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2005 IMO Shortlist Problems/G1

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Contents

Problem

(Greece) In a triangle \displaystyle ABC satisfying \displaystyle AB + BC = 3AC the incircle has centre \displaystyle I and touches the sides \displaystyle AB and \displaystyle BC at \displaystyle D and \displaystyle E, respectively. Let \displaystyle K and \displaystyle L be the symmetric points of \displaystyle D and \displaystyle E with respect to \displaystyle I. Prove that the quadrilateral \displaystyle ACKL is cyclic.

This was also Problem 2 of the second round of the 2006 Poland Math Olympiad and Problem 6 of the final round of the 2006 Costa Rica Math Olympiad.

Remark. The converse of this problem is also true, i.e., if \displaystyle ACKL is cyclic, then \displaystyle AB + BC = 3CA. This can be proven easily along the lines of the first solution.

Solutions

Solution 1

Let \displaystyle BI intersect the circumcircle of \displaystyle ABC again at \displaystyle P; let \displaystyle M be the midpoint of \displaystyle AC. We note that \displaystyle PM is the perpendicular bisector of \displaystyle AC, as it passes through the midpoint of segment \displaystyle AC and the midpoint of the arc \displaystyle AC. We note that the condition \displaystyle a+c = 3b is equivalent to the condition \displaystyle AD = AE = (s-b) = 2b.

Since \angle MCP = \angle ACP = \angle ABP = \angle DBI, and \angle CMP and \angle BDI are both right angles, triangles \displaystyle MCP, \displaystyle DBI are similar.

Let \displaystyle N be the projection of \displaystyle P onto the line \displaystyle IK. We note that \angle PNI and \angle BDI are both right angles, and {} \angle PIN = \angle BID, so triangles \displaystyle NPI, DBI are similar. Thus triangles \displaystyle MCP, NPI are similar. But we note that by measures of intercepted arcs, \angle ICP = \frac{\angle A + \angle C}{2} = \angle PIC, so \displaystyle PI = PC (in fact, this is a known result) and triangles \displaystyle MCP, NPI are congruent. This means that NI = MP = \frac{1}{2} DI = \frac{1}{2} KI, so \displaystyle PN is the perpendicular bisector of \displaystyle KI, and \displaystyle PK = PI = CP. By symmetry, \displaystyle PA= PC = PK = PL, so \displaystyle A , C, K, L all lie on a circle centered at \displaystyle P.

Solution 2

Let the bisector of angle \displaystyle B meet \displaystyle DE at \displaystyle B', \displaystyle KL at \displaystyle B'', \displaystyle AC at \displaystyle Q, and the circumcircle of \displaystyle ABC a second time at \displaystyle P. Let \displaystyle T be the midpoint of \displaystyle AC, and let the incircle of \displaystyle ABC touch \displaystyle AC at \displaystyle F. We note that \displaystyle PT is the perpendicular bisector of \displaystyle AC, since this passes both through the midpoint of arc \displaystyle APC and through the midpoint of \displaystyle AC. The condition \displaystyle a+c = 3b is equivalent to the condition \displaystyle AD= AE = (s-b) = b.

Now, we have \angle TAP = \angle CAP = \angle CBP = \angle EBI, and \angle ATP = \pi/2 = \angle BEI, so triangles \displaystyle ATP, BEI are similar. Thus we have PT = \frac{IE \cdot AT}{BE} = \frac{r\cdot \frac{1}{2}b}{b} = \frac{r}{2}. Considering the power of the point \displaystyle T to the circumcircle of \displaystyle ABC with respect to lines \displaystyle AC, PT gives us
\frac{1}{4}b^2 = \frac{1}{2}r \left( 2R - \frac{1}{2}r \right),
where \displaystyle R and \displaystyle r are the circumradius and inradius of \displaystyle ABC.


Then, the Pythagorean theorem on triangle \displaystyle BEI gives us
\displaystyle BI^2 = BE^2 + IE^2 = b^2 + r^2 = 4Rr.
If \displaystyle H_b is the foot of the altitude from \displaystyle B to \displaystyle AC, then we have BH_b = \frac{2[ABC]}{b} = \frac{2rs}{b} = \frac{2r\cdot 2b}{b} = 4r. Furthermore, triangles \displaystyle BH_bQ, IFQ are homothetic about \displaystyle Q, so
\frac{BI}{IQ} + 1 = \frac{BQ}{IQ} = \frac{BH_b}{IF} = \frac{4r}{r} = 4.
It follows that \displaystyle IQ = \frac{2}{3}\sqrt{Rr}. The extended law of sines gives us 4Rr = \frac{abc}{[ABC]} \cdot r = \frac{abc}{rs} \cdot r = \frac{abc}{2b} = \frac{ac}{2}. By the angle bisector theorem, AQ = \frac{c}{3}; CQ = \frac{a}{3}. Considering the power of the point \displaystyle Q with respect to the circumcircle of \displaystyle ABC and lines \displaystyle AC, BP gives us
PT = \frac{AT \cdot CT}{AT} = \frac{\frac{ac}{9}}{(2+ 2/3)\sqrt{Rr}} = \sqrt{Rr}/3.
Now, since \displaystyle KB''I is the reflection of \displaystyle DB'I about \displaystyle I, the two triangles are congruent. Since \displaystyle DB'I, BDI are right triangles with a common acute angle, they are similar. Specifically,
KB'' = DB' = \frac{BD \cdot DI}{BI} = \frac{b\cdot r}{\sqrt{Rr}},
and
IB'' = IB' = \frac{ID \cdot DI}{BI} = \frac{r^2}{\sqrt{Rr}}.

Thus

PB'' = PI - B''I = \sqrt{Rr} - \frac{r^2}{\sqrt{Rr}}.

Finally, applying the Pythagorean theorem to triangle \displaystyle KB''P, we have

PK^2 = PB''^2 + KB''^2 = \left(\sqrt{Rr} - \frac{r^2}{\sqrt{Rr}}\right)^2 + \frac{b^2r}{R} = Rr -r^2 + \frac{r^3}{R} + \frac{....

By symmetry, PL = PK = \sqrt{Rr} = PA = PC, so \displaystyle A, C, K, L all lie on the circle with center \displaystyle P and radius \sqrt{Rr}.


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

Resources

Looking for a challenging algebra text? Preparing for MATHCOUNTS or the AMC exams?
Check out Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Algebra by Richard Rusczyk.
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