Let H be the orthocenter of an acute triangle ABC. Let M be the midpoint of BC. Let A′ and H′ be the reflections of the points A and H across the point M. Prove that the points B and C and the reflections of A′ over the lines BH′ and CH′ are concyclic.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Let O be the circumcenter of ABC and G the antipode of A (Fig. 11). Then BG⊥AB and CG⊥AC. As CH⊥AB and BH⊥AC, this means that CG∥BH and BG∥CH. So BHCG is a parallelogram. Therefore M, the midpoint of BC, is also the midpoint of HG. Consequently H′=G. Hence BH′⊥AB and CH′⊥AC. Also, by the choice of A′, ABA′C is a parallelogram, meaning A′B∥AC and A′C∥AB. Thus A′B⊥CH′ and A′C⊥BH′, which means that the reflections of A′ over the lines BH′ and CH′ lie on lines A′C and A′B respectively; denote them by X and Y (Fig. 12). Then CX∥AB and BX=BA′=AC, analogously also BY∥AC and CY=CA′=AB. Therefore ABCX and ABCY are isosceles trapezoids. Isosceles trapezoids are cyclic quadrilaterals, thus both X and Y must lie on the circumcircle of ABC. The desired claim follows.
Solution 2
Like in the previous solution, notice that ABA′C is a parallelogram. By symmetry with respect to M notice that triangles ABC and A′CB are congruent and that H′ is the orthocenter of A′CB. Let X and Y be the reflections of A′ over BH′ and CH′ respectively (Fig. 13). Then A′X⊥BH′ and A′Y⊥CH′ and since H′ is the orthocenter of A′CB, we also have A′C⊥BH′ and A′B⊥CH′. So X and Y lie on the lines A′C and A′B respectively. The choice of X and Y implies that the triangles A′BX and A′CY are isosceles. Therefore ∠A′XB=∠A′YC=∠BA′C. The desired claim follows.
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