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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 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
inequality ( 4 var
SunnyEvan   5
N a few seconds ago by sqing
Let $ a,b,c,d \in R $ , such that $ a+b+c+d=4 . $ Prove that :
$$ a^4+b^4+c^4+d^4+3 \geq \frac{7}{4}(a^3+b^3+c^3+d^3) $$$$ a^4+b^4+c^4+d^4+ \frac{252}{25} \geq \frac{88}{25}(a^3+b^3+c^3+d^3) $$equality cases : ?
5 replies
SunnyEvan
Apr 4, 2025
sqing
a few seconds ago
Collinearity with orthocenter
Retemoeg   9
N 6 minutes ago by X.Luser
Source: Own?
Given scalene triangle $ABC$ with circumcenter $(O)$. Let $H$ be a point on $(BOC)$ such that $\angle AOH = 90^{\circ}$. Denote $N$ the point on $(O)$ satisfying $AN \parallel BC$. If $L$ is the projection of $H$ onto $BC$, show that $LN$ passes through the orthocenter of $\triangle ABC$.
9 replies
+2 w
Retemoeg
Mar 30, 2025
X.Luser
6 minutes ago
Geometry
youochange   1
N 14 minutes ago by youochange
m:}
Let $\triangle ABC$ be a triangle inscribed in a circle, where the tangents to the circle at points $B$ and $C$ intersect at the point $P$. Let $M$ be a point on the arc $AC$ (not containing $B$) such that $M \neq A$ and $M \neq C$. Let the lines $BC$ and $AM$ intersect at point $K$. Let $P'$ be the reflection of $P$ with respect to the line $AM$. The lines $AP'$ and $PM$ intersect at point $Q$, and $PM$ intersects the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$ again at point $N$.

Prove that the point $Q$ lies on the circumcircle of $\triangle ANK$.
1 reply
youochange
an hour ago
youochange
14 minutes ago
Beautiful problem
luutrongphuc   14
N 31 minutes ago by aidenkim119
Let triangle $ABC$ be circumscribed about circle $(I)$, and let $H$ be the orthocenter of $\triangle ABC$. The circle $(I)$ touches line $BC$ at $D$. The tangent to the circle $(BHC)$ at $H$ meets $BC$ at $S$. Let $J$ be the midpoint of $HI$, and let the line $DJ$ meet $(I)$ again at $X$. The tangent to $(I)$ parallel to $BC$ meets the line $AX$ at $T$. Prove that $ST$ is tangent to $(I)$.
14 replies
luutrongphuc
Apr 4, 2025
aidenkim119
31 minutes ago
2025 - Turkmenistan National Math Olympiad
A_E_R   5
N 36 minutes ago by Filipjack
Source: Turkmenistan Math Olympiad - 2025
Let k,m,n>=2 positive integers and GCD(m,n)=1, Prove that the equation has infinitely many solutions in distict positive integers: x_1^m+x_2^m+⋯x_k^m=x_(k+1)^n
5 replies
A_E_R
3 hours ago
Filipjack
36 minutes ago
Vector geometry with unusual points
Ciobi_   1
N 41 minutes ago by ericdimc
Source: Romania NMO 2025 9.2
Let $\triangle ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle, with circumcenter $O$, circumradius $R$ and orthocenter $H$. Let $A_1$ be a point on $BC$ such that $A_1H+A_1O=R$. Define $B_1$ and $C_1$ similarly.
If $\overrightarrow{AA_1} + \overrightarrow{BB_1} + \overrightarrow{CC_1} = \overrightarrow{0}$, prove that $\triangle ABC$ is equilateral.
1 reply
Ciobi_
Apr 2, 2025
ericdimc
41 minutes ago
Parallel Lines and Q Point
taptya17   14
N an hour ago by Haris1
Source: India EGMO TST 2025 Day 1 P3
Let $\Delta ABC$ be an acute angled scalene triangle with circumcircle $\omega$. Let $O$ and $H$ be the circumcenter and orthocenter of $\Delta ABC,$ respectively. Let $E,F$ and $Q$ be points on segments $AB,AC$ and $\omega$, respectively, such that
$$\angle BHE=\angle CHF=\angle AQH=90^\circ.$$Prove that $OQ$ and $AH$ intersect on the circumcircle of $\Delta AEF$.

Proposed by Antareep Nath
14 replies
taptya17
Dec 13, 2024
Haris1
an hour ago
The last nonzero digit of factorials
Tintarn   4
N an hour ago by Sadigly
Source: Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik 2025, Round 1 - Problem 2
For each integer $n \ge 2$ we consider the last digit different from zero in the decimal expansion of $n!$. The infinite sequence of these digits starts with $2,6,4,2,2$. Determine all digits which occur at least once in this sequence, and show that each of those digits occurs in fact infinitely often.
4 replies
Tintarn
Mar 17, 2025
Sadigly
an hour ago
P2 Geo that most of contestants died
AlephG_64   2
N an hour ago by Tsikaloudakis
Source: 2025 Finals Portuguese Mathematical Olympiad P2
Let $ABCD$ be a quadrilateral such that $\angle A$ and $\angle D$ are acute and $\overline{AB} = \overline{BC} = \overline{CD}$. Suppose that $\angle BDA = 30^\circ$, prove that $\angle DAC= 30^\circ$.
2 replies
AlephG_64
Yesterday at 1:23 PM
Tsikaloudakis
an hour ago
comp. geo starting with a 90-75-15 triangle. <APB =<CPQ, <BQA =<CQP.
parmenides51   1
N 2 hours ago by Mathzeus1024
Source: 2013 Cuba 2.9
Let ABC be a triangle with $\angle A = 90^o$, $\angle B = 75^o$, and $AB = 2$. Points $P$ and $Q$ of the sides $AC$ and $BC$ respectively, are such that $\angle APB =  \angle CPQ$ and $\angle BQA = \angle CQP$. Calculate the lenght of $QA$.
1 reply
parmenides51
Sep 20, 2024
Mathzeus1024
2 hours ago
Fridolin just can't get enough from jumping on the number line
Tintarn   2
N 2 hours ago by Sadigly
Source: Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik 2025, Round 1 - Problem 1
Fridolin the frog jumps on the number line: He starts at $0$, then jumps in some order on each of the numbers $1,2,\dots,9$ exactly once and finally returns with his last jump to $0$. Can the total distance he travelled with these $10$ jumps be a) $20$, b) $25$?
2 replies
Tintarn
Mar 17, 2025
Sadigly
2 hours ago
Geometry
Captainscrubz   2
N 2 hours ago by MrdiuryPeter
Source: Own
Let $D$ be any point on side $BC$ of $\triangle ABC$ .Let $E$ and $F$ be points on $AB$ and $AC$ such that $EB=ED$ and $FD=FC$ respectively. Prove that the locus of circumcenter of $(DEF)$ is a line.
Prove without using moving points :D
2 replies
Captainscrubz
4 hours ago
MrdiuryPeter
2 hours ago
Find the constant
JK1603JK   1
N 2 hours ago by Quantum-Phantom
Source: unknown
Find all $k$ such that $$\left(a^{3}+b^{3}+c^{3}-3abc\right)^{2}-\left[a^{3}+b^{3}+c^{3}+3abc-ab(a+b)-bc(b+c)-ca(c+a)\right]^{2}\ge 2k\cdot(a-b)^{2}(b-c)^{2}(c-a)^{2}$$forall $a,b,c\ge 0.$
1 reply
JK1603JK
6 hours ago
Quantum-Phantom
2 hours ago
hard problem
Cobedangiu   15
N 2 hours ago by Nguyenhuyen_AG
problem
15 replies
Cobedangiu
Mar 27, 2025
Nguyenhuyen_AG
2 hours ago
Problem 1 IMO 2005 (Day 1)
Valentin Vornicu   92
N Apr 3, 2025 by Baimukh
Six points are chosen on the sides of an equilateral triangle $ABC$: $A_1$, $A_2$ on $BC$, $B_1$, $B_2$ on $CA$ and $C_1$, $C_2$ on $AB$, such that they are the vertices of a convex hexagon $A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2$ with equal side lengths.

Prove that the lines $A_1B_2$, $B_1C_2$ and $C_1A_2$ are concurrent.

Bogdan Enescu, Romania
92 replies
Valentin Vornicu
Jul 13, 2005
Baimukh
Apr 3, 2025
Problem 1 IMO 2005 (Day 1)
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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Valentin Vornicu
7301 posts
#1 • 8 Y
Y by Davi-8191, anantmudgal09, Math-Ninja, Adventure10, mathematicsy, HWenslawski, megarnie, Mango247
Six points are chosen on the sides of an equilateral triangle $ABC$: $A_1$, $A_2$ on $BC$, $B_1$, $B_2$ on $CA$ and $C_1$, $C_2$ on $AB$, such that they are the vertices of a convex hexagon $A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2$ with equal side lengths.

Prove that the lines $A_1B_2$, $B_1C_2$ and $C_1A_2$ are concurrent.

Bogdan Enescu, Romania
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Valentin Vornicu, Oct 3, 2005, 1:59 AM
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schulmannerism
171 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Solution:
Click to reveal hidden text
EDIT: The argument I use to prove the first claim is wrong--it fails when the hexagon has acute angles. Many other solutions in this thread have similar flaws, see Darij's post later in the thread: http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=44478&postorder=asc&start=26
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by schulmannerism, Apr 12, 2006, 11:21 PM
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Sly Si
777 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Please tell me if this hunch is on the right track:
Click to reveal hidden text
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al.M.V.
349 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Using schulmannerism's claim, one can also easily finish Ceva's Theorem using ratio of areas (half of product of two sides and the sine of the angle in between.) :)
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darij grinberg
6555 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Strange why most participants I have met used inequalities to solve this problem. My solution, at least, doesn't explicitely make use of them (of course, it uses the arrangement of the points, which can be considered as a kind of inequalities, but I guess there is no way to avoid using it...).

So here is, depending of how soon we will quit the internet cafe, my solution or just a rough outline of it:

Since the hexagon $A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2$ has equal sidelengths, we have $C_2A_1=A_1A_2$; thus, the triangle $C_2A_1A_2$ is isosceles, so its base angle is $\measuredangle A_1C_2A_2=\frac{180^{\circ}-\measuredangle C_2A_1A_2}{2}=\frac{\measuredangle C_2A_1B}{2}$. Similarly, $\measuredangle C_1A_1C_2=\frac{\measuredangle A_1C_2B}{2}$. But by the sum of angles in triangle $C_2BA_1$, we have $\measuredangle C_2A_1B+\measuredangle A_1C_2B=180^{\circ}-\measuredangle C_2BA_1=180^{\circ}-\measuredangle ABC$. Finally, < ABC = 60°, since the triangle ABC is equilateral. Hence, if the lines $C_1A_1$ and $C_2A_2$ intersect at a point K, the exterior angle theorem in triangle $C_2KA_1$ yields

$\measuredangle A_2KA_2=\measuredangle A_1C_2K+\measuredangle KA_1C_2=\measuredangle A_1C_2A_2+\measuredangle C_1A_1C_2$
$=\frac{\measuredangle C_2A_1B}{2}+\frac{\measuredangle A_1C_2B}{2}=\frac{\measuredangle C_2A_1B+\measuredangle A_1C_2B}{2}$
$=\frac{180^{\circ}-\measuredangle ABC}{2}=\frac{180^{\circ}-60^{\circ}}{2}=60^{\circ}$.

So the lines $C_1A_1$ and $C_2A_2$ intersect at an angle of 60°. Similarly, the lines $A_1B_1$ and $A_2B_2$ intersect at an angle of 60°, and so do the lines $B_1C_1$ and $B_2C_2$. Hence, the triangle $A_2B_2C_2$ is the image of the triangle $A_1B_1C_1$ under a spiral similitude with rotation angle 60°. [On the exam, I avoided speaking of "angles between lines" without properly defining the orientation of these angles, and thus I rewrote the above argument in a non-transformational way.]

Now, let Z be the center of the spiral similitude mapping the triangle $A_1B_1C_1$ to the triangle $A_2B_2C_2$. Then, since the rotation angle of the similitude is 60°, the triangles $ZA_1A_2$, $ZB_1B_2$, $ZC_1C_2$ are all directly similar, and have the angles $\measuredangle A_1ZA_2=\measuredangle B_1ZB_2=\measuredangle C_1ZC_2=60^{\circ}$. Actually, since $A_1A_2=B_1B_2=C_1C_2$ (as the hexagon $A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2$ has equal sidelengths), these triangles are even congruent. Thus, for instance, $ZA_1=ZB_1$. Together with $A_1A_2=B_1A_2$ (again since the hexagon $A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2$ has equal sidelengths) and $ZA_2=ZA_2$, the triangles $ZA_1A_2$ and $ZB_1A_2$ are congruent, so that $\measuredangle B_1ZA_2=\measuredangle A_1ZA_2$. Since $\measuredangle A_1ZA_2=60^{\circ}$, we thus have $\measuredangle B_1ZA_2=60^{\circ}$. Hence,

$\measuredangle A_1ZA_2+\measuredangle B_1ZA_2+\measuredangle B_1ZB_2=60^{\circ}+60^{\circ}+60^{\circ}=180^{\circ}$.

And thus, the point Z lies on the line $A_1B_2$. Similarly, the point Z lies on the lines $B_1C_2$ and $C_1A_2$. And we are done.

Oh my goodness, I guess 75% of my above argumentation were redundant. But actually, the whole thing took me 25 minutes, and I found it too much (I expected a geometry problem 1 to be doable in 10 minutes, like the one last year, but this one was harder), so I did not try to simplify but rather wrote it up as quickly as possible to have the time for the other two, especially since problem 2 seemed to be absolutely hard :D . Anyway, a good first day, although not for me, since I could have done the third one...

Darij
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Anto
213 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10 and 1 other user
The whole point of the problem is to prove that $A_1 B_1 C_1$ and $ A_2 B_2 C_2$ are equilateral.
To prove that let angle $C_1 B_1 B_2 = b$, $C_2 C_1 A_1 = c$ and $A_1 B_1 A_2 = a$.
Then we easily get : $ A_1 C_1 B_1 = 60 +b-c$, $ C_1 A_1 B_1 = 60 + c-a$ and $ A_1 B_1 C_1 = 60 + a-b$.
We can also prove in an easy way that : $ |a-b| < 30 $... and $ a<60$ ... respectivly.
Then by the cosine rule to the triangle $C_1 C_2 B_1$ we get that : $(C_1 B_1)^2 = (2x cos(b))^2 $ ...
By the sine rule to the trianlge $A_1 B_1 C_1$ and some calulation, we get the following system of equaltions :
(1) $ sin(a+b-c)\cdot cos(60 +b-a)=\frac{1}{2} \cdot sin(c) $
(2) $ sin(b+c-a)\cdot cos(60 +c-b)=\frac{1}{2} \cdot sin(a) $
(3) $ sin(a+c-b)\cdot cos(60 +a-c)=\frac{1}{2} \cdot sin(b) $
Now, if $a=b$ we easily get from (1) that $a=b=c$.
Let , wlog, that $a>b$. then from (1) we get that $sin(c) < sin(a+b-c)$ or $ 2c<a+b$ so $c<b$.
If $a>c$ then similarly from (3) $ 2b <a+c$ . Contradiction.
If $b>c>a$ then from (2) $sin(b+c-a) > sin(c)>sin(a)$ so $\frac{1}{2} > cos(60+c-b)$ so $60+c-b > 60$ or $c>b$ . Contradiction.
So $a=c$ but then from (3) we get $a=b=c$. Contradiction.
At last, we proved that $a=b=c$.
But then $A_1 B_1 C_1$ is equilateral and angle $C_1 C_2 A = B_1 A_2 C = A_1 C_2 B$. Simirly for the triangle $A_2 B_2 C_2$ and finally it is obvious that triangles $A C_1 B_2 = B A_1 C_2 = C A_2 B_1$.
The rest follows easily.
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Matija
53 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
it seemed to me that this problem is harder than the 2nd, but only because I was looking for a more complicated solution :huh: :)

denote |A(1)A(2)|=d, |AB|=a, |A(2)C|=x, |B(2)A|=y, |C(2)B|=z.
let's assume x>y, then a-d-y>a-d-x, and from triangles BA(1)C(2) and CB(1)A(2) follows that z>x, then a-d-x>a-d-z and similarly from the 2 triangles BA(1)C(2) and AC(1)B(2) it follows that y>z.
So we have x>y>z>x, a contradiction. Similarly for x<y. So x=y and by symmetry x=y=z.
Hence A(1)B(1)C(1) and A(2)B(2)C(2) are equilateral and the lines from the problems are their heights (medians, bisectors.. ) and all meet in one point.
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shobber
3498 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Some say it is not an IMO problem? Well, I agree, since even I am able to solve it.

My solution to problem one:

Lemma(Poland 1965--1966)
If the diagnals AD, BE, CF half the area of the convex hexagon, then AD, BE and CF are concurrent.

Proof: Assume the do not meet at one point.
Let's say $O= AD \cap BE$, $P= CF \cap BE$, $Q= AD \cap CF$
Since AD, BE, CF half the area, so:
\[\triangle{AOB}=\triangle{DOE}, \triangle{EFP}=\triangle{BCP}, \triangle{CQD}=\triangle{AQF}\]
then:

$1=\frac{\triangle{AOB}}{\triangle{DOE}} \cdot \frac{\triangle{EFP}}{\triangle{BCP}} \cdot \frac{\triangle{CQD}}{\triangle{AQF}}= \frac{AO \cdot BO}{DO \cdot EO} \cdot \frac{EP \cdot FP}{BP \cdot CP} \cdot \frac{CQ \cdot DQ}{AQ \cdot FQ}$

$= \frac{AO}{AQ} \cdot \frac{BO}{BP} \cdot \frac{CQ}{CP} \cdot \frac{DQ}{DO} \cdot \frac{EP}{EO} \cdot \frac{FP}{FQ} $

$ \neq 1$

Hence they must be concurrent.

Now get back to this problem.

Since $C_1C_2 = B_1B_2= A_1A_2$, and $A=C=B=60^o$, so we shall have:
$R_{BA_1C_2}=R_{AC_1B_2}=R_{CA_2B_1}$
($R$ is the circumradius.)

Assume $A_2C > B_2A$. Since $BA_1+A_2C=CB_1+B_2A$, so $BA_1 < CB_1$.

Since $2R=\frac{BA_1}{\sin{BC_2A_1}}=\frac{CB_1}{\sin{B_1A_2C}}$

So $\angle{BC_2A_1} < \angle{CA_2B_1}$
So $ \angle{BA_1C_2} > \angle{CB_1A_2}$

Use the law of sines again, we get $BC_2 > CA_2$.
So $BC_2 > B_2A$. Hence $\angle{BA_1C_2} > \angle{AC_1B_2}$,
Hence $\angle{BC_2A_1} < \angle{AB_2C_1}$
Hence $BA_1 < AC_1$.
Because we already have $C_2B > CA_2$, so add them togather we have $AB-C_1C_2 > BC- A_1A_2$.

It is impossible.

By symmetry, we can know that $CA_2=BC_2=AB_2$, $A_1B=C_1A=B_1C$.

The rest is easy. We can prove that
$\triangle{AC_1B_2}=\triangle{CB_1A_2}=\triangle{BA_1C_2}$
$\triangle{A_1C_1C_2}=\triangle{B_1A_1A_2}=\triangle{C_1B_1B_2}$
$\cdots \cdots \cdots$
It is easy to prove that the diagnols half the area of the hexagon.
Use our lemma now...

Cheers!
How much point can this proof recieve?
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shobber
3498 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I shall also add a pic for the lemma.
P.S. How do I add two pictures in one post?
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xdj
1 post
#10 • 6 Y
Y by MathBoy23, k12byda5h, Adventure10, Mango247, NCbutAN, and 1 other user
This question is very easy.
Step 1: prove AC1=BA1=CB1.

Shift AC1 to A'C'', C2B to C''B', AB2 to A'B'', B1C to B''C'. Then it is easy to show that B'A'' and A''C' are also shifted BA1 and A2C. Since triangle A'B'C' and A''B''C'' are both equilateral triangles, A'C''=B'A''=C'B'' => AC1=BA1=CB1

Step 2: A2C1 is the middle line of C2B2 and B1A1 and so on. It is easy.

Step 3: triangle B2C2A2 is an equilateral triangle so the three lines meet.
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Virgil Nicula
7054 posts
#11 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
:) I note: $BA_1=a_1,CA_2=b_1;CB_1=a_2,AB_2=b_2;AC_1=a_3,BC_2=b_3.$
:roll: ...........$A_1A_2=B_1B_2=C_1C_2=x,a_1+a_2+a_3=l,$ $a_1+b_1=a_2+b_2=a_3+b_3=k.$
:blush: ****************************************************************************
$a_1^2+b_3^2-a_1b_3=a_2^2+b_1^2-a_2b_1=a_3^2+b_2^2-a_3b_2=x^2.$
$a_1^2+(k-a_3)^2-a_1(k-a_3)=a_2^2+(k-a_1)^2-a_2(k-a_1)...iff...$
$a_3^2-2ka_3+ka_1+a_1a_3=a_2^2-ka_2+a_1a_2...iff...$
$(a_3-a_2)(a_1+a_2+a_3)+k(a_1+a_2-2a_3)=0\ a.s.o.$
$l(a_3-a_1)=k(a_2+a_3-2a_1);\ l(a_1-a_2)=k(a_3+a_1-$ $2a_2);\ l(a_2-a_3)=k(a_1+a_2-2a_3).$ (*)
*****************************************************************************************
I pressupose that $a_1\ne a_2\ne a_3\ne a_1.$ Thus,

$\frac{a_2+a_3-2a_1}{a_3-a_1}=\frac{a_3+a_1-2a_2}{a_1-a_2}=\frac{a_1+a_2-2a_3}{a_2-a_3}=\frac{l}{k}...iff...$
$1-\frac{l}{k}=\frac{a_1-a_2}{a_3-a_1}=\frac{a_2-a_3}{a_1-a_2}=\frac{a_3-a_1}{a_2-a_3}=$ $\sqrt [3]{\frac{(a_1-a_2)(a_2-a_3)(a_3-a_1)}{(a_3-a_1)(a_1-a_2)(a_2-a_3)}}=1...iff...l=0$, what is absurd.

Thus, there are $i,j\in \{1,2,3\},\ i\ne j$, such that $a_i=a_j.$ From the relations (*) results $a_1=a_2=a_3,$ a.s.o. :first: :rotfl:

Thanks, Darij Grinberg, for correction of calculus !
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by Virgil Nicula, Jul 31, 2005, 6:48 AM
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vnmathboy
33 posts
#12 • 6 Y
Y by Tommy2000, Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
I have beautiful solution:

I
is point inside convex hexagon
A_1A_2B_1B_2C_1C_2
such that
IA_1A_2
is regular triangle. It's easy to prove that
IC_1B_2
is regular triangle. Let the lines $A_1B_2$ and $A_2C_1$ meet at $M$. So
I, M, B_1
are collinear (because they lie on the perpendicular bisector of segment
B_2A_2
); and
I, M, C_2
are collinear (because they lie on the perpendicular bisector of segment
A_1C_1
). So
C_2, M, B_1
are conlinear or
A_1B_2, B_1C_2, C_1A_2
are concurrent.

[Moderator edit: Corrected some language mistakes and defined point M.]
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jarod
184 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I think only Darij 's proof and Anto 's proof are valuable .
Check your proofs again ! Something is vague .
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Piotr Achinger
6 posts
#14 • 4 Y
Y by Swistak, Adventure10, and 2 other users
check out this one:

as the three vectors A1A2, B1B2, C1C2 are similar (in the same scale) to BC, AC, AB respectively,
we have A1A2+B1B2+C1C2=0, so A2B1+B2C1+C2A1 is also a zero vector,
so we can build an equilateral triangle from vectors A2B1, B2C1, C2A1, which has its sides parallel
to the sides of the triangle made by the prolongations of A2B1, B2C1, C2A1,
so this triangle is also equilateral (denote its vertices as A',B',C').

as we have angle B1B'C1=60=B1AC1, B1B'AC1 is cyclic, so angle B'B1A=B'C1A, so the angles
B1 and C1 of the hexagon are equal.

analogically we can prove that the angles of the hexagon A1=B1=C1=alpha, A2=B2=C2=beta,
so A1B2, B1C2, C1A2 are the axes of symmetry of the hexagon....
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aodeath
69 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Steps of the proof:

1 - Construction of the hexagon.
2 - Show that
A_1B_1C_1
and
A_2B_2C_2
are equilateral triangles.
3 - Show that the point of concurrence is the circuncenter of the triangle
ABC
.

1 - It's easy to see that we can construct the hexagon described by the problem by the following manner:

Draw the equilateral triangle and its circuncircle. Choose other three points on the circuncircle and draw another equilateral triangle, different from
ABC
, named
\overline{A}\overline{B}\overline{C}
. The points where the triangles concur are exactly the vertices of the hexagon.

2 - By marking some anlgles and with the known fact of congruence, it's very easy to see that the triangles
A_1B_1C_1
and
A_2B_2C_2
are equilateral.

3 - Call
P
the circuncenter of the triangle
ABC
. Draw
AP,C_1P, B_1P
and
\angle{AC_1B_2}=\alpha
. We know that
\overline{C_1P}
bissects
\angle{B_2C_1C_2}
, and then
\angle{B_2C_1P}=\frac{\pi-\alpha}{2}
and using the fact that
C_1A\overline{A}B_1
are concyclic e conclude that
\angle{AB_1P}=\frac{\pi-\alpha}{2}
, since
\angle{AC_1P}+\angle{AB_1P}=\pi
then, this quadrilateral is cyclic to, which proves that
\overline{PC_1}=\overline{PB_1}
. By the same way, you prove the same for the other segment, which makes us conclude that
P
is the circuncenter of
A_1B_1C_1
. Analogously, you can prove the
P
is circuncenter of
A_2B_2C_2
. Since we know then that
P
belong to the mediatrice of the equilateral triangle, we conclude that the segments concur in
P


If you find any mistake, I'll be glad to be noticed =]

thanks =]
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H
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