$ to meet at $X$, then dilate the square about $X$ as above. $C'C$ and $A'A$ can't be parallel as (with $AB$ oriented above $CD$, and running horizontally) $C'C$ is to the left of $BC'$, while $A'A$ is to the right of $A'D$.
23.12.2015 19:43
Very interesting question... If $AC \perp BD$, take $P \equiv AC \cap BD$, and it is trivial to construct a square $A'B'C'D'$ with center $P$ such that $AA', BB', CC', DD'$ are concurrent at $P.$ Thus, suppose that $AC \not\perp BD.$ We will construct a point $P \in BD$ distinct from $B, D$ such that $\angle APB = \angle CPB.$ Let the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{AC}$ meet $BD$ at $Q$ and let $P$ be the second intersection of $BD$ with $\odot(ACQ).$ Note that $Q$ is a midpoint of arc $\widehat{AC}$ on $\odot(ACQ)$ because $QA = QC.$ Therefore, $BD$ bisects $\angle APC.$ If $P$ coincides with $B$, repeat above construction about vertex $D$ instead of vertex $B.$ If $P$ then coincides with $D$, we have $\angle ABD = \angle CBD$ and $\angle ADB = \angle ACB.$ Therefore, $ABCD$ is a kite, implying that $AC \perp BD$, impossible. Thus, we may assume assume that $P \not\equiv B.$ Now, choose $A_1, C_1$ on $PA, PC$ such that $\angle A_1BP = \angle C_1BP = 45^{\circ}$ and let $D_1$ be the reflection of $B$ in $A_1C_1.$ Since $\angle A_1PB = \angle C_1PB$ it follows that $\triangle PBA_1 \cong \triangle PCA_1.$ Hence, $BA_1 = BC_1.$ Together with $\angle A_1BC_1 = 90^{\circ}$ it follows that $A_1BC_1D_1$ is a square. Moreover, $D_1 \in BD$ by symmetry. To finish, we dilate $A_1BC_1D_1$ with center $P$ to a new square $A'B'C'D'$ with all vertices distinct from $ABCD.$ Then $AA', BB', CC', DD'$ are concurrent at $P$, as desired. $\square$
11.04.2016 15:14
Doesnt a projectivity help here? Specifically there exists a projective trabsformation which sends a one quadrilateral to another. as a special case a Quadrilateral to a square. since the projecticity is centered from a point the lines $AA',BB',CC',DD'$ are concurrent from th point of perspectivity. I dont get whats wrong with this.... It cant be this trivial
11.04.2016 15:29
Technically that approach is invalid, as a projective transformation is not necessarily planar. However, that idea is correct, as the specific projective transformation mapping quadrilaterals is planar.
11.04.2016 15:35
So essentially can this idea be ammended to solve the problem. Also why is a projective transformation not planar, and how does this make the solution invalid? Since we are in 2-dimensions.
11.11.2020 10:02
If $AC\perp BD$ then we are done by taking a square centered at the intersection of the diagonal. Now suppose $AC$ is not perpendicular to $BD$. We call the vertex $D$ bad if $\angle ADB=\angle CDB=45^{\circ}$ and good otherwise, define good and bad similarly for $A,B,C$. Now notice that if at least two of the vertices are bad then $ABCD$ must be a square which contradicts the assumption that $AC$ is not perpendicular to $BD$. Therefore, at least one of the two sets $\{A,C\}$ and $\{B,D\}$, say $\{B,D\}$ consists only of good vertices. Now take $BD$ to be the $x-$axis and let $A=(a,b)$, $C=(c,d)$. For each $m\in \mathbb R,n\neq 0$ defined a $(m,n)-$square to be a square centered at a point $(m,0)$ and has vertices $V_A=(m,n),V_C=(m,-n),V_B=(m-n,0),V_D=(m+n,0)$ CLAIM. There exists a $(m,n)-$ square such that $V_A\neq A$,$V_B\neq B$, $V_C\neq C$, $V_D\neq D$ and that $AV_A$ and $CV_C$ are concurrent on the $x-$ axis. Proof. This is just coordinate bashing. Indeed, the $x-$ intercept of $AV_A$ and $CV_C$ are $$x=a-\frac{b(m-a)}{n-b}\text{ and }x=c+\frac{d(m-c)}{n+d}$$respectively. Therefore the concurrency is equivalent to \begin{align*} a-c&=\frac{d(m-c)}{n+d}+\frac{b(m-a)}{n-b}\\ \iff m(d+b)&=(a-c)n+ad+bc\\ \end{align*}Now if $d+b\neq 0$ or $ad+bc\neq 0$ then there exists infinitely many nonzero solution $(m,n)$. If both of them are zero then we must have $a=c$, this implies $AC\perp BD$, contradiction. If $\frac{d+b}{a-c}\neq \pm 1$ then we can find $m,n$ such that $(m+n,0),(m-n,0)$ are distinct from $B,D$. If it is $1$ then $(m-n,0)=(ad-bc,0)$, if this is the coordinate of $B$ then $B$ is bad, contradiction, the case when this fraction is $-1$ is similar. $\blacksquare$ This claim obviously completes the problem.
06.11.2024 11:40
However,in Joyce Tan's proof,in the case that ABCD is a rectangle,the order of the verticals of the square will be A'C'B'D',which doesn't meet the requirements.