Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 250 of 300 #1650 of 1964

Problem 1650

National Olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Geometry Difficulty 7.4 Prove it

Let PP be a point inside a triangle ABCABC such that ∠PAC=∠PCB\angle PAC= \angle PCB. Let the projections of PP onto BCBC, CACA, and ABAB be X,Y,ZX,Y,Z respectively. Let OO be the circumcenter of △XYZ\triangle XYZ, HH be the foot of the altitude from BB to ACAC, NN be the midpoint of ACAC, and TT be the point such that TYPOTYPO is a parallelogram. Show that △THN\triangle THN is similar to △PBC\triangle PBC.

Proposed by Sammy Luo

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

1. Given Conditions and Initial Setup:
- Point P P is inside triangle ABC ABC such that ∠PAC=∠PCB \angle PAC = \angle PCB .
- Projections of P P onto BC BC , CA CA , and AB AB are X X , Y Y , and Z Z respectively.
- O O is the circumcenter of △XYZ \triangle XYZ .
- H H is the foot of the altitude from B B to AC AC .
- N N is the midpoint of AC AC .
- T T is the point such that TYPO TYPO is a parallelogram.

2. Angle Chasing and Initial Observations:
- Since ∠PAC=∠PCB \angle PAC = \angle PCB , point P P lies on the angle bisector of ∠ACB \angle ACB .
- Let the line through P P and X X parallel to AC AC meet BH BH and AB AB at H′ H' and A′ A' respectively.

3. Using the Angle Equality Condition:
- By the given condition, ∠ZYX=∠A \angle ZYX = \angle A .
- Therefore, ∠ZOX=2∠BA′X \angle ZOX = 2 \angle BA'X , implying A′ A' lies on the circumcircle of △XYZ \triangle XYZ .

4. Collinearity and Angle Chasing:
- Since H′ H' lies on the circle (BXPZ) (BXPZ) because ∠BH′P=90∘ \angle BH'P = 90^\circ , we have:
∠A′XH′=∠XH′P=90∘−∠BZX=∠A′XO \angle A'XH' = \angle XH'P = 90^\circ - \angle BZX = \angle A'XO
- This implies X,O,H′ X, O, H' are collinear.

5. Similarity of Triangles:
- We need to show △THN∼△PBC \triangle THN \sim \triangle PBC .
- Let the pedal feet from O O to AC AC be L L .
- We have △THL∼△PBX \triangle THL \sim \triangle PBX .

6. Homothety and Ratio Analysis:
- To prove HLLN=BXXC \frac{HL}{LN} = \frac{BX}{XC} , consider a homothety centered at B B mapping X,A′,O X, A', O to C,A,O′ C, A, O' .
- Since CO′=AO′ CO' = AO' , we have NO′∥OL∥BH NO' \parallel OL \parallel BH .
- Therefore, HLLN=BOOO′=BXXC \frac{HL}{LN} = \frac{BO}{OO'} = \frac{BX}{XC} .

7. Conclusion:
- Since all the conditions and ratios are satisfied, we conclude that △THN∼△PBC \triangle THN \sim \triangle PBC .

■\blacksquare

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.