Given a triangle ABC, let I be the incenter, and J be the A-excenter. A line ℓ through A perpendicular to BC intersect the lines BI, CI, BJ, CJ at P, Q, R, S respectively. Suppose the angle bisector of ∠BAC meet BC at K, and L is a point such that AL is a diameter in (ABC). Prove that the line KL, ℓ, and the line through the centers of circles (IPQ) and (JRS), are concurrent. Proposed by Chuah Jia Herng & Ivan Chan Kai Chin
Problem
Source: Own. Malaysian SST 2024 P8
Tags: geometry
06.09.2024 02:06
A very nice and hard problem Here's a quick sketch: Let X=KL∩ℓ and T be the center of (IPQ). The key claim is that the XT passes through the midpoint of major arc ^BC in (ABC) (let it be N), then we can do extraversion. 1. Prove that AI is tangent to (IPQ) by angle chasing. 2. Prove that XN bisects AK. Let W=XN∩AK. By noticing that −1=N(AK;XL)=(AK;W∞AK)since AK∥NL we prove this claim. 3. Let H be the foot of perpendicular from A to BC which lies on ℓ by definition. Obviously W is the center of (AHK). Now we can get rid of X and prove that WTN are collinear. The final claim is (IPQ), (AHK) and (N,NB) are coaxial which finishes the problem. By using coaxial lemma we need to show AI2−AB⋅AC=HP⋅HQ−HB⋅HC=KI2−KB⋅KCBut they are all tanB/2tanC/2 and we are done. ◼
06.09.2024 12:00
Let ℓ cut UV at W, denote U,V as the center of (IPQ),(JRS) respectively then by simple angle chasing we get UQ∥VS,UP∥VR therefore WQWS=UQVS=UPVR=WPWR therefore WP⋅WS=WQ⋅WR therefore W lies on the radical axis of (KQR) and (KPS). We will prove KL is indeed the radical axis of (KQR), (KPS) Let LK cut (O) at G≠L, we will prove G lies on (KQR) and similiarly with (KPS). Let AI cut (O) at X≠A, XL cut BC at Y. Consider an inversion about a circle at K with radius √KB⋅KC, it sends G↦L, ℓ↦(KXY), Q↦Q′,R↦R′ then Q′,R′ is the intersection of (KBJ),(KIC) with (KXY) respectively. We will need to prove R′,Q′,L are collinear. We have XI2=XB2=XL⋅XY, therefore LXLY=XL⋅XYYL⋅XY=XI2YB⋅YC(∗) By simple angle chasing we get △R′IX∼△R′CY and △Q′JX∼△Q′BY therefore ∠XR′Y=∠IR′C=∠JKC=180∘−∠XQ′Y therefore XYR‘Q' are cyclic. Therefore let R'Q' cut XY at L' then \dfrac{L'X}{L'Y} = \dfrac{R'X}{R'Y} \cdot \dfrac{Q'X}{Q'Y} = \dfrac{XI}{CY} \cdot \dfrac{XJ}{YB} = \dfrac{XI^2}{YC \cdot YB}. Combine with (*) we get \dfrac{L'X}{L‘Y} = \dfrac{LX}{LY} therefore L \equiv L' therefore L lies on R'Q'. Hence the problem is done.
06.09.2024 23:01
WLOG \angle B > \angle C, O_1 is the circumcenter of (IPQ), I' is the antipode of I in (IPQ) and E = IO_1 \cap (PO_1Q). O_2 is the circumcenter of (JRS), J' is the antipode of J in (JRS) and F = JO_2 \cap (RO_2S). D is the foot of A onto BC, G is the foot of J onto BC. Main Claim: E and F are on KL. Proof. ABC \cup I \sim FRS \cup J \implies \frac{JF}{AI} = \frac{DG}{r}(*) and \frac{DG}{ML} = \frac{DG}{DK} \cdot \frac{DK}{ML} = \frac{AJ}{AK} \cdot \frac{AK}{AL} = \frac{AJ}{AL} = \frac{AD}{AI} (**). If r is the radius of incircle, F \in KL \iff \frac{KM}{ML} = \frac{KJ}{JF} \overset{*} \iff \frac{DG}{ML} = \frac{KJ}{KM} \cdot \frac{r}{AI} \overset{**}\iff \frac{AD}{AI} = \frac{r}{AI} \cdot \frac{KA}{KI} \iff \frac{AD}{r} = \frac{KA}{KI}which is true. Similar approach gives E \in KL. \square There exists a homothety taking IQP \cup O_1 \cup E to J'SR \cup O_2 \cup F which gives O_1O_2, l and KL are concurrent. \blacksquare
07.09.2024 02:19
Let LK meet l at X. We make the stronger claim that X is the internal homothetic center of the two circles. Let II' and JJ' be diameters in (IPQ) and (JRS). Lemma: Let triangles AP_1P_1', AP_2P_2', and AP_3P_3' all share angle bisector AD. Then there exists a conic passing through P_1, P_2, P_3, P_1', P_2', and P_3'.
Notice that AK is the bisector in ABC, ALX, and AIJ * This last fact is not immediate and follows from IK/JK=IA/JA. thus by the lemma there exists a conic \mathcal{C} passing through B, C, I, J, L, and X. Let \mathcal{C'} be the circumconic that is the isogonal conjugate of line IJ in triangle BCL. As I and J are an isogonal pair in this triangle, \mathcal{C'} must pass through these two points. As a conic is uniquely determined by 5 points we must have that \mathcal{C}=\mathcal{C'}. Notice that the isogonal conjugate of A in this triangle is the point at infinity perpendicular to BC thus one of the axes of \mathcal{C} must be perpendicular to BC. As l is also perpendicular to BC we must have that X is the unique intersection point of \mathcal{C} with line l. Applying Desargues’ Involution Theorem on quadrilateral IBJC, conic \mathcal{C}, and line l gives that their is an inversion centered at X swapping (P,S) and (Q,R) or that XP/XR=XQ/XS. Notice quadrilaterals IPI'Q and J'RJS have parallel sides and diagonals so must have an internal homthetic center. As P, Q, R, and S are collinear, this center must lie on line l and must be X by the previously mentioned ratios.
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14.11.2024 04:52
See a generalization of this problem here (Problem 9).
12.12.2024 17:52
Solution 1. Let O_1, O_2 be the centers of circles (IPQ) and (JRS) respectively. Let O_1O_2 intersect \ell and AI at F and G respectively. We will prove the problem with a few steps: Step 1: G is the exsimilicenter of the two circles (IPQ) and (JRS). Proof: Note that by angle chasing, \angle IPQ=\angle PAB+\angle PBA=90^{\circ}-\angle ABC +\frac{1}{2}\angle ABC=180^{\circ}-\angle AIC=\angle AIQ. This implies AI is tangent to (IPQ). In a similar fashion, we can prove that AJ is tangent to (JRS) as well. Hence AI is a common external tangent of the circles, and hence G must be their exsimilicenter. \square Step 2: F is the insimilicenter of the two circles (IPQ) and (JRS). Proof: This follows from the equality \angle PIQ+\angle RJS=180^{\circ}. To see this more clearly, let IX and JY be diameters in (IPQ) and (JRS) respectively. As IJ is their common tangent, the negative homothety sending (IPQ) to (JRS) must also send I to Y and X to J. Till this end, let us observe that IPXQ and YSJR are homothetic quadrilaterals in this orientation, as they have parallel sides and parallel diagonals. Hence the center of negative homothety lie on the line PQ\equiv RS, and line O_1O_2 as well. This point must then be G. \square Step 3: G is the midpoint of AK. Proof: Let \ell intersect BC at H. The claim is that the circle (HAK) is coaxial to both circles (IPQ) and (JRS), as this will prove that the center of the three circles are colinear, namely, the points G, O_1, O_2 are colinear. This can be proved by invoking the Coaxial Circles Lemma: If we write \text{Pow}(T, \omega) as the power of a point T with respect to \omega, then it suffice to prove that \frac{\text{Pow}(H, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(H, (JRS))}=\frac{\text{Pow}(A, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(A, (JRS))}=\frac{\text{Pow}(K, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(K, (JRS))}The first equality is more complicated: Observe that (A,H;P,R)=(A,K;I,J)=-1=(A,H;Q,S) by projecting from B and C respectively. This implies \frac{\text{Pow}(H, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(H, (JRS))}=\frac{HP}{HR}\cdot\frac{HQ}{HS}=\frac{AP}{AR}\cdot\frac{AQ}{AS}=\frac{\text{Pow}(A, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(A, (JRS))}The second equality follows from (A,K;I,J)=-1, because \frac{\text{Pow}(A, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(A, (JRS))}=\left(\frac{AI}{AJ}\right)^2=\left(\frac{KI}{KJ}\right)^2=\frac{\text{Pow}(K, (IPQ))}{\text{Pow}(K, (JRS))}which proves the lemma. \square With these preparations, let's finally prove that F, K, L are colinear. Let Z be the projection of F to AI, then we get -1=(G,F;O_1,O_2)=(G,Z;I,J) by projecting along the parallel lines in the direction perpendicular to AI. This implies that Z is the image of G under inversion with respect to the circle with diameter IJ. Moreover, we also observe that the circle with diameters IJ and AK must be orthogonal as (A,K;I,J)=-1, so Z lies on their common radical axis. This implies that if N is the midpoint of IJ, that is the midpoint of minor arc BC, then Z must also be the image of N under inversion with respect to the circle with diameter AK, and hence (A,K;Z,N)=-1. Finally, as the triangles \triangle AFZ and \triangle ALN are similar, we get \frac{ZK}{ZN}=\frac{AK}{AN}=\frac{ZF}{LN}which implies F, K, L are colinear, as desired. \blacksquare Comment 1: In fact, the circles (IPQ) and (JRS) are inverses of each other with respect to circle (HAK).
12.12.2024 17:56
Solution 2: This time we will show that O_1O_2 passes through M, the midpoint of major arc BAC. Then we will invoke Step 3 in the Solution 1 to finish. Let U be the second intersection of (IPQ) with (BICJ), and let V be the second intersection of (JRS) with (BICJ). Claim: The lines IU, JV, BC are concurrent. Proof: Define the point H as in Solution 1. Note that U is the Miquel point of the complete quadrilateral BHCIPQ, as U is the intersection of the circles (BIC) and (IPQ). This immediately implies BUPH is cyclic. We then angle chase that: \angle(HU,UI)=\angle(HU, UP)+\angle(PU,UI)=\angle(HB,BP)+\angle(PI,IK)=\angle(HK,KI)which gives UIKH is cyclic. In a similar fashion we can prove that VJKH is cyclic, hence by Radical Axis Theorem on (UIKH), (VJKH) and (UIJV) implies the claim. \square With the claim, we can prove that O_1, O_2, M are colinear: We simply note that because O_1I and hence O_1U are tangents to (BICJ), then IU is the polar of O_1. Likewise VJ is the polar of O_2, while BC is the polar of M in this circle. Hence by the claim implies O_1, O_2, M must be colinear. Till this end, let's invoke Step 3 (without Step 2) of Solution 1. Suppose we redefine F to be KL intersect AH instead, and let G be the intersection of FM and AK, then we want to prove that G is the midpoint of AK, so that G is the same point as defined in Solution 1 and line O_1O_2 is exactly the line GM. Let AM intersect KL at W, then as the lines AF and AL are isogonal, then AK and AW are the internal and external angle bisector of \angle FAL. This implies (F,L;K,W)=-1. Moreover, AK is parallel to ML because if N is the midpoint of minor arc BC then ANLM is a rectangle. Hence by projecting from M we get (A,K;G,\infty_{AK})=-1, which implies G must be the midpoint of AK as desired. This completes the proof. \blacksquare
12.12.2024 17:59
Solution 3: This solution will not require us to prove G is the midpoint of AK, but rather just the Claim in Solution 2, as we will see below. Following the same constructions for U and V as in Solution 2, the claim implies that IU, JV and BC are concurrent at a point D. Suppose we let N be the midpoint of minor arc BC, and the lines DA, DN intersect the circumcircle (ABC) again at E and T respectively. Claim 1: T lies on O_1O_2. Proof: We claim that O_1INTU, O_2JNTV and NKHT are cyclic, but this is simply because UIHK is cyclic (as shown in Solution 2 via angle chasing), so we get DT\cdot DN=DB\cdot DC=DV\cdot DJ=DU\cdot DI=DH\cdot DK. With this, we can apply Reim's Theorem on the cyclic quadrilaterals O_1INT and O_2JNT to see that O_1, O_2 and T are colinear. \square Now we are ready to solve the problem. First, observe that AEHK is cyclic because DE\cdot DA=DB\cdot DC=DH\cdot DK, and so \angle AEK=\angle AHK=90^{\circ}, that is the points E, K and L are colinear. Let us also construct G to be the intersection of O_1O_2 with AI. We will need just one more claim. Claim 2: The quadrilaterals AEHK, ETKG and AGHT are cyclic. Proof: The key observation (that bypasses the need to prove G being midpoint of AK) is that \angle GTN=\angle O_1IN=90^{\circ}. This characterizes G uniquely without reference to O_1 and O_2. - ETGK is cyclic: \angle TEK=180^{\circ}-\angle TNL=90^{\circ}-\angle TNG=\angle TGK - AGHT is cyclic: \angle GTH=90^{\circ}-\angle HTN=90^{\circ}-\angle AKH=\angle HAG - AEHK is cyclic has been proved before. This proves Claim 2. \square By Claim 2, the lines GT, EK and AH are concurrent by applying Radical Axis Theorem on the three circles (AEHK), (ETKG) and (AGHT). This concludes the proof. \blacksquare Comment 2: The point T actually coincides with the famous point X in IMO Shortlist 2011 G4.
12.12.2024 18:01
Solution 4: (Wong Jer Ren) It is possible to solve the problem without requiring to prove O_1O_2 passes through any other point. Let LK intersect AH at F and F' be the insimilitude center of (O_1), (O_2). Let line LK intersect (ABC) again at E. Claim : QKRE cyclic Proof: Denote R', Q', E' as the images of R, Q, E under the \sqrt{bc}-inversion at A wrt triangle ABC. It suffices to show R'E'Q'N cyclic. First, we note some properties that follow immediately by the inversion: \bullet A, R', L, Q' collinear \bullet E' is the intersection of LN intersect BC \bullet AIR'C cyclic \bullet ABJQ' cyclic Subclaim 1: LR'=LC Proof: We have \angle LR'C= 180^{\circ}-\angle AR'C' = 180^{\circ}-\angle AIC = 90^{\circ} - \frac{1}{2}\angle ABC, while \angle R'LC=\angle ALC=\angle ABC. \square Similarly, LQ'=LB. Hence, it suffices to show LB \cdot LC=LN \cdot LE'. Subclaim 2: \triangle LBE'\sim \triangle LNC Proof: We have \angle LBE'=\angle LBC=\angle LNC, while \angle BLE'=180^{\circ}-\angle BLN=180^{\circ}-\angle BAN=180^{\circ}-\angle CAN=\angle NLC. Therefore \displaystyle\frac{LB}{LE'}=\frac{LN}{LC}, which implies LB \cdot LC=LN \cdot LE' and we're done. \square This finishes the proof of claim. \square Similarly, PKSE cyclic. Therefore FP \cdot FS=FK \cdot FE=FR \cdot FQ, which implies \frac{FP}{FQ}=\frac{FR}{FS}However, F' lies on AH too from Step 2 of Solution 1 and \frac{F'P}{F'Q}=\frac{F'R}{F'S}Hence, F=F', which implies F lies on O_1O_2. \blacksquare Remark: It can be proven that if \ell is any arbitrary line through A, then the problem remains true if we replace L to be a point on (ABC) such that \ell and AL are isogonal w.r.t \angle BAC.