Let ABC be an acute triangle and Γ its circumcircle. The lines tangent to Γ through B and C meet at P. Let M be a point on the arc AC that does not contain B such that M≠A and M≠C, and K be the point where the lines BC and AM meet. Let R be the point symmetrical to P with respect to the line AM and Q the point of intersection of lines RA and PM. Let J be the midpoint of BC and L be the intersection point of the line PJ and the line through A parallel to PR. Prove that L,J,A,Q, and K all lie on a circle.
Problem
Source: Iberoamerican 2016 P3
Tags: geometry, circumcircle, Iberoamerican, Iberoamerican 2016
28.09.2016 06:02
Lemma: Let ABC be a triangle, the tangents by B and C meet at P, let M be a point in the arc AC. If PM∩⊙(ABC)=X, AM∩BC=K and J is the midpoint of BC ⟹ AJKX is cyclic Proof: It's well-know PX is the X-symmedian of △BXC ⟹ ∡BXJ=∡XMC=∡MAC=α, on the other hand since ABCX is cyclic ⟹ ∡CBX=∡CAX=β. Finally ∡XAM = ∡MAC + ∡CAX = α+β = ∡JXB + ∡JBX = ∡XJK hence ∡KAX=∡KJX then AJKX is cyclic In the Problem: Let PM∩⊙(ABC)=X then by lemma AKJX is cyclic. Since AP is the A-symmedian of △ABC ⟹ ∡CAX = ∡BAJ=α, since PX is the X-symmedian of △BXC ⟹ ∡CXM = ∡CAM = ∡BXJ = β. Let ∡PAJ=θ ⟹ since ABCX is cyclic we get ∡BAC + ∡BXC = 180∘ ⟹ ∡JXM = 180∘−2α−2β−θ, but ∡QAK = ∡XAK = α+β ⟹ ∡JAQ = ∡JAQ = 2α+2β+θ ⟹ ∡JAQ = ∡JXQ=180∘ ⟹ JXAQ is cyclic ⟹ Q∈⊙(AJXK). Let ∡XAC = ∡XBC = ω , since ∡LAK = 90∘ ⟹ ∡LAX = ∡LAM − ∡XAM = 90∘−ω−β, on the other hand ∡XJC = ∡XBJ + ∡JXB = ω+β ⟹ ∡LJX = ∡LJC + ∡CJX = 90+β+ω ⟹ ∡XJL + ∡LAX = 180∘ hence LAJX is cyclic ⟹ L∈⊙(AJKXQ) Finally A,L,Q,K,J are concyclic.
03.10.2016 09:52
Beautiful problem, i will sketch my solution, 1-LJ⊥BK and LA⊥AK, then L,A,J,K belong to the circumference with diameter LK 2- Denote ∠MAP=α. Consider S the intersection of AP and Γ, T point on PM such that ∠STP=∠PAQ=2α and U on PK such that OU⊥PK. 3- K is the image of U after inversion with center on P and radius PB, then B,P,U,C lie on a circle and by power of point, A,P,U,M lie on a circle, which implies ∠MUK=α (1) 4-using the inversion A,S,U,K lie on a circle, which implies ∠SUP=α (2) 5- ∠MOS=2α, then (1),(2) imply O,S,U,M lie on a circle which also contains T. 6-Finally our magic inversion send (O,S,T,U) to (J,A,Q,K), this fact and the first step imply that L,A,J,K,Q lie on a circle.
06.10.2016 00:22
Let us assume without loss of generality, AB>AC. Let A′ be a point on the circumcircle of triangle ABC such that AA′∥BC and let F be the other intersection point of the line AP with the circumcircle of triangle ABC. Let Q′ be the point symmetric to the point Q in the line AM. Denote by ∠B,∠C, the respective measures of angles ABC and ACB. The key observation is that for any point X on the circumcircle of triangle ABC, the line XP is a symmedian in triangle XBC. We shall use this fact later on. Lemma 1. The points L,J,A,K are concyclic. Proof: Indeed, the circle with diameter LK contains the point J. As the lines PR and AK are perpendicular and AL∥PR, we see that ∠LAK=90∘ and the claim holds. Lemma 2. The points F,J,Q′,M,K are concyclic. Proof: Observe that the points A′,J,F are collinear which follows since AF is a symmedian in triangle ABC; and so, the lines AJ and FJ are symmetric in the line BC. We obtain ∠FMK=∠FBA=∠AJC=∠FJKyielding that the points F,J,M,K are concyclic. We see that the lines MQ′ and MP are symmetric in the lines AK and the lines MP and MJ are symmetric in the bisector of angle BMC. These two observations lead to the fact that ∠JMQ′=∠B−∠C. Note that ∠JMQ′=(∠B−∠C)=∠AFA′=∠Q′FJ.This forces the conclusion that the points F,J,Q′,M,K are concyclic. In order to finish the proof of the requested assertion, simply note that ∠AQK=∠AQ′K=180∘−∠FQ′K=180∘−∠FJK=∠AJBwhence, the points A,Q,K,J are concyclic. Together with Lemma 1., the conclusion follows.
26.10.2016 20:05
Solution. Define X=PQ∩Γ;Y=AP∩Γ. A straightforward application of Brockard's theorem to AMXY leads us to conclude that X,Y,K are collinear (taking into account that BC is the polar of P wrt Γ). As in the previous posts, we can prove that LAJK is cyclic. Clearly ∠YAK=∠QAK, then ∠QAK=∠YAK=∠YAM=∠MXK=∠QXK, then QAXK is cyclic. Similarly, we can prove using Brockard's theorem that Z=YM∩AX,B,C are collinear. It's well-known that (B,C;Z,K) is a harmonic bundle, and also it's well-known that in this case KC⋅KB=KZ⋅KJ. Then KM⋅KA=KX⋅KY=KB⋅KC=KZ⋅KJ⋅. Consider a inversion Φ with center K and radius r=√KM⋅KA. Then Φ(M)=A, Φ(N)=J, Φ(Y)=X; since Y,Z,M are collinear, this implies that the image of line YM under Φ is the circle which passes through A,J,X and the center of inversion K, i.e. points A,J,X,K are cyclic. Finally, LAJK,QAXK,AJXK are cyclic quadrilaterals, therefore points L,A,J,X,K,Q are cyclic. ◼
16.02.2021 14:17
Another proof: As in the previous posts we prove that J,K,A and L are concyclic. As @above said, we can prove that the points he named X,Y and K are collinear. @above provided a proof of this, but it can be also proved by assuming that AM and XY meet line BC in different points K1 and K2 and then prove that K1CK1B=K2CK2B by using the lenght ratios obtained by the harmonic quadrilaterals. Now simple angle chasing gives us that ∠KYA=∠XYC+∠CYA=∠CMX+∠CMK=∠AMQ, so we obtain △AYK∼AMQ. Now from this similarity we also obtain that △AYM∼△AKQ , so ∠AYM=∠AKQ and now again by simple angle chasing we get that ∠AJK+∠KQA=180∘, so JKQA is cyclic and we're done. ◼
03.06.2021 08:06
Solved with Rg230403 Let AP∩Γ=E, ME∩BC=F and AF∩Γ=D Since (A,E;B,C)=−1, projecting through M, we get that (B,C;F,K)=−1. Then, projecting through D, we see that (M,D;B,C)=−1⟹M,D,P are collinear. Also, projecting through E, we see that E,D,K are collinear as well. Now, since ∠ADK=180−∠EDA=180−∠AJB=∠AJK and so AJDK is cyclic. Since LA||PR and PR⊥AK, ∠LAK=∠LJK=90∘ and so L also lies on (AJDK) Also, ∠AQD=∠AMP−∠MAQ=∠AMD−∠MAP=180−∠AEK−∠EAK=∠AKE=∠AKD and so Q also lies on (AJDK). So, the points L,J,A,Q,K all lie on a circle, as desired. ◼
07.02.2022 22:43
My solution: We have that RP⊥AM and AL∥PR so ∠LAK=90 and ∠PJK=90 so ALKJ is cyclic. Let U=PM∩⊙(ABC) and V=PA∩⊙(ABC) by Brockard's theorem we have that U,V,K are collinear and with the symmedian property we have that: ∠AJB=180−∠JAB−∠ABJ=180−∠UAC−∠AUC=∠ACU=∠AVUThis implies that AKVJ is cyclic, finally ∠QAK=∠PAK=∠MVK=∠QVK this implies that AQLV is cyclic. So we have that L,J,A,Q,K and V all lie on a circle, as desired. ◼