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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

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[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 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
P,Q,B are collinear
MNJ2357   29
N 20 minutes ago by cj13609517288
Source: 2020 Korea National Olympiad P2
$H$ is the orthocenter of an acute triangle $ABC$, and let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Suppose $(AH)$ meets $AB$ and $AC$ at $D,E$ respectively. $AH$ meets $DE$ at $P$, and the line through $H$ perpendicular to $AH$ meets $DM$ at $Q$. Prove that $P,Q,B$ are collinear.
29 replies
MNJ2357
Nov 21, 2020
cj13609517288
20 minutes ago
Factorising and prime numbers...
Sadigly   5
N an hour ago by ektorasmiliotis
Source: Azerbaijan Senior MO 2025 P4
Prove that for any $p>2$ prime number, there exists only one positive number $n$ that makes the equation $n^2-np$ a perfect square of a positive integer
5 replies
1 viewing
Sadigly
May 8, 2025
ektorasmiliotis
an hour ago
IMO 2011 Problem 3
Amir Hossein   85
N an hour ago by NerdyNashville
Let $f : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a real-valued function defined on the set of real numbers that satisfies
\[f(x + y) \leq yf(x) + f(f(x))\]
for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. Prove that $f(x) = 0$ for all $x \leq 0$.

Proposed by Igor Voronovich, Belarus
85 replies
Amir Hossein
Jul 18, 2011
NerdyNashville
an hour ago
Angle Relationships in Triangles
steven_zhang123   0
2 hours ago
In $\triangle ABC$, $AB > AC$. The internal angle bisector of $\angle BAC$ and the external angle bisector of $\angle BAC$ intersect the ray $BC$ at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. Given that $CE - CD = 2AC$, prove that $\angle ACB = 2\angle ABC$.
0 replies
steven_zhang123
2 hours ago
0 replies
acute triangle and its circumcenter and orthocenter
N.T.TUAN   6
N 2 hours ago by MathLuis
Source: USA TST 2005, Problem 2
Let $A_{1}A_{2}A_{3}$ be an acute triangle, and let $O$ and $H$ be its circumcenter and orthocenter, respectively. For $1\leq i \leq 3$, points $P_{i}$ and $Q_{i}$ lie on lines $OA_{i}$ and $A_{i+1}A_{i+2}$ (where $A_{i+3}=A_{i}$), respectively, such that $OP_{i}HQ_{i}$ is a parallelogram. Prove that
\[\frac{OQ_{1}}{OP_{1}}+\frac{OQ_{2}}{OP_{2}}+\frac{OQ_{3}}{OP_{3}}\geq 3.\]
6 replies
N.T.TUAN
May 14, 2007
MathLuis
2 hours ago
Imtersecting two regular pentagons
Miquel-point   2
N 3 hours ago by ohiorizzler1434
Source: KoMaL B. 5093
The intersection of two congruent regular pentagons is a decagon with sides of $a_1,a_2,\ldots ,a_{10}$ in this order. Prove that
\[a_1a_3+a_3a_5+a_5a_7+a_7a_9+a_9a_1=a_2a_4+a_4a_6+a_6a_8+a_8a_{10}+a_{10}a_2.\]
2 replies
1 viewing
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 6:27 PM
ohiorizzler1434
3 hours ago
Chinese Girls Mathematical Olympiad 2017, Problem 7
Hermitianism   45
N 4 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: Chinese Girls Mathematical Olympiad 2017, Problem 7
This is a very classical problem.
Let the $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral with circumcircle $\omega_1$.Lines $AC$ and $BD$ intersect at point $E$,and lines $AD$,$BC$ intersect at point $F$.Circle $\omega_2$ is tangent to segments $EB,EC$ at points $M,N$ respectively,and intersects with circle $\omega_1$ at points $Q,R$.Lines $BC,AD$ intersect line $MN$ at $S,T$ respectively.Show that $Q,R,S,T$ are concyclic.
45 replies
Hermitianism
Aug 16, 2017
Ilikeminecraft
4 hours ago
Easy Geometry
pokmui9909   6
N 5 hours ago by reni_wee
Source: FKMO 2025 P4
Triangle $ABC$ satisfies $\overline{CA} > \overline{AB}$. Let the incenter of triangle $ABC$ be $\omega$, which touches $BC, CA, AB$ at $D, E, F$, respectively. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Let the circle centered at $M$ passing through $D$ intersect $DE, DF$ at $P(\neq D), Q(\neq D)$, respecively. Let line $AP$ meet $BC$ at $N$, line $BP$ meet $CA$ at $L$. Prove that the three lines $EQ, FP, NL$ are concurrent.
6 replies
pokmui9909
Mar 30, 2025
reni_wee
5 hours ago
Old hard problem
ItzsleepyXD   3
N 5 hours ago by Funcshun840
Source: IDK
Let $ABC$ be a triangle and let $O$ be its circumcenter and $I$ its incenter.
Let $P$ be the radical center of its three mixtilinears and let $Q$ be the isogonal conjugate of $P$.
Let $G$ be the Gergonne point of the triangle $ABC$.
Prove that line $QG$ is parallel with line $OI$ .
3 replies
ItzsleepyXD
Apr 25, 2025
Funcshun840
5 hours ago
Beautiful Angle Sum Property in Hexagon with Incenter
Raufrahim68   0
Yesterday at 6:53 PM
Hello everyone! I discovered an interesting geometric property and would like to share it with the community. I'm curious if this is a known result and whether it can be generalized.

Problem Statement:
Let
A
B
C
D
E
K
ABCDEK be a convex hexagon with an incircle centered at
O
O. Prove that:


A
O
B
+

C
O
D
+

E
O
K
=
180

∠AOB+∠COD+∠EOK=180
0 replies
Raufrahim68
Yesterday at 6:53 PM
0 replies
IMO 2009 P2, but in space
Miquel-point   1
N Yesterday at 6:36 PM by Miquel-point
Source: KoMaL A. 485
Let $ABCD$ be a tetrahedron with circumcenter $O$. Suppose that the points $P, Q$ and $R$ are interior points of the edges $AB, AC$ and $AD$, respectively. Let $K, L, M$ and $N$ be the centroids of the triangles $PQD$, $PRC,$ $QRB$ and $PQR$, respectively. Prove that if the plane $PQR$ is tangent to the sphere $KLMN$ then $OP=OQ=OR.$

1 reply
1 viewing
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 6:35 PM
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 6:36 PM
Dissecting regular heptagon in similar isosceles trapezoids
Miquel-point   0
Yesterday at 6:25 PM
Source: KoMaL B. 5085
Show that a regular heptagon can be dissected into a finite number of symmetrical trapezoids, all similar to each other.

Proposed by M. Laczkovich, Budapest
0 replies
1 viewing
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 6:25 PM
0 replies
Amazing projective stereometry
Miquel-point   0
Yesterday at 6:24 PM
Source: KoMaL B 5060
In the plane $\Sigma$, given a circle $k$ and a point $P$ in its interior, not coinciding with the center of $k$. Call a point $O$ of space, not lying on $\Sigma$, a proper projection center if there exists a plane $\Sigma'$, not passing through $O$, such that, by projecting the points of $\Sigma$ from $O$ to $\Sigma'$, the projection of $k$ is also a circle, and its center is the projection of $P$. Show that the proper projection centers lie on a circle.
0 replies
1 viewing
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 6:24 PM
0 replies
Proving radical axis through orthocenter
azzam2912   2
N Yesterday at 6:11 PM by Miquel-point
In acute triangle $ABC$ let $D, E$ and $F$ denote the feet of the altitudes from $A, B$ and $C$, respectively. Let line $DE$ intersect circumcircle $ABC$ at points $G, H$. Similarly, let line $DF$ intersect circumcircle $ABC$ at points $I, J$. Prove that the radical axis of circles $EIJ$ and $FGH$ passes through the orthocenter of triangle $ABC$
2 replies
azzam2912
Yesterday at 12:02 PM
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 6:11 PM
IMO ShortList 2002, geometry problem 7
orl   109
N Apr 27, 2025 by Ilikeminecraft
Source: IMO ShortList 2002, geometry problem 7
The incircle $ \Omega$ of the acute-angled triangle $ ABC$ is tangent to its side $ BC$ at a point $ K$. Let $ AD$ be an altitude of triangle $ ABC$, and let $ M$ be the midpoint of the segment $ AD$. If $ N$ is the common point of the circle $ \Omega$ and the line $ KM$ (distinct from $ K$), then prove that the incircle $ \Omega$ and the circumcircle of triangle $ BCN$ are tangent to each other at the point $ N$.
109 replies
orl
Sep 28, 2004
Ilikeminecraft
Apr 27, 2025
IMO ShortList 2002, geometry problem 7
G H J
Source: IMO ShortList 2002, geometry problem 7
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orl
3647 posts
#1 • 15 Y
Y by narutomath96, Davi-8191, valsidalv007, A-Thought-Of-God, samrocksnature, mathematicsy, donotoven, jhu08, Adventure10, mathmax12, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, Funcshun840, drago.7437, MS_asdfgzxcvb
The incircle $ \Omega$ of the acute-angled triangle $ ABC$ is tangent to its side $ BC$ at a point $ K$. Let $ AD$ be an altitude of triangle $ ABC$, and let $ M$ be the midpoint of the segment $ AD$. If $ N$ is the common point of the circle $ \Omega$ and the line $ KM$ (distinct from $ K$), then prove that the incircle $ \Omega$ and the circumcircle of triangle $ BCN$ are tangent to each other at the point $ N$.
Attachments:
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orl
3647 posts
#2 • 6 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, jhu08, sabkx, dxd29070501, Mango247
Please post your solutions. This is just a solution template to write up your solutions in a nice way and formatted in LaTeX. But maybe your solution is so well written that this is not required finally. For more information and instructions regarding the ISL/ILL problems please look here: introduction for the IMO ShortList/LongList project and regardingsolutions :)
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grobber
7849 posts
#3 • 12 Y
Y by eshan, Anar24, naw.ngs, Supercali, BobaFett101, samrocksnature, hakN, Adventure10, jhu08, agwwtl03, Mango247, MS_asdfgzxcvb
I don't like this solution, but I couldn't find a better one this late at night (or this early in the morning; it's 4:15 AM here :)).

Let $S=KA\cap \Omega$, and let $T$ be the antipode of $K$ on $\Omega$. Let $X,Y$ be the touch points between $\Omega$ and $CA,AB$ respectively.

The line $AD$ is parallel to $KT$ and is cut into two equal parts by $KS,KN,KD$, so $(KT,KN;KS,KD)=-1$. This means that the quadrilateral $KTSN$ is harmonic, so the tangents to $\Omega$ through $K,S$ meet on $NT$. On the other hand, the tangents to $\Omega$ through the points $X,Y$ meet on $KS$, so $KXSY$ is also harmonic, meaning that the tangents to $\Omega$ through $K,S$ meet on $XY$.

From these it follows that $BC,XY,TN$ are concurrent. If $P=XY\cap BC$, it's well-known that $(B,C;K,P)=-1$, and since $\angle KNP=\angle KNT=\frac{\pi}2$, it means that $N$ lies on an Apollonius circle, so $NK$ is the bisector of $\angle BNC$.

From here the conclusion follows, because if $B'=NB\cap \Omega,\ C'=NC\cap \Omega$, we get $B'C'\|BC$, so there's a homothety of center $N$ which maps $\Omega$ to the circumcircle of $BNC$.
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darij grinberg
6555 posts
#4 • 4 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, jhu08, Mango247
Grobber, I like your solution! Just to clarify a few points which took me some time to understand:
grobber wrote:
and since $\angle KNP=\angle KNT=\frac{\pi}2$,

This is because the segment KT is a diameter of $\Omega$.
grobber wrote:
From here the conclusion follows, because if $B'=NB\cap \Omega,\ C'=NC\cap \Omega$, we get $B'C'\|BC$,

Is this trivial? The only explanation I have is to use the intersecting secant and tangent theorem, which yields $BB^{\prime} \cdot BN = BK^2$ and $CC^{\prime} \cdot CN = CK^2$, from what we conclude $\frac{BB^{\prime} \cdot BN}{CC^{\prime} \cdot CN} = \frac{BK^2}{CK^2}$, but since the line NK bisects the angle BNC, we have $\frac{BK}{CK} = \frac{BN}{CN}$, so that we get $\frac{BB^{\prime} \cdot BN}{CC^{\prime} \cdot CN} = \frac{BN^2}{CN^2}$, and thus $\frac{BB^{\prime}}{CC^{\prime}} = \frac{BN}{CN}$, what immediately implies B'C' || BC.

As for another solution of the problem, see http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=14741 . :D

Darij
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by darij grinberg, Sep 30, 2004, 11:19 AM
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sprmnt21
279 posts
#5 • 4 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Adventure10, jhu08, Mango247
I like very mutch Grobber's solution too.

Another way to see that B'C'//BC, once we know that <BNK = <CNK is the following: <B'C'K = <B'NK = <C'NK = <C'KC.
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darij grinberg
6555 posts
#6 • 4 Y
Y by samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10, Mango247
Indeed, I was stupid...

Darij
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Agr_94_Math
881 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10
An alternate solution using some computation and inversion :
Let us prove that for a circle through $B<C$ tangent to the incircle of triangle $ABC$ at point $N'$, $K, M, N'$ are collinear.
Now, it is enough if we prove that angles $BKM$ and $BKN'$ are equal.
After a few computations, we get $\tan {BKM} =  \frac { cos(\frac{B}{2}) cos(\frac{C}{2})}{sin(\frac{B-C}{2})}$
Now apply an inversion with center $K$ and radius $BK$.
Thereagain, after a few computations, we get $tan(BKN') = tan(BKM) = \frac { cos(\frac{B}{2}) cos(\frac{C}{2})}{sin(\frac{B-C}{2})}$.
So we are done.
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jayme
9793 posts
#8 • 4 Y
Y by vsathiam, samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10
Dear Mathlinkers,
this problem was already posted, but where?
In order to have a complete synthetic proof, we can observe that NK goes through the A-excenter...
Sincerely
Jean-Louis
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Agr_94_Math
881 posts
#9 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10
Dear jayme,
I too on trying for a synthetic solution, tried by the same collinearity.
That is the midpoint of the altitude , tangency point of the incircle with the corresponding side and the corresponding excenter are collinear.
This is true by considering the diametrically opposite point of the tangency point of the excircle with $BC$ and drawing a parallel through it to $BC$ and using homothety and semiprojection result.


But I was not able to finish the problem using this synthetic idea.
So, could you please tell your complete solution?
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Virgil Nicula
7054 posts
#10 • 4 Y
Y by hatchguy, samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10
I observed now this old and nice problem. I''ll search its synthetical proof and return soon. Yes Jayme,

your remark is very interesting. Indeed, if denote the point $L$ where the $A$-exincircle touches the side $[BC]$ ,

then $M\in I_aK\cap IL$ because $\{\begin{array}{c}
\frac {KD}{KL}=\frac {s-a}{a}=\frac {h_a}{2r_a}=\frac {MD}{LI_a}\\\\
\frac {LD}{LK}=\frac sa=\frac {h_a}{2r}=\frac {MD}{IK}\end{array}$.
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Luis González
4149 posts
#11 • 8 Y
Y by eziz, amar_04, samrocksnature, jhu08, kamatadu, Adventure10, Mango247, MS_asdfgzxcvb
Let $N'$ be the tangency point of the circle $\omega$ passing through $B,C$ with $\Omega.$ Let $U$ denote the antipode of $K$ WRT $ \Omega$ and $V$ the tangency point of the A-excircle $(I_a)$ with $BC.$ According to this topic, $N'U,N'K$ bisects $\angle AN'V$ internally and externally. Let $N''$ be the image of $N'$ under the homothety with center $A$ that takes $\Omega$ and $(I_a)$ into each other. Then $UN' \parallel VN''$ $\Longrightarrow$ $N'K \perp N''V$ $\Longrightarrow$ $\triangle N'VN''$ is isosceles with apex $N',$ which implies that $I_a \in N'K,$ due to $I_aV=I_aN''=r_a.$ But since $M \in KI_a,$ we deduce that $N \equiv N'.$
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ThinkFlow
1415 posts
#12 • 5 Y
Y by samrocksnature, Bubu-Droid, jhu08, Adventure10, Mango247
Here is a somewhat longer solution...

Solution
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SnowEverywhere
801 posts
#13 • 4 Y
Y by samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10, Mango247
Let $I$ be the incenter and $I_A$ be the $A$-excenter of triangle $\triangle{ABC}$. Let $\omega$ be the incircle, $\Gamma$ be the $A$-excircle and let $\Omega$ be the circle with diameter $AD$. The homothety with center $A$ sending $\omega$ to $\Gamma$ takes $K$ to $K'$ where the tangent at $K'$ to $\Gamma$ is parallel to $BC$, perpencular to $AD$ and hence parallel to the tangent to $\Omega$ at $A$. Hence the negative homothety taking $\Omega$ to $\Gamma$ takes $A$ to $K'$ and therefore has center on $AK'$. The center of this negative homothety also lies on the common tangent $BC$ to $\Omega$ and $\Gamma$ and therefore the center of the negative homothety is $K$. This implies that $M$, $I_A$ and $K$ are collinear. Now let the circle $\gamma$ with diameter $II_A$ intersect $\omega$ at $X$ and $Y$. Note that this implies that $XI_A$ and $YI_A$ are tangent to $\omega$ and hence that $XY$ is the polar of $I_A$ with respect to $\omega$. Now let $XY$ intersect $BC$ at $T$. Let $N'$ denote the point on $\omega$ such that $TN'$ is tangent to $\omega$ and $N' \neq K$. Now note that since $T$ lies on the polar of $I_A$ with respect to $\omega$, $I_A$ lies on the polar of $T$ with respect to $\omega$, which is $N'K$. Hence $I_A$, $N'$, $K$ and $M$ are collinear and thus $N=N'$. Since $BI_A$ and $CI_A$ bisect the exterior angles of the triangle at $B$ and $C$, respectively, $\gamma$ passes through $B$ and $C$. Hence $BCYX$ is cyclic and, by power of a point with respect to $\gamma$ and $\omega$, $TN^2 = TX \cdot TY = TB \cdot TC$. This implies that the circumcircle of $\triangle{BCN}$ is tangent to $\omega$ at $N$, as desired.
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Zhero
2043 posts
#14 • 3 Y
Y by samrocksnature, jhu08, Adventure10
WLOG, let $AB<AC$ (the case $AB=AC$ is trivial.) Let $a=BC$, $b=CA$, $c=AB$. Let $I$ be the the center of $\Omega$, let $r$ be its radius, let $\Omega$ be tangent to $AB$ and $AC$ at $X$ and $Y$, respectively, and let $Z$ be the point where $XY$ meets $BC$. Let $\omega_A$ be the $A$-excircle of $ABC$, let $I_A$ be its center, $r_A$ be its radius, and let $J$ be its tangency point with $BC$, We first claim that $M$, $K$, and $J$ are collinear.

Let $J'$ be its antipode in $\omega_A$. A homothety centered at $A$ taking $\Omega$ to $\omega_A$ sends $K$ to $J'$. Thus, a homothety centered at $K$ mapping $\Omega$ to $\omega_A$ must send $A$ to $J'$ as well. Line $AD$ is sent to a line parallel to it passing through $J'$, i.e., line $JJ'$. Since $J,D$ both line on $BC$, the homothety must map $D$ to $J$. Thus, the homothety must map the midpoint of $AD$ to the midpoint of $JJ'$, so $M$, $K$, and $I_A$ must be collinear.

Now let $P$ be the midpoint of $ZK$. Because $(Z,B,K,C)$ is harmonic, we must have $PK^2 = PB \cdot PC$ (this can also be verified by computing the lengths directly, given $ZB$, which can be found through Menelaus.) Consequently, if the tangent to $\Omega$ from $P$ distinct from $PB$ is tangent to $\Omega$ at $N'$, we have $PN'^2 = PK^2 = PB \cdot PC$, whence $PN'$ is tangent to the circumcircle of $\triangle N'BC$, i.e., $N'$ is the tangency point of the circle through $B,C$ tangent to $\Omega$. We wish to show that $N'$, $K$, and $I_A$ are collinear.

We claim that $\triangle PIK \sim \triangle I_a KJ$. The result would then follow, for we would have $\angle I_a KJ = \angle ZIK = 90^{\circ} - \angle N'KI = \angle N'KD$. Since both triangles are right, it suffices to prove $PK/KI = I_aJ / KJ \iff PK \cdot KJ = r r_A$. Now, $rr_A = \frac{K^2}{s(s-a)} = (s-b)(s-c)$, where $K$ is the area and $s$ is the semiperimeter of $\triangle ABC$. Also, $KJ = a - BK - CJ = a - 2(s-b) = b-c$, and
\[ \frac{ZB}{ZB + a} = \frac{KB}{KC} = \frac{s-b}{s-c} \implies ZK = ZB + s-b = \frac{(s-b)(a+b-c)}{b-c}. \]
Thus,
\[ PK \cdot KJ = \frac{ZK}{2} \cdot KJ = \frac{(s-b)(s-c)}{b-c} \cdot (b-c) = (s-b)(s-c) = r r_A, \]
so we are done.
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v_Enhance
6877 posts
#15 • 45 Y
Y by Amir Hossein, sjaelee, aopsqwerty, Einstein314, eshan, AlgebraFC, Delray, vsathiam, Durjoy1729, Pluto1708, thczarif, valsidalv007, amar_04, Nymoldin, srijonrick, anonman, Wizard0001, like123, Gaussian_cyber, HamstPan38825, samrocksnature, blackbluecar, hsiangshen, jhu08, SSaad, lneis1, kac3pro, myh2910, David-Vieta, channing421, yee5487, sabkx, dili96, Stuffybear, Mogmog8, Adventure10, Mango247, Ritwin, fearsum_fyz, Frank25, MS_asdfgzxcvb, CreyJonhson, and 3 other users
Let $I_A$ be the $A$-excenter with tangency points $X_A$, $X_B$, and $X_C$ to $BC$, $CA$ and $AB$, respectively. Define $P$ to be the midpoint of $KI_A$. Let $r$ be the radius of the incircle and $R$ the radius of the $A$-excircle.

It is well-known that $M$, $K$ and $I_A$ are collinear. We claim that $NBPC$ is cyclic; it suffices to prove that $2BK \cdot KC = 2KP \cdot KN = KN \cdot KI_A$. On the other hand, by Power of a Point we have that \[ I_AK \left( I_AK + KN \right) = II_A^2 -r^2 \implies KN \cdot KI_A = II_A^2 - r^2 - I_AK^2 \] Now we need only simplify the right-hand side using the Pythagorean Theorem; it is $\left( (r+R)^2 + KX_A^2 \right) - r^2 - \left( R^2 + KX_A^2 \right) = 2Rr$. So it suffices to prove $Rr = (s-b)(s-c)$, which is not hard.

Now, since $P$ is the midpoint of minor arc $\widehat{BC}$ of $(NBC)$ (via $BK=CX_A$), while the incircle is tangent to segment $BC$ at $K$, the conclusion follows readily.

[asy]/* DRAGON 0.0.9.6 
Homemade Script by v_Enhance. */

import olympiad; import cse5; size(11cm); real lsf=0.8000; real lisf=2011.0; defaultpen(fontsize(10pt)); real xmin=-4.18; real xmax=3.94; real ymin=-2.38; real ymax=2.34;

/* Initialize Objects */
pair A = (-1.5, 2.0);
pair B = (-2.0, 0.0);
pair C = (0.5, 0.0);
pair I = incenter(A,B,C);
pair D = foot(A,B,C);
pair M = midpoint(A--D);
pair K = foot(I,B,C);
pair N = (2)*(foot(I,M,K))-K;
pair I_A = (2)*(IntersectionPoint(circumcircle(A,B,C),Line(A,I,lisf),1))-I;
pair X_B = foot(I_A,A,B);
pair X_C = foot(I_A,A,C);
path CircleNBC = circumcircle(N,B,C);
pair X_A = foot(I_A,B,C);
path NI_A = N--I_A;
pair P = IntersectionPoint(CircleNBC,NI_A,1);

/* Draw objects */
draw(A--B, rgb(0.0,0.6,0.6));
draw(B--C, rgb(0.0,0.6,0.6));
draw(C--A, rgb(0.0,0.6,0.6));
draw(incircle(A,B,C), rgb(0.0,0.8,0.0) + linewidth(1.2));
draw(A--D, dotted);
draw(CircleNBC, rgb(0.2,0.8,0.0));
draw(CirclebyPoint(I_A,X_A), rgb(0.0,0.8,0.0) + linewidth(1.2) + dashed);
draw(B--X_B, rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6) + linetype("4 4"));
draw(C--X_C, rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6) + linetype("4 4"));
draw(NI_A, rgb(0.0,0.0,0.8));

/* Place dots on each point */
dot(A);
dot(B);
dot(C);
dot(I);
dot(D);
dot(M);
dot(K);
dot(N);
dot(I_A);
dot(X_B);
dot(X_C);
dot(X_A);
dot(P);

/* Label points */
label("$A$", A, lsf * dir(135));
label("$B$", B, lsf * dir(135));
label("$C$", C, lsf * dir(45));
label("$I$", I, lsf * dir(45));
label("$D$", D, lsf * dir(135));
label("$M$", M, lsf * dir(45));
label("$K$", K, lsf * dir(45));
label("$N$", N, lsf * dir(115));
label("$I_A$", I_A, lsf * dir(45));
label("$X_B$", X_B, lsf * dir(170));
label("$X_C$", X_C, lsf * dir(45));
label("$X_A$", X_A, lsf * dir(45));
label("$P$", P, lsf * dir(45));

/* Clip the image */ 
clip((xmin,ymin)--(xmin,ymax)--(xmax,ymax)--(xmax,ymin)--cycle);
[/asy]
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