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1981 IMO Problems/Problem 5

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Problem

Three congruent circles have a common point O and lie inside a given triangle. Each circle touches a pair of sides of the triangle. Prove that the incenter and the circumcenter of the triangle and the point O are collinear.

Solution

Let the triangle have vertices A,B,C, and sides a,b,c, respectively, and let the centers of the circles inscribed in the angles A,B,C be denoted O_A, O_B, O_C, respectively.

The triangles O_A O_B O_C and ABC are homothetic, as their corresponding sides are parallel. Furthermore, since O_A lies on the bisector of angle A and similar relations hold for the triangles' other corresponding points, the center of homothety is the incenter of both the triangles. Since O is clearly the circumcenter of O_A O_B O_C, O is collinear with the incenter and circumcenter of ABC, as desired.

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

1981 IMO (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 6
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