GeometryDifficulty 7.2National Olympiad, round 2Find the answer
For a point P=(a,a2) in the coordinate plane, let ℓ(P) denote the line passing through P with slope 2a . Consider the set of triangles with vertices of the form P1=(a1,a12) , P2=(a2,a22) , P3=(a3,a32) , such that the intersections of the lines ℓ(P1) , ℓ(P2) , ℓ(P3) form an equilateral triangle △ . Find the locus of the center of △ as P1P2P3 ranges over all such triangles.
A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.
Solution
Solution 1 Note that the lines l(P1),l(P2),l(P3) are y=2a1x−a12,y=2a2x−a22,y=2a3x−a32, respectively. It is easy to deduce that the three points of intersection are (2a1+a2,a1a2),(2a2+a3,a2a3),(2a3+a1,a3a1). The slopes of each side of this equilateral triangle are 2a1,2a2,2a3, and we want to find the locus of (3a1+a2+a3,3a1a2+a2a3+a3a1). Define the three complex numbers wn=1+2ani for n=1,2,3 . Then note that the slope - that is, the imaginary part divided by the real part - of all wn3 is constant, say it is k . Then for n=1,2,3 , ℜ(wn3)ℑ(wn3)=ℜ((1+2ani)3)ℑ((1+2ani)3)=ℜ(1+6ani−12an2−8an3i)ℑ(1+6ani−12an2−8an3i)=1−12an26an−8an3=k. Rearranging, we get that 8an3−12kan2−6an+k=0, or an3−23kan2−43an+8k=0. Note that this is a cubic, and the roots are a1,a2 and a3 which are all distinct, and so there are no other roots. Using Vieta's, we get that a1+a2+a3=23k, and a1a2+a2a3+a3a1=−43. Obviously all values of k are possible, and so our answer is the line y=−41.■ ~ cocohearts Solution 2 Note that all the points P=(a,a2) belong to the parabola y=x2 which we will denote p . This parabola has a focus F=(0,41) and directrix y=−41 which we will denote d . We will prove that the desired locus is d . First note that for any point P on p , the line ℓ(P) is the tangent line to p at P . This is because ℓ(P) contains P and because [dxd]x2=2x . If you don't like calculus, you can also verify that ℓ(P) has equation y=2a(x−a)+a2 and does not intersect y=x2 at any point besides P . Now for any point P on p let P′ be the foot of the perpendicular from P onto d . Then by the definition of parabolas, PP′=PF . Let q be the perpendicular bisector of P′F . Since PP′=PF , q passes through P . Suppose K is any other point on q and let K′ be the foot of the perpendicular from K to d . Then in right ΔKK′P′ , KK′ is a leg and so KK′<KP′=KF . Therefore K cannot be on p . This implies that q is exactly the tangent line to p at P , that is q=ℓ(P) . So we have proved Lemma 1: If P is a point on p then ℓ(P) is the perpendicular bisector of P′F . We need another lemma before we proceed. Lemma 2: If F is on the circumcircle of ΔXYZ with orthocenter H , then the reflections of F across XY , XZ , and YZ are collinear with H . Proof of Lemma 2: Say the reflections of F and H across YZ are C′ and J , and the reflections of F and H across XY are A′ and I . Then we angle chase ∠JYZ=∠HYZ=∠HXZ=∠JXZ=m(JZ)/2 where m(JZ) is the measure of minor arc JZ on the circumcircle of ΔXYZ . This implies that J is on the circumcircle of ΔXYZ , and similarly I is on the circumcircle of ΔXYZ . Therefore ∠C′HJ=∠FJH=m(XF)/2 , and ∠A′HX=∠FIX=m(FX)/2 . So ∠C′HJ=∠A′HX . Since J , H , and X are collinear it follows that C′ , H and A′ are collinear. Similarly, the reflection of F over XZ also lies on this line, and so the claim is proved. Now suppose A , B , and C are three points of p and let ℓ(A)∩ℓ(B)=X , ℓ(A)∩ℓ(C)=Y , and ℓ(B)∩ℓ(C)=Z . Also let A′′ , B′′ , and C′′ be the midpoints of A′F , B′F , and C′F respectively. Then since A′′B′′∥A′B′=d and B′′C′′∥B′C′=d , it follows that A′′ , B′′ , and C′′ are collinear. By Lemma 1, we know that A′′ , B′′ , and C′′ are the feet of the altitudes from F to XY , XZ , and YZ . Therefore by the Simson Line Theorem, F is on the circumcircle of ΔXYZ . If H is the orthocenter of ΔXYZ , then by Lemma 2, it follows that H is on A′C′=d . It follows that the locus described in the problem is a subset of d . Since we claim that the locus described in the problem is d , we still need to show that for any choice of H on d there exists an equilateral triangle with center H such that the lines containing the sides of the triangle are tangent to p . So suppose H is any point on d and let the circle centered at H through F be O . Then suppose A is one of the intersections of d with O . Let ∠HFA=3θ , and construct the ray through F on the same halfplane of HF as A that makes an angle of 2θ with HF . Say this ray intersects O in a point B besides F , and let q be the perpendicular bisector of HB . Since ∠HFB=2θ and ∠HFA=3θ , we have ∠BFA=θ . By the inscribed angles theorem, it follows that ∠AHB=2θ . Also since HF and HB are both radii, ΔHFB is isosceles and ∠HBF=∠HFB=2θ . Let P1′ be the reflection of F across q . Then 2θ=∠FBH=∠C′HB , and so ∠C′HB=∠AHB . It follows that P1′ is on AH=d , which means q is the perpendicular bisector of FP1′ . Let q intersect O in points Y and Z and let X be the point diametrically opposite to B on O . Also let HB intersect q at M . Then HM=HB/2=HZ/2 . Therefore ΔHMZ is a 30−60−90 right triangle and so ∠ZHB=60∘ . So ∠ZHY=120∘ and by the inscribed angles theorem, ∠ZXY=60∘ . Since ZX=ZY it follows that ΔZXY is and equilateral triangle with center H . By Lemma 2, it follows that the reflections of F across XY and XZ , call them P2′ and P3′ , lie on d . Let the intersection of YZ and the perpendicular to d through P1′ be P1 , the intersection of XY and the perpendicular to d through P2′ be P2 , and the intersection of XZ and the perpendicular to d through P3′ be P3 . Then by the definitions of P1′ , P2′ , and P3′ it follows that FPi=PiPi′ for i=1,2,3 and so P1 , P2 , and P3 are on p . By lemma 1, ℓ(P1)=YZ , ℓ(P2)=XY , and ℓ(P3)=XZ . Therefore the intersections of ℓ(P1) , ℓ(P2) , and ℓ(P3) form an equilateral triangle with center H , which finishes the proof. --Killbilledtoucan Solution 3 Note that the lines l(P1),l(P2),l(P3) are y=2a1x−a12,y=2a2x−a22,y=2a3x−a32, respectively. It is easy to deduce that the three points of intersection are (2a1+a2,a1a2),(2a2+a3,a2a3),(2a3+a1,a3a1). The slopes of each side of this equilateral triangle are 2a1,2a2,2a3, and we want to find the locus of (3a1+a2+a3,3a1a2+a2a3+a3a1). We know that 2a1=tan(θ),2a2=tan(θ+120),2a3=tan(θ−120) for some θ. Therefore, we can use the tangent addition formula to deduce 3a1+a2+a3=6tan(θ)+tan(θ+120)+tan(θ−120)=2−6tan2θ3tanθ−tan3θ and 3a1a2+a2a3+a3a1=12tanθ(tan(θ−120)+tan(θ+120))+tan(θ−120)tan(θ+120)=12(1−3tan2θ)9tan2θ−3=−41. Now we show that 3a1+a2+a3 can be any real number. Let's say 2−6tan2θ3tanθ−tan3θ=k for some real number k. Multiplying both sides by 2−tan2θ and rearranging yields a cubic in tanθ. Clearly this cubic has at least one real solution. As tanθ can take on any real number, all values of k are possible, and our answer is the line y=−41. Of course, as the denominator could equal 0, we must check tanθ=±31.3tanθ−tan3θ=k(2−6tan2θ). The left side is nonzero, while the right side is zero, so these values of θ do not contribute to any values of k. So, our answer remains the same. ■ ~ Benq Work in progress: Solution 4 (Clean algebra) Figure (Asymptote source)
Label f; f.p=fontsize(6); xaxis(-2,2); yaxis(-2,2); real f(real x) { return x^2; } draw(graph(f,-sqrt(2),sqrt(2))); real f(real x) { return (2*sqrt(3)/3)*x-1/3; } draw(graph(f,-5*sqrt(3)/6,2)); real f(real x) { return (-sqrt(3)/9)*x-1/108; } draw(graph(f,-2,2)); real f(real x) { return (-5*sqrt(3)/3)*x-25/12; } draw(graph(f,-49*sqrt(3)/60,-sqrt(3)/60));
It can be easily shown that the center of △ has coordinates (3a1+a2+a3,3a1a2+a2a3+a3a1) . Without loss of generality, let a1>a2>a3 . Notice that ℓ(P2) is a 60∘ clockwise rotation of ℓ(P1) , ℓ(P3) is a 60∘ clockwise rotation of ℓ(P2) , and ℓ(P1) is a 60∘ clockwise rotation of ℓ(P3) . By definition, arctan(2ai) is the (directed) angle from the x-axis to ℓ(Pi) . Remember that the range of arctan(x) is (−90∘,90∘) . We have arctan(2a1)−arctan(2a2)arctan(2a2)−arctan(2a3)arctan(2a3)−arctan(2a1)=60∘=60∘=−120∘. Taking the tangent of both sides of each equation and rearranging, we get 2a1−2a22a2−2a32a3−2a1=3(1+4a1a2)=3(1+4a2a3)=3(1+4a3a1). We add these equations to get 3(3+4(a1a2+a2a3+a3a1))=0. We solve for a1a2+a2a3+a3a1 to get a1a2+a2a3+a3a1=−43. So, the y-coordinate of △ is −41 . We will prove that the x-coordinate of △ can be any real number. If 2a1 tends to infinity, then 2a2 tends to 23 and 2a3 tends to −23 . So, 3a1+a2+a3 can be arbitrarily large. Similarly, if we let 2a3 tend to negative infinity, then 2a1 tends to 23 and 2a2 tends to −23 . So, 3a1+a2+a3 can be arbitrarily small. Since 3a1+a2+a3 is continuous, it can take any real value. So, the locus is the line y=−41 .
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: Omni-MATH,
licensed Apache-2.0.
Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.