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a My Retirement & New Leadership at AoPS
rrusczyk   1300
N 3 minutes ago by Marcus_Zhang
I write today to announce my retirement as CEO from Art of Problem Solving. When I founded AoPS 22 years ago, I never imagined that we would reach so many students and families, or that we would find so many channels through which we discover, inspire, and train the great problem solvers of the next generation. I am very proud of all we have accomplished and I’m thankful for the many supporters who provided inspiration and encouragement along the way. I'm particularly grateful to all of the wonderful members of the AoPS Community!

I’m delighted to introduce our new leaders - Ben Kornell and Andrew Sutherland. Ben has extensive experience in education and edtech prior to joining AoPS as my successor as CEO, including starting like I did as a classroom teacher. He has a deep understanding of the value of our work because he’s an AoPS parent! Meanwhile, Andrew and I have common roots as founders of education companies; he launched Quizlet at age 15! His journey from founder to MIT to technology and product leader as our Chief Product Officer traces a pathway many of our students will follow in the years to come.

Thank you again for your support for Art of Problem Solving and we look forward to working with millions more wonderful problem solvers in the years to come.

And special thanks to all of the amazing AoPS team members who have helped build AoPS. We’ve come a long way from here:IMAGE
1300 replies
+1 w
rrusczyk
Monday at 6:37 PM
Marcus_Zhang
3 minutes ago
k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
2025 Caucasus MO Seniors P1
BR1F1SZ   2
N 8 minutes ago by imagien_bad
Source: Caucasus MO
For given positive integers $a$ and $b$, let us consider the equation$$a + \gcd(b, x) = b + \gcd(a, x).$$[list=a]
[*]For $a = 20$ and $b = 25$, find the least positive integer $x$ satisfying this equation.
[*]Prove that for any positive integers $a$ and $b$, there exist infinitely many positive integers $x$ satisfying this equation.
[/list]
(Here, $\gcd(m, n)$ denotes the greatest common divisor of positive integers $m$ and $n$.)
2 replies
+1 w
BR1F1SZ
3 hours ago
imagien_bad
8 minutes ago
Long condition for the beginning
wassupevery1   2
N 15 minutes ago by wassupevery1
Source: 2025 Vietnam IMO TST - Problem 1
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Q}^+ \to \mathbb{Q}^+$ such that $$\dfrac{f(x)f(y)}{f(xy)} = \dfrac{\left( \sqrt{f(x)} + \sqrt{f(y)} \right)^2}{f(x+y)}$$holds for all positive rational numbers $x, y$.
2 replies
wassupevery1
Yesterday at 1:49 PM
wassupevery1
15 minutes ago
Inspired by IMO 1984
sqing   0
15 minutes ago
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 $ and $a+b+c=1$. Prove that
$$a^2+b^2+ ab +24abc\leq\frac{81}{64}$$Equality holds when $a=b=\frac{3}{8},c=\frac{1}{4}.$
$$a^2+b^2+ ab +18abc\leq\frac{343}{324}$$Equality holds when $a=b=\frac{7}{18},c=\frac{2}{9}.$
0 replies
1 viewing
sqing
15 minutes ago
0 replies
equal angles
jhz   1
N 18 minutes ago by jhz
Source: 2025 CTST P16
In convex quadrilateral $ABCD, AB \perp AD, AD = DC$. Let $ E$ be a point on side $BC$, and $F$ be a point on the extension of $DE$ such that $\angle ABF = \angle DEC>90^{\circ}$. Let $O$ be the circumcenter of $\triangle CDE$, and $P$ be a point on the side extension of $FO$ satisfying $FB =FP$. Line BP intersects AC at point Q. Prove that $\angle AQB =\angle DPF.$
1 reply
jhz
2 hours ago
jhz
18 minutes ago
Prime-related integers [CMO 2018 - P3]
Amir Hossein   15
N an hour ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: 2018 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad - P3
Two positive integers $a$ and $b$ are prime-related if $a = pb$ or $b = pa$ for some prime $p$. Find all positive integers $n$, such that $n$ has at least three divisors, and all the divisors can be arranged without repetition in a circle so that any two adjacent divisors are prime-related.

Note that $1$ and $n$ are included as divisors.
15 replies
Amir Hossein
Mar 31, 2018
Ilikeminecraft
an hour ago
Inspired by IMO 1984
sqing   2
N an hour ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 $ and $a+b+c=1$. Prove that
$$a^2+b^2+ ab +17abc\leq\frac{8000}{7803}$$$$a^2+b^2+ ab +\frac{163}{10}abc\leq\frac{7189057}{7173630}$$$$a^2+b^2+ ab +16.23442238abc\le1$$
2 replies
1 viewing
sqing
Yesterday at 3:04 PM
sqing
an hour ago
2025 Caucasus MO Juniors P6
BR1F1SZ   1
N an hour ago by maromex
Source: Caucasus MO
A point $P$ is chosen inside a convex quadrilateral $ABCD$. Could it happen that$$PA = AB, \quad PB = BC, \quad PC = CD \quad \text{and} \quad PD = DA?$$
1 reply
BR1F1SZ
2 hours ago
maromex
an hour ago
2025 Caucasus MO Juniors P7
BR1F1SZ   2
N an hour ago by doongus
Source: Caucasus MO
It is known that from segments of lengths $a$, $b$ and $c$, a triangle can be formed. Could it happen that from segments of lengths $$\sqrt{a^2 + \frac{2}{3} bc},\quad \sqrt{b^2 + \frac{2}{3} ca}\quad \text{and} \quad \sqrt{c^2 + \frac{2}{3} ab},$$a right-angled triangle can be formed?
2 replies
BR1F1SZ
2 hours ago
doongus
an hour ago
divisors on a circle
Valentin Vornicu   46
N an hour ago by doongus
Source: USAMO 2005, problem 1, Zuming Feng
Determine all composite positive integers $n$ for which it is possible to arrange all divisors of $n$ that are greater than 1 in a circle so that no two adjacent divisors are relatively prime.
46 replies
Valentin Vornicu
Apr 21, 2005
doongus
an hour ago
Maximum of Incenter-triangle
mpcnotnpc   1
N 2 hours ago by mpcnotnpc
Triangle $\Delta ABC$ has side lengths $a$, $b$, and $c$. Select a point $P$ inside $\Delta ABC$, and construct the incenters of $\Delta PAB$, $\Delta PBC$, and $\Delta PAC$ and denote them as $I_A$, $I_B$, $I_C$. What is the maximum area of the triangle $\Delta I_A I_B I_C$?
1 reply
mpcnotnpc
Yesterday at 6:24 PM
mpcnotnpc
2 hours ago
IMO 2009, Problem 2
orl   141
N 2 hours ago by mananaban
Source: IMO 2009, Problem 2
Let $ ABC$ be a triangle with circumcentre $ O$. The points $ P$ and $ Q$ are interior points of the sides $ CA$ and $ AB$ respectively. Let $ K,L$ and $ M$ be the midpoints of the segments $ BP,CQ$ and $ PQ$. respectively, and let $ \Gamma$ be the circle passing through $ K,L$ and $ M$. Suppose that the line $ PQ$ is tangent to the circle $ \Gamma$. Prove that $ OP = OQ.$

Proposed by Sergei Berlov, Russia
141 replies
orl
Jul 15, 2009
mananaban
2 hours ago
integral points
jhz   0
2 hours ago
Source: 2025 CTST P17
Prove: there exist integer $x_1,x_2,\cdots x_{10},y_1,y_2,\cdots y_{10}$ satisfying the following conditions:
$(1)$ $|x_i|,|y_i|\le 10^{10} $ for all $1\le i \le 10$
$(2)$ Define the set \[S = \left\{ \left( \sum_{i=1}^{10} a_i x_i, \sum_{i=1}^{10} a_i y_i \right) : a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_{10} \in \{0, 1\} \right\},\]then \(|S| = 1024\)and any rectangular strip of width 1 covers at most two points of S.
0 replies
jhz
2 hours ago
0 replies
Something nice
KhuongTrang   20
N 2 hours ago by KhuongTrang
Source: own
Problem. Given $a,b,c$ be non-negative real numbers such that $ab+bc+ca=1.$ Prove that

$$\sqrt{a+1}+\sqrt{b+1}+\sqrt{c+1}\le 1+2\sqrt{a+b+c+abc}.$$
20 replies
KhuongTrang
Nov 1, 2023
KhuongTrang
2 hours ago
2025 Caucasus MO Juniors P5
BR1F1SZ   0
2 hours ago
Source: Caucasus MO
Suppose that $n$ consecutive positive integers were written on the board, where $n > 6$. Then some $5$ of the written numbers were erased, and it turned out that any two of the remaining numbers are coprime. Find the largest possible value of $n$.
0 replies
BR1F1SZ
2 hours ago
0 replies
IMO Problem 4
iandrei   103
N Feb 27, 2025 by Maximilian113
Source: IMO ShortList 2003, geometry problem 1
Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral. Let $P$, $Q$, $R$ be the feet of the perpendiculars from $D$ to the lines $BC$, $CA$, $AB$, respectively. Show that $PQ=QR$ if and only if the bisectors of $\angle ABC$ and $\angle ADC$ are concurrent with $AC$.
103 replies
iandrei
Jul 14, 2003
Maximilian113
Feb 27, 2025
Source: IMO ShortList 2003, geometry problem 1
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iandrei
138 posts
#1 • 13 Y
Y by Davi-8191, nguyendangkhoa17112003, TurtleKing123, HWenslawski, Adventure10, centslordm, megarnie, proxima1681, Mahmood.sy, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, and 2 other users
Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral. Let $P$, $Q$, $R$ be the feet of the perpendiculars from $D$ to the lines $BC$, $CA$, $AB$, respectively. Show that $PQ=QR$ if and only if the bisectors of $\angle ABC$ and $\angle ADC$ are concurrent with $AC$.
Attachments:
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sebadollahi
1 post
#2 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, centslordm, Mango247, and 1 other user
in two cyclic quadrilatrals APRD & DRCQ ,AD & CD are diameters respectively and we have:
RQ/sin(<RCQ)=CD/2 or RQ/sin(<BCA)=CD/2
PR/sin(<PAR)=AD/2 or PR/sin(<BAC)=AD/2
By dividing:
CD/AD= sin(<BAC)/sin(<BCA)=BC/AB
Since CD/AD=BC/AB thus bisectors of <CBA and <ADC intersect AC in the same poin.
S.Ebadollahi
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galois
400 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
i must admit that this problem was quite easy by imo standards.my solution is based on a standard trick using pedal triangles and projections which is damn easy and pretty similar to the proof posted here.
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Lagrangia
1326 posts
#4 • 5 Y
Y by Inconsistent, Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
here is an interesting thing about this problem and other 2 IMO problems in the past! it's about the so called Pedal Triangle Trick!

this was posted on a forum by: fritue2000 and I thought it would be interesting to post it here also!

"The previous two IMO problems solved by the Pedal Triangle Trick.
(1996 IMO) Let P be a point inside the triangle ABC such that angle
APB - angle ACB = angle APC - angle ABC. Let D, E be the incenters of
triangles APB, APC respectively. Show that AP, BD, CE meet at a
point.

As I know, at the jury meeting at IMO 1996, there is a discussion
for this problem becasuse its solution is very similar to problem
2 of the 34th IMO. The techniques include 'inversion' and 'PTT', etc.
For example, http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~slwee/imo96/imo96op.htm )

(1993 IMO) Let D be a point inside the acute-angled triangle ABC such
that angle ADB = angle ACB + 90 degrees, and AC*BD = AD*BC.

(a) Calculate the ratio AB*CD/(AC*BD).

The well-known 'Pedal Triangle Trick' is "For any point D, let
X, Y, Z be feet of the altitudes from D to AB, BC and CA. Then,
YZ = (DA*BC)/2r, etc, where r is the circumradius of ABC."
The proof is very easy, since D, A, Y, Z lies on a circle with
diameter DA, by the law of sines, YZ = DA sin A = DA*(BC/2r).
(2003 IMO) Given is a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD and let P, Q, R
be feet of the altitudes from D to AB, BC and CA respectively.

Prove that if PR = RQ then the interior angle bisectors of the
angles <ABC and <ADC are concurrent on AC.
Solution) By PTT, PR=RQ implies (DA*BC)/2r = (DC/AB)/2r, so,
CD/DA=BC/AB implies the results. q.e.d.

The most noticeable thing is in the above solution, we did not
used the condtion 'ABCD is cyclic'. And as an IMO problem, it
is not so intersting because all three problems 1993, 1996,
2003 solved by exactly the same TWO ways (PTT and inversion).
Well, the PTT is really well-known, for example, it appears
at "Geometry Revisited" by Coexter. It also used for a proof
of Ptolemy's Theorem.

In a cyclic qudrilateral ABCD, the three points are on the
simson line, we have PR+RQ=RP, with the same notation of 2003
imo. Then, (DA*BC)/2r + (DC*AB)/2r = (DB*AC)/2r or
DA*BC + DC*AB = DB*AC. "
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Anonymous
334 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
A bit of standard angle chasing shows that triangles DPR and DBC are similar and so are DQR and DBA. Thus PR=QR gives DC/CB = DR/RP = DR/RQ = DA/AB, and the result follows from the angle bisector theorem.
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Peter
3615 posts
#6 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, Dream6068., ehuseyinyigit
Yeah, I had something like that too, was quite easy :D solved in about 30 minutes (which is extremely few for me)
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Philip_Leszczynski
327 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Adventure10, Mango247
Lemma: Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral. Let $DR$ and $DP$ be the altitudes from $D$ to $AB$ and $DC$, respectively. Let $RP$ intersect $AC$ at $Q$. Then $\angle AQD$ is a right angle.

Proof of Lemma:

$\angle DRB = \angle DPB = \pi / 2$, so $DRPB$ is cyclic. Then $\angle DRP = \angle DBP$. From cyclic quadrilateral $ABCD$, $\angle DBP = \angle DAP$. $\angle DRP = \angle DAP$, so $RAQD$ is cyclic. Thus $\angle AQD = \pi - \angle ARD = \pi / 2$.

Proof:

Let the bisector of $\angle ABC$ meet $AC$ at S. Let the bisector of $\angle ADC$ meet $AC$ at T.
By the Lemma, $R,Q,P$ are collinear.
Let $\angle DRQ = \alpha$. $\angle APD = \pi - \alpha - \angle RDP = \pi - \alpha - (\pi - \angle ABC) = \angle ABC - \alpha$.
$\frac{RQ}{\sin \angle RDQ} = \frac{DQ}{\sin \alpha}$, $\frac{PQ}{\sin \angle PDQ} = \frac{DQ}{\sin (\angle ABC - \alpha)}$.
$\frac{RQ}{PQ} \cdot \frac{\sin PDQ}{\sin RDQ} = \frac{sin(\angle ABC - \alpha)}{\sin \alpha}$.
$\angle RDQ = \pi - \angle RAQ = \angle BAC$. Also $\angle PDQ = \angle BCA$.
$\frac{RQ}{PQ} \cdot \frac{\sin \angle BCA}{\sin \angle BAC} = \frac{\sin (\angle ABC - \alpha)}{\sin \alpha}$.
$\frac{RQ}{PQ} \cdot \frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{\sin \angle QCD}{\sin \angle QAD} = \frac{AD}{DC}$.
So $RQ=PQ$ if and only if $\frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{AD}{DC}$.

By the Angle Bisector Theorem,
$\frac{AS}{SC} = \frac{AB}{BC}$ and $\frac{AT}{TC} = \frac{AD}{DC}$.
So $\frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{AD}{DC}$ if and only if $\frac{AS}{SC} = \frac{AT}{TC}$.
This can happen if and only if $S=T$.
So $PQ=QR$ if and only if the angle bisectors of $\angle ABC$ and $\angle ADC$ are concurrent with $AC$. QED.
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beta
3001 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Yay I exploded this problem with like 20 cyclic quadrilaterals.

Okay first well-know fact: Simson's Line, so we know P, Q, R are collinear.

i'll go with the only if direction
Let X be the intersection of the angle bisectors. Extend BX, DX to Y, Z, where Y and Z lies on the circumcircle of ABCD. Y, Z lies on the perpendicular bisector of AC, hence YZ is a diameter, and it goes through midpoint M of AC. angle AMY = 90, angle ZDY = 90 because YZ is a diameter, so MYDX is cyclic, so angle ZYB = MDX = ADB. DX bisects ADC hence ADM = BDC = BAC = PDQ.
angle QAD=QPD. Hence triangle PQD is similar to triangle AMD, and triangle ADC is simlar to PDR. DM is a median hence DQ is a median => Q is the midpoint of PR as desired.

If direction:
Define X to be on AC such that DX bisects ADC, DX intersect the circumcircle at Z, M is the midpoint of AC, Y is the intersection of MZ and the circumcircle. triangle ADC is simlar to PDR. DM is a median and DQ is a median, so triangle PQD is similar to triangle AMD, angle ADM = PDQ=BAC = BDC. By definition XD bisects ADC hence XD bisects MDB so MDX = XDQ. QMY=90, YZ is still diameter, MYDX is cyclic, ZYX = MDX = ZDB. Now let BX intersect the circumcircle at Y'. XY'Z = XYZ, now Y' is unique(consider the locus of points Y' such that XY'Z = XYZ, which is a circle, and Y' lies on the cirucmcircle of ABCD. Two circle intersects in two points, one of which is Z, hence there's only one such point left and thus it's unique), hence Y = Y', thus B, X, Y are collinear. Y lies on the perpendicular bisector of AC so YA=YC, thus angle ABY = YBC.

QED
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FelixD
588 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
The following will be useful: Let $ \triangle ABC$ be a triangle, $ D$ an arbitrary point and $ X$, $ Y$, $ Z$ the pedal points wrt the sides $ BC$, $ CA$, $ AB$. Then $ YZ= \frac{AD \cdot BC}{2R}$, where $ R$ denotes the circrumradius of $ \triangle ABC$. That's very easy to prove, I won't write it down now :) .
Using the lemma shown above, we have $ PQ= \frac{CD \cdot AB}{2R}$ and $ QR= \frac{AD \cdot BC}{2R}$. Hence, $ PQ =QR \Leftrightarrow \frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{AD}{DC}$. Let $ S$ denote the intersection of the angle bisectors of $ \angle ABC$ and $ \angle CDA$. If $ S \in AC$, then $ \frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{AS}{SC} = \frac{AD}{DC}$. If $ PQ=QR$, then $ \frac{AS_1}{S_1C} = \frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{AD}{DC} = \frac{AS_2}{S_2C}$, hence $ S_2=S_1=S$, where $ S_1$ and $ S_2$ denote the intersections of the angle bisectors of angles $ \angle ABC$ and $ \angle CDA$ with the side $ AC$. Thus, the problem is proved.
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serialk11r
1449 posts
#10 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Hmmm I came up with this, which uses a bit more of Simson line properties.

Let the angle bisector of $ \angle{ABC}$ intersect $ AC$ at $ N$, let the midpoint of $ AC$ be $ M$, let $ E$ and $ F$ be points diametrically opposite on the circumcircle of $ ABCD$ such that $ EF$ is the perpendicular bisector of $ AC$, with $ E$ on the same side of $ AC$ as $ B$. Let $ B'$ be the point diametrically opposite to $ B$.

$ FDQN$ is cyclic, $ FDMN$ is a rectangle (cyclic), so $ \angle{FND} = \angle{FQD} = \angle{MDQ}$.
$ \angle{FND} = \angle{FBD} + \angle{BFE}$
$ \angle{B'BF} = \angle{BFE}$, since both are diameters.
Thus $ \angle{B'BD} = \angle{BNE} = \angle{MDQ}$.

$ P,Q,R$ are collinear and are the Simson line of $ D$. $ AC$ is the Simson line of $ B'$. By a well known property of Simson lines, $ \angle{PQA} = \frac12\overarc{B'D}$, but $ \frac12\overarc{B'D} = \angle{B'BD} = \angle{BNE} = \angle{MDQ}$ and $ \angle{PQA} = \angle{PDA} = \angle{CDR}$, since $ PDR$ is directly similar to $ ADC$. Thus we have a spiral similarity with center $ D$ mapping $ A,M,C$ to $ P,Q,R$ respectively, and since $ M$ is the midpoint of $ AC$, $ Q$ is the midpoint of $ PR$ so we are done.

The argument should work in reverse as well, with some tweaking here and there.
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hatchguy
555 posts
#11 • 4 Y
Y by AllanTian, Adventure10, Mango247, LeYohan
The concurrent with $AC$ bisectors condition is equivalent to $\frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{AD}{DC}$ $=> \frac{AD*BC}{AB*DC} =1$

Since $\angle DAB+ \angle DCB= 180$ and $\angle DCP+ \angle DCB= 180$ we have $\angle DAB= \angle DCP$.

Therefore we have that $ARD$ is similar to $CPD$ and therefore $\frac{AR}{PC}=\frac{AD}{DC}$. (1)

By Menelaus theorem for transversal $CQA$ in triangle $BRP$ we obtain:

$\frac{AB*RQ*PC}{AR*PQ*BC}=1$. Therefore $\frac{RQ}{QP}=\frac{AR*BC}{AB*PC}=\frac{AD*BC}{AB*DC}$ (because of (1)). The conclusion is now obvious.
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MariusBocanu
429 posts
#12 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Use that a quadrilateral is harmonic if and only if the diagonals are symmedians(easy to prove with polarity and crossed ratio).
Now, the problem is equivalent to this:
$\triangle{ABC}$,$D$ is on the circumcircle of $\triangle{ABC}$(on the arc$BC$). Denote $X,Y,Z$ the projections of $D$ onto $AB,BC,CA$. $XY=YZ$if and only if $D$ is on the symmedian with respect to $A$.
Proof: See that $BXDY$ and $DYZC$ are inscribed in circles with diameter$BD$,respectively$CD$. We have from Simson's line that $X-Y-Z$are collinear. In $\triangle{XBY}$(aplying law of sines) $XY=BDsinB$, and in $\triangle{YZC}$ we have$YZ=DCsinC$. So, $XY=YZ$ if and only if $\frac{BD}{CD}=\frac{sinC}{sinB}$, but it happens only for symmedian(note that $\frac{sinBAM}{sinCAM}=\frac{sinB}{sinC}$, where $M$ is the midpoint of $BC$.
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arshakus
769 posts
#13 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
hey guys)
I solved this problem in about 10 minutes, but I think there is some thing wrong because I didn't use the fact that $ABCD$ is cyclic.
Can it be so?
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nickthegreek
35 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
A different approach:


To begin with, it is clear that triangles $\bigtriangleup  DRP$ and $\bigtriangleup  DAC$ similar. (This follows by a very simple angle chasing, as in the above posts). This also gives us the fact that triangles $\bigtriangleup  DAR$ and $\bigtriangleup  DPC$ are similar, therefore $\frac{DA}{DC}=\frac{RA}{PC} (1)$

Also, points $P,Q,R$ are collinear (Simson's line)

It remains to prove the equivalence $PQ=QR \Leftrightarrow \frac{BA}{BC}=\frac{DA}{DC}$

Let's focus on triangle $\bigtriangleup RBP$ . Points $A,Q,C $ are collinear and lie on the lines $BR,RP,PB$ respectively. Applying Menelaus' Theorem, we have:
$\frac{AR}{AB}\cdot \frac{CB}{CP}\cdot \frac{QP}{QR}=1$

Therefore, $QP=QR\Leftrightarrow \frac{QP}{QR}=1\Leftrightarrow \frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{RA}{PC}\Leftrightarrow \frac{AB}{BC}= \frac{DA}{DC}$,

since $\frac{DA}{DC}=\frac{RA}{PC}$ by relation (1). The conclusion follows immediately.

Nick
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StefanS
149 posts
#15 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
nickthegreek wrote:
A different approach:
Your solution is actually identical to hatchguy's. Take a look:
hatchguy wrote:
The concurrent with $AC$ bisectors condition is equivalent to $\frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{AD}{DC}$ $=> \frac{AD*BC}{AB*DC} =1$

Since $\angle DAB+ \angle DCB= 180$ and $\angle DCP+ \angle DCB= 180$ we have $\angle DAB= \angle DCP$.

Therefore we have that $ARD$ is similar to $CPD$ and therefore $\frac{AR}{PC}=\frac{AD}{DC}$. (1)

By Menelaus theorem for transversal $CQA$ in triangle $BRP$ we obtain:

$\frac{AB*RQ*PC}{AR*PQ*BC}=1$. Therefore $\frac{RQ}{QP}=\frac{AR*BC}{AB*PC}=\frac{AD*BC}{AB*DC}$ (because of (1)). The conclusion is now obvious.
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