Six points in general position are given in the space. For each two of them color red the common points (if they exist) of the segment between these points and the surface of the tetrahedron formed by four remaining points. Prove that the number of red points is even.
Problem
Source: XVII Sharygin Correspondence Round, P23
Tags: geometry, combinatorial geometry
03.03.2021 12:57
We will work on the line segments intersecting the triangles, $\text {intersecting the surface of the tetrahedron=intersecting a face of tetrahedron}.$ For each triangle there $3$ other points, forming $3$ segments, therefore form a triangle. We have $2$ triangles, say $A $ and $B . $ Either $A $ pierces $B$ or the opposite $\implies $ there are $2$ segment or triangle intersections. We are not considering $\text {edge/edge} $ intersections if the points are in general position. Summing across all the pairs $A/B $ will give an even number. Observe that the sign of points in the plane of $A $ will be $2$ on one side and $1$ on the other side. They can each either be inside or outside the triangle for $2$ segment/plane intersections. Showing $\text {in/out,out/in,in/in} $ which are the chain link and piercing case.
05.03.2021 16:57
Since no four points are coplanar there does not exist four points $A,B,C,D$ such that $AB$ intersect $CD$. Therefore, all the red points are distinct. Now for each two points, the line segment between them intersect the tetrahedron formed by the remaining points for exactly $0,1$ or $2$ times. We call a set of two points bad if there are exactly $1$ intersection and good otherwise. If there are no bad set then we are done, otherwise suppose some set $E,F$ is bad. Then we can WLOG assume $E$ lies inside tetrahedron $ABCD$ and $F$ lies outside it. Suppose $EF$ intersect the tetrahedron in the face $BCD$. Suppose $AF$, $AE$ intersect the plane $BCD$ at a point $G$ and $H$. Notice that $H$ lies in the interior of $\triangle BCD$, hence it lies inside exactly one of $\triangle BGD,\triangle BCG,\triangle CDG$, say $\triangle BGD$. We now claim that every set except $(E,C)$ is good which will complete the proof. Firstly, both $E,A$ lie on the different side of $F$ with respect to plane $BCD$, hence $(E,A)$ is good. Secondly, notice that $BECD$ lies inside $ABCD$, hence $A$ and $F$ both lies outside $BECD$, hence $A,F$ is good, by symmetry $(B,F)$, $(C,F)$, $(D,F)$ are good as well. Thirdly, Notice that both $A$ and $D$ lie outside $BCEF$, hence $(A,D)$ is good, similarly $(A,B),(A,C)$ are good. Fourthly, notice that $B$ and $C$ lie outside $AEFD$, hence $(B,C)$ are good, similarly $(C,D),(B,D)$ are good. Fifthly, notice that by assumption $E$, $B$ lie outside $AFCD$, hence $(B,E)$ is good, similarly $(E,D)$ is good. Sixthly, notice that $E\in ABGD\subset ABFD$ and $C$ is not in $ABFD$, hence $(E,C)$ is bad. This completes the proof.