Let $I$, $O$, $H$, and $\Omega$ be the incenter, circumcenter, orthocenter, and the circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$, respectively. Assume that line $AI$ intersects with $\Omega$ again at point $M\neq A$, line $IH$ and $BC$ meets at point $D$, and line $MD$ intersects with $\Omega$ again at point $E\neq M$. Prove that line $OI$ is tangent to the circumcircle of triangle $IHE$. Proposed by Li4 and Leo Chang.
Problem
Source: 2022 Taiwan TST Round 2 Independent Study 1-G
Tags: geometry, incenter, circumcircle, Taiwan
07.04.2022 09:57
We will proceed by taking an inversion at $I$. Let $X^*$ be the image of $X$ under the inversion. Then $I$ is the orthocenter of $A^*B^*C^*$ and $IO^*$ is the line passing through $I$ and the circumcenter of $A^*B^*C^*$. Moreover, $IH^*$ intersects $IB^*C^*$ at $D^*$, and $M^*$ is the reflection of $I$ w.r.t. $B^*C^*$. Since $MD$ intersects $ABC$ at $E$, we have $IM^*D^*$ intersects $A^*B^*C^*$ at $E^*$, and so $E^*$ is the reflection of $D^*$ w.r.t. $B^*C^*$. These characterize all images but $H^*$, which we characterize below. Consider the reflection $H'$ of $H$ w.r.t. $BC$. Then $AH'$ is perpenticular to $BC$, and so $IA^*(H')^*$ is orthogonal to $IB^*C^*$. This shows that under the inversion of $IB^*C^*$, the circle $IA^*(H')^*$ maps back to itself. Therefore if $A'$ is the image of $A^*$ under the inversion of $IB^*C^*$, then $IA^*A'$ intersects $A^*B^*C^*$ again at $(H')^*$. Since $IHH'$ is orthogonal to $BC$, we know $H^*(H')^*$ passes throguh the circumcenter $O'$ of $IB^*C^*$. Therefore $H^*$ is the second intersection of $O'(H')^*$ and $IA^*A'$, showing that $H^*$ is the image of $(H')^*$ under the inversion of $IB^*C^*$. We have finally characterized $H^*$, and our goal is to prove that $IO^*$ is parallel to $H^*E^*$. To clear up the notations, we relabel $A^*,B^*,C^*,D^*,E^*$ as $A,B,C,D,E$; $I$ as $H$; $(H')^*$ as $X$; the circumcenter of $A^*B^*C^*$ as $O$; $M^*$ as $H'$; and $H^*$ as $P$. Let $P'$ be the reflection of $P$ with respect to $BC$. It suffices to show $DP'$ is parallel to $O'H'$. Let $XHO'$ intersects $ABC$ again at $Q$. Then $$\angle O'QX=\angle O'HX=\angle (O'H,AX)+\angle AXH.$$Since $AHA'X$ maps to itself under the inversion of $HBC$, we know that $O'H$ is tangent to $AHA'X$ at $H$, showing that $\angle AXH=\angle H'HO'$. Thus $$\angle O'QX=\angle (O'H,AX)+\angle H'HO'=\angle H'HX=\angle H'QX$$and so $O',H',Q$ are collinear. Since the image of $ABC$ under the inversion of $HBC$ is $BCP$ and the image of $XHO'$ under the inversion is $PH$, we know that $PH, O'H'$ and $BCP$ intersect at a point $R$. Note that $PHDR$ are now collinear, and the reflection of the line w.r.t. $BC$ is $P'H'E$. This shows that $PR,H'E$ and $BC$ are concurrent. Since $BCPR, BCH'E$ are concyclic, we know that $PRH'E$ are also concyclic. Lastly, since $PP'DE$ are concyclic, $$\angle PDP'=\angle PEP'=\angle PEH'=\angle PRH',$$showing that $DP'$ and $RH'$ are parallel to each other. We are thus done as $RH'O'$ are collinear.
07.04.2022 10:46
Replace $H,O$ with any pair of isogonal conjugates $P,Q$. Apply inversion at $I$, and get a triangle $\triangle ABC$ with orthocenter $I$, a point $P$, the second intersection of $IP$ and $(IBC)$ is $D$, $M$ is the reflection of $I$ in $BC$, so $E$ is the second intersection of $(ABC)$ and $(IDM)$. We want to show $PE$ parallel to $IQ$, where $Q$ is a point which we'll characterize. First notice that $Q$ is concyclic with the $A, I$ and the reflection of $P$ in $AI$, so the midpoint $R$ of $PQ$ is on the Nine-point circle of $\triangle AIP$. Similarly $R$ is on the Nine-point circle of $\triangle BIP$ and $\triangle CIP$, so it is the Poncelet point of $ABCP$. This implies that if $X$ is the reflection of $I$ over $R$, $X \in (ABC)$ and $IPXQ$ is a parallelogram, so all we need to show is $X-P-E$. $X$ lies on the reflection of $(IAP)$ over $AP$, so $\angle (XP, XA)=\angle (AI, PI)$. By radical axes $ID, ME, BC$ concur, so $ME$ is the reflection of $IP$ over $BC$, which implies $\angle (AI,PI)=\angle (ME, MA) =\angle (XE, XA)$, and we are done. $\square$
08.04.2022 03:17
Though the way I used was quite brutal and needed a lot of (?) properties, but it can solve the problem in 30 minutes. $\textbf{Definition}$:Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a circumconic, a point $X$ on it. For a point $P$, let the $\mathcal{C}$-cevian triangle of $P$ is $P_AP_BP_C$, then $P$, $P_AX\cap BC$, $P_BX\cap AC$, $P_CX\cap AB$ are collinear, and let it be $\textbf{Per}^\mathcal{C}_P(X)$. If $\mathcal{C}$ is circumcircle, we will omit it. Actually, we have $\textbf{Per}_I(E)=ID=IH$, so the Li4 point is H, and it implies that $\textbf{Per}_H(E)=HH=HX_{65}$, which means the steiner line of $E$ is $HX_{65}$. Hence, $E$ be $X_{108}$. There are many ways to finish the question, for instance consider the isoconjugate which makes $I$ maps to $H$, or prove $(IHE)$ passes through $F=(\infty_{IN})^*$ (By perfect hexagon, we have $\triangle FHI\sim\triangle FIO$), but here is my way to the destination. Since $\measuredangle(\textbf{Per}_I(E),BC))=\measuredangle AEI$, let $X$ be $X_{109}$. We have known that Steiner Line of $X_{109}$ is $IH$, so Li4 point is $I$, then $\textbf{Per}_I(X)=II=IO$. We have $\measuredangle(\textbf{Per}_I(X),BC))=\measuredangle AXI$. Now $(OI,IH)=\measuredangle(\textbf{Per}_I(X),BC))-\measuredangle(\textbf{Per}_I(E),BC))=\measuredangle AXI-\measuredangle AEI$. It's well known that $X_{108}, I, X_{102}$ and $X_{104}, I, X_{109}$ are collinear respectively. Hence $\measuredangle AXI-\measuredangle AEI=\dfrac{1}{2}(\widehat{AX_{102}}-\widehat{AX_{104}})=\dfrac{1}{2}\widehat{X_{102}X_{104}}=\measuredangle X_{102}EX_{104}=\measuredangle IEH$. Done.
08.04.2022 03:21
The property I used is from permutation-chang.github.io and https://www.overleaf.com/read/gtthtdjsyxqd. However, there haven't been any English version yet, so the attachment is in Chinese.
09.04.2022 10:12
The original idea of this problem comes form Here by me and Li4. So the following solution is based on the properties in the attachment. Consider an isoconjugate $\varphi: I\mapsto H$. Let $\mathcal{L}^{\varphi}$ be the image of the line at infinity under $\varphi$. Let $X$ be the the fourth intersection of the circumcircle and $\mathcal{L}^\varphi$. Then by $\textbf{Theorem 1.}$ take isogonal conjugate and $\varphi$. Let $P=I$ we have \[ \mathbf{Per}_{I}(X)=\mathbf{Per}^{\mathcal{L}^{\varphi}}_{H}(X)=IH \]However, by the assumption of the problem we have $\mathbf{Per}_I(E)=IH$. So we get $E=X$. On the other hand, consider isogonal conjugate and $\varphi$ as before. Now we take $P=H$ to get \[ \mathbf{Per}_{O}(E)=\mathbf{Per}^{\mathcal{L}^{\varphi}}_{I}(E)=OI \] Finally, use $\textbf{Proposition 9.}$ we get \[ \measuredangle (IH,IO)=\measuredangle(\mathbf{Per}_{I}(E),\mathbf{Per}_{O}(E))=\measuredangle HEI \]Then we're done.
09.04.2022 19:45
We can replace $ O, H $ by any isogonal conjugate $ P, Q $ of $ \triangle ABC. $ From $ MI^2=MD \cdot ME $ we get $ \measuredangle MEI = \measuredangle (IQ,AI). $ i.e. the second intersection of $ EI $ with $ \Omega $ is the pole of the simson line of $ \triangle ABC $ with direction $ \perp IQ, $ so it lies on the circumconic of $ \triangle ABC $ passing through $ I, P $ and hence the Miquel point of $IPIQ $ lies on $ \odot (EIQ). $$\color{blue} ^{[1]}$ $ \qquad \blacksquare $ [1] Isogonal conjugate and circumconic (post #4)
10.04.2022 17:27
Let $\triangle ABC$ be a triangle with incenter $I$ and circumcenter $O$. Let $R,A'$ be the reflection of $I,A$ across $BC,IO$ respectively, and $M,N$ be the minor and major midarc of $\overarc{BC}$. Lemma: $\triangle AIO \sim \triangle IRM$ and $R,M,A'$ are collinear.
Let $E'$ be the other intersection of $EH$ and $\Omega$. From the problem, since \begin{align*} \measuredangle OIH &= \measuredangle OIA + \measuredangle AIH \\&\overset{\text{Lemma}}{=} \measuredangle MRI + \measuredangle MID \\&= (\measuredangle A'MI + \measuredangle MIR) + \measuredangle IEM \\&= \measuredangle A'MA + \measuredangle AMN + (\measuredangle IEH + \measuredangle HEM )\\&= \measuredangle A'MN + \measuredangle IEH + \measuredangle E'EM. \end{align*}It suffices to show that $\measuredangle OIH = \measuredangle IEH$, or equivalently, $\measuredangle A'MN + \measuredangle E'EM = 0$ and $E'A' \parallel MN$. Let $M'$ be the reflection of $M$ across $BC$, and $S,X,F,W$ be $AM \cap BC$, $AH \cap \Omega$, $MD \cap AX$, and $M'H \cap AI$, respectively. Obviously, $M'H,XM,BC$ are concurrent at the point called $T$. By cross ratio-chasing, \begin{align*} (X,A';N,A)&=M(A,N;A',X) \overset{\text{reflection}}{=} M'(S,M;I,H) \\& = (S,M;I,W) \overset{H}{=} H(S,M;D,T) \\&= M(S,H;D,T) = (A,H;F,X) \\& \overset{E}{=} (A,E';M,X). \end{align*}Therefore, $(X,A_1;N,A) = (A,E';M,X)$. Since $XA \parallel NM$, hence, $E'A_1\parallel MN$ as desired.
11.03.2024 00:11
Cute! By shooting lemma and angle chase we get $\measuredangle MEI = \measuredangle MIH$ so the dumpty point of $IHO$ lies on $(EHI)$. Now by Turkey TST 2023/5 we are done
13.09.2024 03:24
Li4 wrote: Let $I$, $O$, $H$, and $\Omega$ be the incenter, circumcenter, orthocenter, and the circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$, respectively. Assume that line $AI$ intersects with $\Omega$ again at point $M\neq A$, line $IH$ and $BC$ meets at point $D$, and line $MD$ intersects with $\Omega$ again at point $E\neq M$. Prove that line $OI$ is tangent to the circumcircle of triangle $IHE$. Proposed by Li4 and Leo Chang. My generalization for this problem in this post.