Problem

Source: Mediterranean MO 2006

Tags: geometry, inequalities, parallelogram, geometry proposed



Let $P$ be a point inside a triangle $ABC$, and $A_1B_2,B_1C_2,C_1A_2$ be segments passing through $P$ and parallel to $AB, BC, CA$ respectively, where points $A_1, A_2$ lie on $BC, B_1, B_2$ on $CA$, and $C_1,C_2$ on $AB$. Prove that \[ \text{Area}(A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2) \ge \frac{1}{2}\text{Area}(ABC)\]