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Geometry Difficulty 4.9 AIME Prove it Romania

Consider a triangular pyramidal frustum ABCA′B′C′ABCA'B'C'. Points D∈(AA′)D \in (AA'), E∈(BB′)E \in (BB') and F∈(CC′)F \in (CC') are such that the planes (AEF)(AEF) and (DB′C′)(DB'C') are parallel. Prove that the planes (A′EF)(A'EF) and (DBC)(DBC) are also parallel.

Solution

Denote by VV the common point of the supporting lines of the lateral edges of the frustum. As planes (AEF)(AEF) and (DB′C′)(DB'C') are parallel, we have EF∥B′C′EF \parallel B'C' and DB′∥AEDB' \parallel AE. Thales Theorem gives from DB′∥AEDB' \parallel AE and A′B′∥ABA'B' \parallel AB:
VDVA=VB′VE,VA′VA=VB′VB. \frac{VD}{VA} = \frac{VB'}{VE}, \quad \frac{VA'}{VA} = \frac{VB'}{VB}.
The last two equalities give
VDVA′=VBVE, \frac{VD}{VA'} = \frac{VB}{VE},
so A′E∥DBA'E \parallel DB. As EF∥B′C′∥BCEF \parallel B'C' \parallel BC and A′E∥DBA'E \parallel DB we conclude (A′EF)∥(DBC)(A'EF) \parallel (DBC).

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.