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IMO 2010 Problem 2
orl   88
N Apr 27, 2025 by LHE96
Given a triangle $ABC$, with $I$ as its incenter and $\Gamma$ as its circumcircle, $AI$ intersects $\Gamma$ again at $D$. Let $E$ be a point on the arc $BDC$, and $F$ a point on the segment $BC$, such that $\angle BAF=\angle CAE < \dfrac12\angle BAC$. If $G$ is the midpoint of $IF$, prove that the meeting point of the lines $EI$ and $DG$ lies on $\Gamma$.

Proposed by Tai Wai Ming and Wang Chongli, Hong Kong
88 replies
orl
Jul 7, 2010
LHE96
Apr 27, 2025
IMO 2010 Problem 2
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orl
3647 posts
#1 • 14 Y
Y by BuiBaAnh, Davi-8191, a_friendwr_a, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, Tastymooncake2, Funcshun840, cubres, MS_asdfgzxcvb, and 3 other users
Given a triangle $ABC$, with $I$ as its incenter and $\Gamma$ as its circumcircle, $AI$ intersects $\Gamma$ again at $D$. Let $E$ be a point on the arc $BDC$, and $F$ a point on the segment $BC$, such that $\angle BAF=\angle CAE < \dfrac12\angle BAC$. If $G$ is the midpoint of $IF$, prove that the meeting point of the lines $EI$ and $DG$ lies on $\Gamma$.

Proposed by Tai Wai Ming and Wang Chongli, Hong Kong
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silouan
3952 posts
#2 • 42 Y
Y by Learner94, liimr, Mathematicalx, rkm0959, secretgarden, Davi-8191, sa2001, Sphr, msavkin, Amir Hossein, Mobashereh, Diorite, Aryan-23, Ali3085, ayan_mathematics_king, richrow12, myh2910, Supermathlet_04, a_friendwr_a, Mutse, Rishdev, lneis1, megarnie, SSaad, CyclicISLscelesTrapezoid, Jalcwel, mathmax12, EpicBird08, ike.chen, Adventure10, Mad_SciSt, Tastymooncake2, ergo, Math_legendno12, Funcshun840, cubres, and 6 other users
It suffices to prove that $\angle{IDG}=\angle{AEI}$. Taking the excenter we have to prove that the triangles $AFI_a$ and $AIE$ are similar. But this is easy because it is enough to show that $\frac{AF}{AI_a}=\frac{AI}{AE}$. But from the similarity of ABF,AEC we have that $\frac{AE}{AC}=\frac{AB}{AF}$. So we have to prove that $AI\cdot AI_a=AB\cdot AC$ which is clearly true.
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kalantzis
25 posts
#3 • 12 Y
Y by futurestar, a_friendwr_a, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, Mad_SciSt, Tastymooncake2, farhad.fritl, cubres, and 3 other users
I have a different aproach..
Suppose EI cuts $ \Gamma $ at K. Let the parallel from I to BC cut AF to P. Then $ AKPI $ is cyclic (because AK is antiparallel to IP or by simple angle chase).
Now we prove that D,P,K are collinear:From the cyclic $ AKPI $ $ \widehat{AKP}= \widehat{PID}= \widehat{PIB} + \widehat{BID}= \widehat{B} + \widehat{A}/2 $. But $ \widehat{AKD}= \widehat{ABD}= \widehat{ABC} + \widehat{CBD}= \widehat{B} + \widehat{A}/2 $.

If line DPK cuts BC at Q, it suffices to prove that $ IQ \parallel AF $ since then, $ PIQF $ will be parallelogram and G the intersection of DK and IE.
Since $ \widehat{IAP}= \widehat{IKP} $ and we want to show $ \widehat{IAP}= \widehat{DIQ} $ it is enough $ DI^2= DQ \cdot DK $
But DI=DB (well-known fact) so we have to prove $ DB^2=DQ \cdot DK$ which is obvious from similar triangles $ DBQ,DKB $ since arcs BD and DC are equal.
QED
Image not found

Note: the condition $ \angle BAF=\angle CAE <\frac{1}2\angle BAC $ it is not necessary.
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m.candales
186 posts
#4 • 7 Y
Y by Illuzion, a_friendwr_a, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, Tastymooncake2, cubres
Let $L$ be the second intersection of $IE$ and $\Gamma$. I will prove that $G, D, L$ are collinear

Let $M$ be a point on the prolongation of $AD$ ($D$ is between $A$ and $M$) such that $\angle{IBM}=90$
$\angle{IBC}=\frac{1}{2}\angle{B}$ and $\angle{CBD}=\frac{1}{2}\angle{A}$. Then $\angle{DBM}=\frac{1}{2}\angle{C}$,
$\angle{BIM}=\frac{1}{2}\angle{A}+\frac{1}{2}\angle{B}$. Then $\angle{BMI}=\frac{1}{2}\angle{C}$.
Then $BD=DM$. Then $BD$ bisects $IM$ because $\angle{IBM}=90$. Then $ID=DM$
(I believe all this results are well-known)

$\triangle{ABM}$ is similar to $\triangle{AIC}$. Then $\frac{AM}{AC}=\frac{AB}{AI}$

$\triangle{AEC}$ is similar to $\triangle{ABF}$. Then $\frac{AE}{AC}=\frac{AB}{AF}$

Then we have $\frac{AM}{AE}=\frac{AF}{AI}$. But $\angle{FAM}=\angle{IAE}$.
Then $\triangle{AFM}$ and $\triangle{AIE}$ are similar. Then $\angle{FMA}=\angle{IEA}=\angle{LDA}$
Then $LD$ and $FM$ are parallel. But $ID=DM$ then $LD$ bisects $FI$. Then $G, D, L$ are collinear.
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m.candales
186 posts
#5 • 5 Y
Y by a_friendwr_a, Adventure10, Mango247, Tastymooncake2, cubres
I just want to add that there is another way of continuing my solution after we got that $ID=DM$ which I believe is well-known.
This is the continuation:
Let $AI=i, AD=l, AB=c, AC=b$. Then $AM=2l-i$
$\triangle{ABM}$ is similar to $\triangle{AIC}$. Then $\frac{AM}{AB}=\frac{AC}{AI}$. Then $\frac{2l-i}{c}=\frac{b}{i}$
Then $(2l-i)i = bc$. Then $il-i^2=bc-il$ (*)

Let $N$ the intersection of $LD$ and $AF$.
$\frac{AN}{AD}=\frac{AI}{AE}$ because $\triangle{AND}$ and $\triangle{AIE}$ are similar.
Then $AN=\frac{il}{AE}$
$\frac{AF}{AB}=\frac{AC}{AE}$ because $\triangle{ABF}$ and $\triangle{AEC}$ are similar. Then $AF=\frac{bc}{AE}$
Then $FN=AF-AN=\frac{bc-il}{AE}$

Let $G'$ the intersection of $LD$ and $AF$. Then $\frac{IG'}{G'F}\frac{FN}{AN}\frac{AD}{ID}=1$ by Menelaus

Then $\frac{IG'}{G'F}=\frac{ID}{AD}\frac{AN}{FN}=\frac{il(l-i)}{(bc-il)l}=\frac{il-i^2}{bc-il}=1$ by (*)
Then $G'=G$, and then $D, G, L$ are collinear.

This problem can also be solved automatically using complex numbers. The solution is long and painful to write, but I will try to post it soon
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NickNafplio
422 posts
#6 • 4 Y
Y by Mathematicalx, a_friendwr_a, Adventure10, cubres
Another solution:

We need to prove that <GMI = <IEA. It is well known (and it can be proved easily) that the midpoint D of the arc BC is the center of the circumcircle U of the triangle BIC. Let T be the symmetric of I with respect to D, which is the intersection of the line AD and the circle U, then FT//MG and <FTI = <GMI, so we need <FTI = <IEA, or its enough to prove that triangles AFT and AIE are similliar, or equivalently AI/AE = AF/AT <=> AI*AT = AE*AF (1). From the similliar triangles ABF and AEC we have AE/AC = AB/AF <=> AE*AF = AB*AC. So we need AI*AT = AB*AC <=> AI/AB = AC/AT, which is true because the triangles ABI, ATC are similliar (<BAI = <TAC = A/2, <ABI = <ABC/2 = <ADC/2 = <ATC)!
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armpist
527 posts
#7 • 9 Y
Y by Wizard_32, a_friendwr_a, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, Tastymooncake2, ehuseyinyigit, cubres, and 1 other user
Problem with a lot of points on a circumference calls for
Pascal theorem.


Historical note:
he was 13 y.o. when he discovered it, probably solving something similar
to this Problem #2 at French National math olympiad years ago.

Mr. T
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abacadaea
2176 posts
#8 • 4 Y
Y by a_friendwr_a, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
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Sung-yoon Kim
324 posts
#9 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 1 other user
We show that $\triangle{AFI_a}$ and $\triangle{AIE}$ are similar. Then we have $\angle{AEI}=\angle{AI_a F}=\angle{ADG}$ and we're done. To show that, inverse the plane with regard to $A$ with the radius $\sqrt{bc}$ where $b=AC,c=AB$. Then we have another figure which can be also obtained by reflecting the original figure. Note that $E,F$ are mapped to $F,E$ resp. Hence $AE \cdot AF = bc = AI \cdot AI_a$, which implies directly that $\triangle{AFI_a}$ and $\triangle{AIE}$ are similar, as desired.
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April
1270 posts
#10 • 3 Y
Y by Chokechoke, Adventure10, cubres
orl wrote:
Given a triangle $ABC$, with $I$ as its incenter and $\Gamma$ as its circumcircle, $AI$ intersects $\Gamma$ again at $D$. Let $E$ be a point on the arc $BDC$, and $F$ a point on the segment $BC$, such that $\angle BAF=\angle CAE < \dfrac12\angle BAC$. If $G$ is the midpoint of $IF$, prove that the meeting point of the lines $EI$ and $DG$ lies on $\Gamma$.
Let $D'$ be a point on $AI$ such that $DI = DD'$. Notice that $\angle IDG = \angle AD'F$. So we only have to prove that $\angle AD'F = \angle AEI$.

We have $\triangle ABF\sim\triangle AEC$, therefore $AB\cdot AC = AE\cdot AF\quad (1)$.
$\triangle ABI\sim\triangle AD'C$ $\Longrightarrow AB\cdot AC = AI\cdot AD'\quad (2)$.
Combine $(1)$ and $(2)$, we have $AE\cdot AF = AI\cdot AD'$, i.e. $\dfrac{AF}{AD'}=\dfrac{AI}{AE}$. On the other hand, $\angle FAD' = \angle IAE$, so $\triangle FAD'\sim\triangle IAE$. It follows $\angle AD'F=\angle AEI$, which completes our solution.
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feliz
290 posts
#11 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
To add a little algebraic point of view...

The points where $EI$ and $DG$ meet $\Gamma$ are functions of $\angle AEI$ and $\angle ADG$, which we must prove are equal. Let $DG$ meet $AF$ at $T$. Since $\angle TAD = \angle IAE$, we must prove that $TAD$ and $IAE$ are congruent. To do this, we need a spiral similarity between $ATI$ and $ADE$. On the other hand, naming $\theta = \angle BAF$, we see that $\angle AFC = \angle ADE = \angle ABC + \theta$. Thus, if $\{P\} = FC \cap AD$, we have $AFP$ similar to $ADE$, and it remains to prove $AFP$ is similar to $ATI$, or $TI \parallel FP$. If this happens, let ${Q} = BC \cap DG$. Since $G = \frac{F + I}{2}$, $TIQF$ must be a parallelogram. Reversely, if $QI \parallel AF$, we are going to have that parallelogram. In other words, we need to prove $QIP$ is similar to $FAP$.

We prove this happens in the degenerate cases $F =  B$ and $F = C$. When $F$ varies on (in? at?) $BC$, $G$ varies linearly, and so does $P$, because it is a mean of $G$ and $D$, with weights that depend only on the ratio $IP/PD$. So our linearity ends the argument. If $F = B$ (draw another figure!), however, $BID$ is isosceles, so that $DG$ is a simmetry axis, which leads to $\angle PIQ = \angle DIQ = \angle DBQ = \frac{1}{2}\angle BAC = \angle PAB$. And here is the similarity!
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Zhero
2043 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, cubres
Let $M$ be the midpoint of $AI$. We want to show that $\angle GDM = \angle IEA$, that is, $\triangle MGD \sim \triangle AIE$.

$MG$ is parallel to $AF$, so $\angle GMD = \angle FAD = \angle IAE$. Hence, $\triangle MGD \sim \triangle AIE$ if and only if $\frac{MG}{MD} = \frac{AI}{AE}$. $MG = \frac{AF}{2}$, so this is equivalent to $2 AI \cdot MD = AE \cdot AF$.

We claim that $AE \cdot AF$ is fixed. It is then sufficient to show that the result is true for some choice of $E$ and $F$ (namely, when $E=C$ and $F=B$), as it would imply that $2 AI \cdot MD = AE \cdot AF$ for some choices of $E$ and $F$, and thus for all choices of $E$ and $F$.

Showing that $AE \cdot AF$ is not difficult. $\angle ABF = \angle AEC$ and $\angle BAF = \angle CAE$, so $\triangle ABF \sim \triangle AEC$, so $AE \cdot AF = AB \cdot AC$.

That the result is true when $F=B$ and $E=C$ is not difficult to show either. In this case, $G$ is the midpoint of the base of isosceles $\triangle IBD$, so $DG$ is the bisector of $\angle BDA$, so it meets $\Gamma$ on the midpoint of minor arc $AB$. On the other hand, $CI$ trivially meets $\Gamma$ on the midpoint of minor arc $AB$ as well, so our proof is complete.
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Mithril
28 posts
#13 • 4 Y
Y by thunderz28, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
Let $EI$ intersect $\Gamma$ again at $P$. We'll prove that $DP$ meets $FI$ at its midpoint.

Let $DP$ cut $AF$ and $BC$ at $X$ and $Y$, resp. Notice that $APXI$ is cyclic, because $\angle XAI = \angle DAE = \angle XPI$. We'll see that $XFYI$ is a parallelogram.

Lemma 1: $XI$ is parallel to $FY$.
Proof: As $APXI$ is cyclic, we have $\angle PAI = \angle DXI$. But $\angle PAI$ is equal to the angle between $DP$ and the tangent to $\Gamma$ through $D$. Then, it follows that $XI$ and that tangent are parallel. But as $D$ is the midpoint of arc $BC$, $XI$ must be parallel to $BC$ too, and the lemma follows.

Lemma 2: $D$ is the circumcenter of $BIC$.
Proof: As $D$ is the midpoint of arc $BC$, we have $DB = DC$. Now, let the circle with center $D$ which passes through $B$ and $C$ meet $AD$ at $I'$.
We know that $\angle I'CB = \angle BDI'/2 = \angle BCA/2$. Thus $I'$ is also on the bisector of $\angle C$, so $I'$ is the incenter, and the lemma follows.

Lemma 3: $FX$ is parallel to $YI$.
Proof: Consider the inversion with center $D$ and radius $DB$. It maps $BC$ into $\Gamma$, and, by lemma 2, fixes $I$.
Now, as $Y$ is mapped to $P$ and $I$ is fixed, we have $\angle YID = \angle DPI$. But we know that $XPAI$ is cyclic, thus $\angle YID = \angle XAI$, and the result follows.


Now, by lemmas 1 and 3, we get that $XFYI$ is a parallelogram. Thus $DP$ meets $FI$ at its midpoint, which is what we wanted to prove.
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wenxin
24 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, cubres
orl wrote:
Given a triangle $ABC$, with $I$ as its incenter and $\Gamma$ as its circumcircle, $AI$ intersects $\Gamma$ again at $D$. Let $E$ be a point on the arc $BDC$, and $F$ a point on the segment $BC$, such that $\angle BAF=\angle CAE < \dfrac12\angle BAC$. If $G$ is the midpoint of $IF$, prove that the meeting point of the lines $EI$ and $DG$ lies on $\Gamma$.

2010 IMO Problem 2 was proposed by Tai Wai Ming (2008 Hong Kong IMO team member) and Wang Chongli
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lchserious
80 posts
#15 • 4 Y
Y by RudraRockstar, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
wenxin wrote:
orl wrote:
Given a triangle $ABC$, with $I$ as its incenter and $\Gamma$ as its circumcircle, $AI$ intersects $\Gamma$ again at $D$. Let $E$ be a point on the arc $BDC$, and $F$ a point on the segment $BC$, such that $\angle BAF=\angle CAE < \dfrac12\angle BAC$. If $G$ is the midpoint of $IF$, prove that the meeting point of the lines $EI$ and $DG$ lies on $\Gamma$.

2010 IMO Problem 2 was proposed by Tai Wai Ming (2008 Hong Kong IMO team member) and Wang Chongli
Oh really !? :ninja:
Tai Wai Ming was my teammate but we have not kept in contact since IMO 2008 :(
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