We have your learning goals covered with Spring and Summer courses available. Enroll today!

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
k a My Retirement & New Leadership at AoPS
rrusczyk   1571
N Mar 26, 2025 by SmartGroot
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
1571 replies
rrusczyk
Mar 24, 2025
SmartGroot
Mar 26, 2025
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]
Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
All classes run 7:30pm-8:45pm ET/4:30pm - 5:45pm PT unless otherwise noted.

Introductory: Grades 5-10

Prealgebra 1 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 1
Sunday, Mar 2 - Jun 22
Friday, Mar 28 - Jul 18
Sunday, Apr 13 - Aug 10
Tuesday, May 13 - Aug 26
Thursday, May 29 - Sep 11
Sunday, Jun 15 - Oct 12
Monday, Jun 30 - Oct 20
Wednesday, Jul 16 - Oct 29

Prealgebra 2 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 2
Tuesday, Mar 25 - Jul 8
Sunday, Apr 13 - Aug 10
Wednesday, May 7 - Aug 20
Monday, Jun 2 - Sep 22
Sunday, Jun 29 - Oct 26
Friday, Jul 25 - Nov 21


Introduction to Algebra A Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra A
Sunday, Mar 23 - Jul 20
Monday, Apr 7 - Jul 28
Sunday, May 11 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Wednesday, May 14 - Aug 27
Friday, May 30 - Sep 26
Monday, Jun 2 - Sep 22
Sunday, Jun 15 - Oct 12
Thursday, Jun 26 - Oct 9
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Oct 28

Introduction to Counting & Probability Self-Paced

Introduction to Counting & Probability
Sunday, Mar 16 - Jun 8
Wednesday, Apr 16 - Jul 2
Thursday, May 15 - Jul 31
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Wednesday, Jul 9 - Sep 24
Sunday, Jul 27 - Oct 19

Introduction to Number Theory
Monday, Mar 17 - Jun 9
Thursday, Apr 17 - Jul 3
Friday, May 9 - Aug 1
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Monday, Jun 9 - Aug 25
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Sep 30

Introduction to Algebra B Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra B
Sunday, Mar 2 - Jun 22
Wednesday, Apr 16 - Jul 30
Tuesday, May 6 - Aug 19
Wednesday, Jun 4 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Oct 19
Friday, Jul 18 - Nov 14

Introduction to Geometry
Tuesday, Mar 4 - Aug 12
Sunday, Mar 23 - Sep 21
Wednesday, Apr 23 - Oct 1
Sunday, May 11 - Nov 9
Tuesday, May 20 - Oct 28
Monday, Jun 16 - Dec 8
Friday, Jun 20 - Jan 9
Sunday, Jun 29 - Jan 11
Monday, Jul 14 - Jan 19

Intermediate: Grades 8-12

Intermediate Algebra
Sunday, Mar 16 - Sep 14
Tuesday, Mar 25 - Sep 2
Monday, Apr 21 - Oct 13
Sunday, Jun 1 - Nov 23
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Nov 18
Wednesday, Jun 25 - Dec 10
Sunday, Jul 13 - Jan 18
Thursday, Jul 24 - Jan 22

Intermediate Counting & Probability
Sunday, Mar 23 - Aug 3
Wednesday, May 21 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Nov 2

Intermediate Number Theory
Friday, Apr 11 - Jun 27
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Wednesday, Jun 18 - Sep 3

Precalculus
Sunday, Mar 16 - Aug 24
Wednesday, Apr 9 - Sep 3
Friday, May 16 - Oct 24
Sunday, Jun 1 - Nov 9
Monday, Jun 30 - Dec 8

Advanced: Grades 9-12

Olympiad Geometry
Wednesday, Mar 5 - May 21
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Aug 26

Calculus
Sunday, Mar 30 - Oct 5
Tuesday, May 27 - Nov 11
Wednesday, Jun 25 - Dec 17

Group Theory
Thursday, Jun 12 - Sep 11

Contest Preparation: Grades 6-12

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
Sunday, Mar 23 - Jun 15
Wednesday, Apr 16 - Jul 2
Friday, May 23 - Aug 15
Monday, Jun 2 - Aug 18
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced
Friday, Apr 11 - Jun 27
Sunday, May 11 - Aug 10
Tuesday, May 27 - Aug 12
Wednesday, Jun 11 - Aug 27
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

AMC 10 Problem Series
Tuesday, Mar 4 - May 20
Monday, Mar 31 - Jun 23
Friday, May 9 - Aug 1
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Tuesday, Jun 17 - Sep 2
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

AMC 10 Final Fives
Sunday, May 11 - Jun 8
Tuesday, May 27 - Jun 17
Monday, Jun 30 - Jul 21

AMC 12 Problem Series
Tuesday, May 27 - Aug 12
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Wednesday, Aug 6 - Oct 22

AMC 12 Final Fives
Sunday, May 18 - Jun 15

F=ma Problem Series
Wednesday, Jun 11 - Aug 27

WOOT Programs
Visit the pages linked for full schedule details for each of these programs!


MathWOOT Level 1
MathWOOT Level 2
ChemWOOT
CodeWOOT
PhysicsWOOT

Programming

Introduction to Programming with Python
Monday, Mar 24 - Jun 16
Thursday, May 22 - Aug 7
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Tuesday, Jun 17 - Sep 2
Monday, Jun 30 - Sep 22

Intermediate Programming with Python
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Monday, Jun 30 - Sep 22

USACO Bronze Problem Series
Tuesday, May 13 - Jul 29
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 1

Physics

Introduction to Physics
Sunday, Mar 30 - Jun 22
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15

Physics 1: Mechanics
Tuesday, Mar 25 - Sep 2
Thursday, May 22 - Oct 30
Monday, Jun 23 - Dec 15

Relativity
Sat & Sun, Apr 26 - Apr 27 (4:00 - 7:00 pm ET/1:00 - 4:00pm PT)
Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs, Jun 23 - Jun 26 (meets every day of the week!)
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
A number theory problem from the British Math Olympiad
Rainbow1971   12
N 24 minutes ago by ektorasmiliotis
Source: British Math Olympiad, 2006/2007, round 1, problem 6
I am a little surprised to find that I am (so far) unable to solve this little problem:

[quote]Let $n$ be an integer. Show that, if $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then it is a perfect square.[/quote]

I set $k := \sqrt{1+12n^2}$. If $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then $k (=\sqrt{1+12n^2})$ is at least rational, so that $1 + 12n^2$ must be a perfect square then. Using Conway's topograph method, I have found out that the smallest non-negative pairs $(n, k)$ for which this happens are $(0,1), (2,7), (28,97)$ and $(390, 1351)$, and that, for every such pair $(n,k)$, the "next" such pair can be calculated as
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
7 & 2 \\
24 & 7 
\end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}
n \\
k 
\end{bmatrix}
.$$The eigenvalues of that matrix are irrational, however, so that any calculation which uses powers of that matrix is a little cumbersome. There must be an easier way, but I cannot find it. Can you?

Thank you.




12 replies
Rainbow1971
Yesterday at 8:39 PM
ektorasmiliotis
24 minutes ago
A number theory about divisors which no one fully solved at the contest
nAalniaOMliO   22
N 27 minutes ago by nAalniaOMliO
Source: Belarusian national olympiad 2024
Let's call a pair of positive integers $(k,n)$ interesting if $n$ is composite and for every divisor $d<n$ of $n$ at least one of $d-k$ and $d+k$ is also a divisor of $n$
Find the number of interesting pairs $(k,n)$ with $k \leq 100$
M. Karpuk
22 replies
nAalniaOMliO
Jul 24, 2024
nAalniaOMliO
27 minutes ago
D1018 : Can you do that ?
Dattier   1
N 31 minutes ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
We can find $A,B,C$, such that $\gcd(A,B)=\gcd(C,A)=\gcd(A,2)=1$ and $$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (C^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2=0 $$.

For example :

$C=20$
$A=47650065401584409637777147310342834508082136874940478469495402430677786194142956609253842997905945723173497630499054266092849839$

$B=238877301561986449355077953728734922992395532218802882582141073061059783672634737309722816649187007910722185635031285098751698$

Can you find $A,B,C$ such that $A>3$ is prime, $C,B \in (\mathbb Z/A\mathbb Z)^*$ with $o(C)=(A-1)/2$ and $$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (C^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2=0 $$?
1 reply
Dattier
Mar 24, 2025
Dattier
31 minutes ago
Nordic 2025 P3
anirbanbz   8
N an hour ago by Primeniyazidayi
Source: Nordic 2025
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with orthocenter $H$ and circumcenter $O$. Let $E$ and $F$ be points on the line segments $AC$ and $AB$ respectively such that $AEHF$ is a parallelogram. Prove that $\vert OE \vert = \vert OF \vert$.
8 replies
anirbanbz
Mar 25, 2025
Primeniyazidayi
an hour ago
f( - f (x) - f (y))= 1 -x - y , in Zxz
parmenides51   6
N 2 hours ago by Chikara
Source: 2020 Dutch IMO TST 3.3
Find all functions $f: Z \to Z$ that satisfy $$f(-f (x) - f (y))= 1 -x - y$$for all $x, y \in Z$
6 replies
parmenides51
Nov 22, 2020
Chikara
2 hours ago
Hard limits
Snoop76   2
N 2 hours ago by maths_enthusiast_0001
$a_n$ and $b_n$ satisfies the following recursion formulas: $a_{0}=1, $ $b_{0}=1$, $ a_{n+1}=a_{n}+b_{n}$$ $ and $ $$ b_{n+1}=(2n+3)b_{n}+a_{n}$. Find $ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{a_n}{(2n-1)!!}$ $ $ and $ $ $\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{b_n}{(2n+1)!!}.$
2 replies
Snoop76
Mar 25, 2025
maths_enthusiast_0001
2 hours ago
2025 Caucasus MO Seniors P2
BR1F1SZ   3
N 2 hours ago by X.Luser
Source: Caucasus MO
Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let $B_1$ and $B_2$ be points on segment $AC$ symmetric with respect to the midpoint of $AC$. Let $\gamma_A$ denote the circle passing through $B_1$ and tangent to line $AB$ at $A$. Similarly, let $\gamma_C$ denote the circle passing through $B_1$ and tangent to line $BC$ at $C$. Let the circles $\gamma_A$ and $\gamma_C$ intersect again at point $B'$ ($B' \neq B_1$). Prove that $\angle ABB' = \angle CBB_2$.
3 replies
BR1F1SZ
Mar 26, 2025
X.Luser
2 hours ago
IMO Shortlist 2010 - Problem G1
Amir Hossein   130
N 2 hours ago by LeYohan
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with $D, E, F$ the feet of the altitudes lying on $BC, CA, AB$ respectively. One of the intersection points of the line $EF$ and the circumcircle is $P.$ The lines $BP$ and $DF$ meet at point $Q.$ Prove that $AP = AQ.$

Proposed by Christopher Bradley, United Kingdom
130 replies
Amir Hossein
Jul 17, 2011
LeYohan
2 hours ago
CGMO6: Airline companies and cities
v_Enhance   13
N 3 hours ago by Marcus_Zhang
Source: 2012 China Girl's Mathematical Olympiad
There are $n$ cities, $2$ airline companies in a country. Between any two cities, there is exactly one $2$-way flight connecting them which is operated by one of the two companies. A female mathematician plans a travel route, so that it starts and ends at the same city, passes through at least two other cities, and each city in the route is visited once. She finds out that wherever she starts and whatever route she chooses, she must take flights of both companies. Find the maximum value of $n$.
13 replies
v_Enhance
Aug 13, 2012
Marcus_Zhang
3 hours ago
nice problem
hanzo.ei   0
3 hours ago
Source: I forgot
Let triangle $ABC$ be inscribed in the circumcircle $(O)$ and circumscribed about the incircle $(I)$, with $AB < AC$. The incircle $(I)$ touches the sides $BC$, $CA$, and $AB$ at $D$, $E$, and $F$, respectively. A line through $I$, perpendicular to $AI$, intersects $BC$, $CA$, and $AB$ at $X$, $Y$, and $Z$, respectively. The line $AI$ meets $(O)$ at $M$ (distinct from $A$). The circumcircle of triangle $AYZ$ intersects $(O)$ at $N$ (distinct from $A$). Let $P$ be the midpoint of the arc $BAC$ of $(O)$. The line $AI$ cuts segments $DF$ and $DE$ at $K$ and $L$, respectively, and the tangents to the circle $(DKL)$ at $K$ and $L$ intersect at $T$. Prove that $AT \perp BC$.
0 replies
hanzo.ei
3 hours ago
0 replies
Find a given number of divisors of ab
proglote   9
N 3 hours ago by zuat.e
Source: Brazil MO 2013, problem #2
Arnaldo and Bernaldo play the following game: given a fixed finite set of positive integers $A$ known by both players, Arnaldo picks a number $a \in A$ but doesn't tell it to anyone. Bernaldo thens pick an arbitrary positive integer $b$ (not necessarily in $A$). Then Arnaldo tells the number of divisors of $ab$. Show that Bernaldo can choose $b$ in a way that he can find out the number $a$ chosen by Arnaldo.
9 replies
proglote
Oct 24, 2013
zuat.e
3 hours ago
2025 TST 22
EthanWYX2009   1
N 3 hours ago by hukilau17
Source: 2025 TST 22
Let \( A \) be a set of 2025 positive real numbers. For a subset \( T \subseteq A \), define \( M_T \) as the median of \( T \) when all elements of \( T \) are arranged in increasing order, with the convention that \( M_\emptyset = 0 \). Define
\[
P(A) = \sum_{\substack{T \subseteq A \\ |T| \text{ odd}}} M_T, \quad Q(A) = \sum_{\substack{T \subseteq A \\ |T| \text{ even}}} M_T.
\]Find the smallest real number \( C \) such that for any set \( A \) of 2025 positive real numbers, the following inequality holds:
\[
P(A) - Q(A) \leq C \cdot \max(A),
\]where \(\max(A)\) denotes the largest element in \( A \).
1 reply
EthanWYX2009
Today at 2:50 PM
hukilau17
3 hours ago
Deriving Van der Waerden Theorem
Didier2   0
4 hours ago
Source: Khamovniki 2023-2024 (group 10-1)
Suppose we have already proved that for any coloring of $\Large \mathbb{N}$ in $r$ colors, there exists an arithmetic progression of size $k$. How can we derive Van der Waerden's theorem for $W(r, k)$ from this?
0 replies
Didier2
4 hours ago
0 replies
Not so classic orthocenter problem
m4thbl3nd3r   6
N 4 hours ago by maths_enthusiast_0001
Source: own?
Let $O$ be circumcenter of a non-isosceles triangle $ABC$ and $H$ be a point in the interior of $\triangle ABC$. Let $E,F$ be foots of perpendicular lines from $H$ to $AC,AB$. Suppose that $BCEF$ is cyclic and $M$ is the circumcenter of $BCEF$, $HM\cap AB=K,AO\cap BE=T$. Prove that $KT$ bisects $EF$
6 replies
m4thbl3nd3r
Yesterday at 4:59 PM
maths_enthusiast_0001
4 hours ago
IMO ShortList 1998, geometry problem 1
orl   24
N Aug 21, 2024 by ezpotd
Source: IMO ShortList 1998, geometry problem 1
A convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ has perpendicular diagonals. The perpendicular bisectors of the sides $AB$ and $CD$ meet at a unique point $P$ inside $ABCD$. Prove that the quadrilateral $ABCD$ is cyclic if and only if triangles $ABP$ and $CDP$ have equal areas.
24 replies
orl
Oct 22, 2004
ezpotd
Aug 21, 2024
IMO ShortList 1998, geometry problem 1
G H J
Source: IMO ShortList 1998, geometry problem 1
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
orl
3647 posts
#1 • 4 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, lian_the_noob12, Mango247
A convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ has perpendicular diagonals. The perpendicular bisectors of the sides $AB$ and $CD$ meet at a unique point $P$ inside $ABCD$. Prove that the quadrilateral $ABCD$ is cyclic if and only if triangles $ABP$ and $CDP$ have equal areas.
Attachments:
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by orl, Oct 23, 2004, 12:25 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
orl
3647 posts
#2 • 3 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, 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 :)
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
grobber
7849 posts
#3 • 9 Y
Y by numerology9, ArefS, anantmudgal09, Illuzion, Bachsonata3, Adventure10, Mango247, Deadline, and 1 other user
Assume first that $ABCD$ is cyclic. It's easy then to see that $\angle APB+\angle CPD=\pi$, so $2S[APB]=R^2\sin \angle APB=R^2\sin\angle CPD=2S[CPD]$, where $R=PA=PB=PC=PD$ is the radius of the circumcircle of $ABCD$.

Conversely, assume we have $S[APB]=S[CPD]$. Let $M,N$ be the midpoints of $AB,CD$ respectively. We have $TM=AM,TN=DN$, where $T=AC\cap BD$. The hypothesis is equivalent to $PM\cdot AM=PN\cdot DN$, and from here we deduce $PM\cdot TM=PN\cdot TN$. A quick angle chase reveals $\angle MPN=\angle MTN$, so the triangles $TMN,PNM$ are, in fact, congruent, meaning that $TMPN$ is a parallelogram. This, however, means that the triangles $TAM,DTN$ are similar (because they have three pairs of perpendicular sides), so $\angle TAB=\angle TDC$, Q.E.D.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
jpark
299 posts
#4 • 3 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, Mango247
Problem 1. In the convex quadrilateral ABCD, the diagonals AC and BD are perpendicular and the opposite sides AB and DC are not parallel. The point P, where the perpendicular bisectors of AB and DC meet, is inside ABCD. Prove that ABCD is cyclic if and only if the triangles ABP and CDP have equal areas.

I can prove this using an elegant method (I think) when ABCD is cyclic.
I think there should be a nice way for this for the other way, but I can't find it..

Here is my half-solution. If someone could do the other half using the similar approach, it will be appreciated..

If ABCD is cyclic, then area ABP = area CDP

Since the diagonals are perpendicular,

2*area ABCD = AB.CD + AD. BC (Ptolemy)
Now, take the sectors ABP, BPC, CPD, DPA, and rearrange them, so that the side AB and CD would be adjacent to each other.
It is still cyclic, because P is clearly the circumcentre of the circle.
Now, the area of the new quadrilateral did not change, since we have only rearranged it.
Let x be the angle between AB and CD.
2*area of new quadrilateral = AB.CD sin x + AD. BC sin (180-x) = sinx(AB.CD + AD. BC)

Equate the two expressions, and we have sinx = 1, so x = pi/2.

Simple calculation shows that angle APB = 180 - angle CPD, so the areas of the two triangles are equal.


I've been trying to apply something similar to the other half, but have not had any progress so far..

Sorry for not using LaTeX.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
yetti
2643 posts
#5 • 3 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, Mango247
jpark wrote:
Problem 1. In the convex quadrilateral ABCD, the diagonals AC and BD are perpendicular and the opposite sides AB and DC are not parallel. The point P, where the perpendicular bisectors of AB and DC meet, is inside ABCD. Prove that ABCD is cyclic if and only if the triangles ABP and CDP have equal areas.

I can prove this using an elegant method (I think) when ABCD is cyclic. [...]
I've been trying to apply something similar to the other half, but have not had any progress so far..

First, the circumcenter $O$ of a cyclic quadrilateral $ABCD$ with perpendicular diagonals is always in its interior. This is because the angle $\measuredangle ACB > \measuredangle AOB = 90^o$, hence, the chord $AB$ has the circumcenter on the same side as the vertices $C, D$. Similarly, all other sides of the quadrilateral.

Let $ABCD$ be a quadrilateral with perpendicular diagonals, which is not cyclic. Let $M, N$ be the midpoints of the sides $AB, CD$ and $P$ the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of these sides, which happens to be in the quadrilateral interior. Assume that the areas $S(\triangle APB), S(\triangle CPD)$ of the triangles $\triangle APB$ and $\triangle CPD$ are equal. Let $(O)$ be the circumcircle of the triangle $\triangle ABD$ centered at the point $O$ on the perpendicular bisector of $AB$. Assume first, that the vertex $C$ of the quadrilateral $ABCD$ is outside of this circumcircle. Move the point $C'$ along the line $AC$ form the point $C$ toward the the intersection $C\"$ of this line with the circle $(O)$. Let $N'$ be the midpoint of the segment $C'D$ and $P'$ the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of $AB$ and $C'D$. In this process, the point $P'$ moves on the line $PM$ (the perpendicular bisector of $AB$) into the circumcenter $O$. The base $AB$ of the isosceles triangle $\triangle AP'B$ remains unchanged, but its altitude $P'M$ is increasing. As a result, the area $S(\triangle AP'B)$ is increasing and $S(\triangle AP'B) > S(\triangle APB)$. On the other hand, the base $C'D$ and the the angles $\measuredangle P'C'D = \measuredangle P'DC'$ of the isosceles triangle $\triangle C'P'D$ are decreasing. Hence, the remaining angle $\measuredangle C'P'D$ of this triangle is increasing and its altitude $P'N'$ is decreasing. As a result, the area $S(\triangle C'P'D)$ is decreasing and $S(\triangle C'P'D) < S(\triangle CPD)$. When and the point $C'$ coincides with the point $C\"$ and the point $P'$ coincides with the circumcenter $O$, the quadrilateral $ABC\"D$ becomes cyclic and $S(\triangle AOB) = S(\triangle C\"OD)$, as you just proved. But since $S(\triangle AOB) > S(\triangle APB)$, $S(\triangle C\"OD) < S(\triangle CPD)$, this is a contradiction with the assumption $S(\triangle APB) = S(\triangle CPD)$. The case, when the vertex $C$ lies inside of the circumcircle $(O)$ of the triangle $\triangle ABD$ is handled similarly.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by yetti, Feb 9, 2005, 7:57 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Vo Duc Dien
341 posts
#6 • 3 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, Mango247
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/wiki-math/index.php?n=MathematicalOlympiads.IMO1998Problem1

Vo Duc Dien
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
andrejilievski
129 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, Mango247
Let us assume that $ ABCD $ is cyclic, $ N,S $ be the midpoints of $ AB $ and $ DC $ respectively, $ AC $ and $ BD $ meet at $ R $, $ SR $ cuts $ AB $ at $ M $ and $ NR $ cuts $ CD $ at $ T $. According to Brahmagupta theorem $ SM \perp AB $ and $ TN \perp CD $ so $ SRNP $ is a parallelogram. Now, we have to show that $ PN*BN=PS*SC $ , but note that $ PN=RS=CS $ (since $ DRC $ is right angled and $ RS $ is its median ) and for the same reasons $ BN=RN=PS $ so we are done
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
DaChickenInc
418 posts
#8 • 3 Y
Y by Bachsonata3, Adventure10, Mango247
I tried to length-chase but it turned out to be a lot easier.
Thought Process
Solution
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
WJ.JamshiD
29 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Which is Brahmagupta theorem?
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
anantmudgal09
1979 posts
#10 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Storage
1998 G1 wrote:
A convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ has perpendicular diagonals. The perpendicular bisectors of the sides $AB$ and $CD$ meet at a unique point $P$ inside $ABCD$. Prove that the quadrilateral $ABCD$ is cyclic if and only if triangles $ABP$ and $CDP$ have equal areas.

If $ABCD$ cyclic with circumradius $R$, then conclusion follows since $\angle APB+\angle CPD=180^{\circ}$ as $AC \perp BD$, so $[APB]=\frac{1}{2}R^2\sin \angle APB=\frac{1}{2}R^2\sin \angle CPD=[CPD]$ as desired.

Now assume $ABCD$ is not cyclic, but $AC \perp BD$ and $[APB]=[CPD]$. Let $E=AC \cap BD$. WLOG, say $P$ lies inside $\triangle BEC$ and $PA<PD$. Let $A', B'$ be second intersections of diagonals $AC$ and $BD$ with $\odot(P, PA)$. Note that $ABA'B'$ is a convex cyclic quadrilateral with perpendicular diagonals, and so $[APB]=[A'PB']$.

Note that $A'$ lies on segment $AC$ and $B'$ on segment $BD$, since $PA<PD$. Since ray $\overrightarrow{A'P}$ meets line $BD$ at it's extension beyond $P$ (as $\angle EA'P=\angle PAC<90^{\circ}$) and $B', D$ lie on the same side of line $A'P$, with $B'$ closer to the intersection than $D$, we conclude that $[A'PB']<[A'PD]$. But $[A'PD]<[BPD]$ since $A'$ lies inside $\triangle PBD$. This chain of inequalities is a contradiction! So, we conclude that $ABCD$ must be cyclic. $\blacksquare$



P.S. grobber's solution is really nice :)
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
v_Enhance
6870 posts
#11 • 6 Y
Y by Pluto04, Aimingformygoal, nikitadas, HamstPan38825, ike.chen, khina
Solution from Twitch Solves ISL:

If $ABCD$ is cyclic, then $P$ is the circumcenter, and $\angle APB + \angle PCD = 180^{\circ}$. The hard part is the converse.
[asy] import graph; size(10cm); pen zzttqq = rgb(0.6,0.2,0.); pen aqaqaq = rgb(0.62745,0.62745,0.62745); pen cqcqcq = rgb(0.75294,0.75294,0.75294); draw((2.28154,-9.32038)--(8.62921,-11.79133)--(2.93422,-2.54008)--cycle, linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((2.28154,-9.32038)--(-2.,-4.)--(-4.,-12.)--cycle, linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq);
draw((8.62921,-11.79133)--(-2.,-4.), linewidth(0.6)); draw((2.93422,-2.54008)--(-4.,-12.), linewidth(0.6)); draw((8.62921,-11.79133)--(2.93422,-2.54008), linewidth(0.6)); draw((-2.,-4.)--(-4.,-12.), linewidth(0.6)); draw((2.28154,-9.32038)--(5.78172,-7.16571), linewidth(0.6) + blue); draw((2.28154,-9.32038)--(-3.,-8.), linewidth(0.6) + blue); draw((2.28154,-9.32038)--(8.62921,-11.79133), linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((8.62921,-11.79133)--(2.93422,-2.54008), linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((2.93422,-2.54008)--(2.28154,-9.32038), linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((2.28154,-9.32038)--(-2.,-4.), linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((-2.,-4.)--(-4.,-12.), linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((-4.,-12.)--(2.28154,-9.32038), linewidth(0.6) + zzttqq); draw((2.93422,-2.54008)--(-0.31533,2.73866), linewidth(0.6)); draw((-2.,-4.)--(-0.31533,2.73866), linewidth(0.6)); draw(circle((2.25532,-9.31383), 6.80768), linewidth(0.6) + aqaqaq); draw((0.51354,-5.84245)--(-3.,-8.), linewidth(0.6) + blue); draw((0.51354,-5.84245)--(5.78172,-7.16571), linewidth(0.6) + blue); dot("$D$", (-4.,-12.), dir((-76.113, -27.810))); dot("$C$", (-2.,-4.), dir((-75.616, 41.734))); dot("$B$", (2.93422,-2.54008), dir((1.940, 37.397))); dot("$A$", (8.62921,-11.79133), dir((31.751, -33.422))); dot("$P$", (2.28154,-9.32038), dir((-11.247, -66.945))); dot("$M$", (5.78172,-7.16571), dir((39.728, 27.050))); dot("$N$", (-3.,-8.), dir((-82.402, 23.307))); dot("$E$", (0.51354,-5.84245), dir((-30.585, 62.531))); dot("$X$", (-0.31533,2.73866), dir((-23.973, 36.915))); [/asy]
Let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{CD}$.
Claim: Unconditionally, we have $\measuredangle NEM = \measuredangle MPN$.
Proof. Note that $\overline{EN}$ is the median of right triangle $\triangle ECD$, and similarly for $\overline{EM}$. Hence $\measuredangle NED = \measuredangle EDN = \measuredangle BDC$, while $\measuredangle AEM = \measuredangle ACB$. Since $\measuredangle DEA = 90^{\circ}$, by looking at quadrilateral $XDEA$ where $X = \overline{CD} \cap \overline{AB}$, we derive that $\measuredangle NED + \measuredangle AEM + \measuredangle DXA = 90^{\circ}$, so \[ \measuredangle NEM = \measuredangle NED + \measuredangle AEM + 90^{\circ} = -\measuredangle DXA = -\measuredangle NXM 		= -\measuredangle NPM \]as needed. $\blacksquare$
However, the area condition in the problem tells us \[ \frac{EN}{EM} = \frac{CN}{CM} = \frac{PM}{PN}. \]Finally, we have $\angle MEN > 90^{\circ}$ from the configuration. These properties uniquely determine the point $E$: it is the reflection of $P$ across line $MN$.
So $EMPN$ is a parallelogram, and thus $\overline{ME} \perp \overline{CD}$. This implies $\measuredangle BAE = \measuredangle CEM = \measuredangle EDC$ giving $ABCD$ cyclic.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
bluelinfish
1446 posts
#12 • 1 Y
Y by centslordm
Way too hard for an early IMO #1.

First, we will prove that if $ABCD$ is cyclic, the area condition holds. Let $E$ be the intersection of lines $AC$ and $BD$, and let $r$ be the circumradius of $ABCD$. Note that $P$ is the circumcenter of $ABCD$, so reflecting $C$ about $P$ to a point $C'$ creates a trapezoid $AC'BD$. In particular, because it is cyclic, it is an isosceles trapezoid, so $\angle CPB=180^{\circ}-\angle BPC'=180^{\circ}-\angle APD$. Therefore $\angle APB+\angle CPD=180^{\circ}$, so $\sin \angle APB =\sin \angle CPD$, implying the area condition as the area of $APB$ and $CPD$ are $\frac{r^2}{2} \sin \angle APB$ and $\frac{r^2}{2} \sin \angle CPD$, respectively.

Now we will prove the harder part, that given the area of triangles $APB$ and $CPD$ are the same, $ABCD$ is cyclic. Let $X$ be the intersection of lines $AB$ and $CD$ (if $AB\parallel CD$, either $P$ doesn't exist or $ABCD$ is an isosceles trapezoid), and let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of $AB,CD$, respectively. Then notice that \begin{align*} \angle MPN &= 180^{\circ}-\angle BXC \\ &=\angle XBC+\angle XCB \\ &= \angle ABE+(\angle EBC+\angle ECB)+\angle ECD \\ &= \angle BME+90^{\circ}+\angle NEC \\ &= \angle MEN. \end{align*}Also, we have $$\frac{EN}{EM}=\frac{CN}{BM}=\frac{PM}{PN},$$where the second equality is by the area condition. This implies $EMPN$ is a parallelogram. Therefore we have $$\angle ACD = \frac{1}{2}\angle END = \frac{1}{2}(90^{\circ}-\angle PNE) = \frac{1}{2}(90^{\circ}-\angle PME) =\frac{1}{2}\angle AME =\angle ABD,$$and we are done.
Attachments:
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
asdf334
7586 posts
#13
Y by
I don't know if this works (there are probably a lot of configuration issues) but I think you can fix $A,B,C$ and let $D$ vary along the line through $B$ that is perpendicular to $AC$ and show that only one point on this line will work (by showing that the area of one triangle decreases while the other increases), and then check that this point must be the intersection of $(ABC)$ with the line.

Edit: I don't think there would be any issues with area becoming "negative" because we are given $P$ is inside $ABCD$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by asdf334, Jan 1, 2022, 12:31 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Rekt4
360 posts
#14
Y by
Let $E = \overline{AC} \cap \overline{BD}$. Suppose $P$ lies in $\triangle AEB$. The other cases are similar to the following.

Let $M,N$ be the foot of the perpendiculars from $P$ to $AC$ and $BD$ respectively. We have
\begin{align*}
[PAB] &= \dfrac 12 (AE\cdot BE - BE\cdot ME - AE\cdot EN) \\ &= \dfrac 12 (AM\cdot BN - ME\cdot NE)
\end{align*}Similarly, one can see that $[PCD] = \frac 12 (CM\cdot ND - EM\cdot EN)$. Thus, we have
\begin{align}
[PAB] - [PCD] = \dfrac 12 (AM\cdot BN - CM\cdot DN)
\end{align}Suppose $ABCD$ is cyclic, then $P$ is the circumcenter of $ABCD$. So, $AM = CM$ and $BN = DN$. Thus, $(1)$ gives us $[PAB] = [PCD]$.

On the other hand, suppose $ABCD$ is not cyclic. Without the loss of generality assume $PA = PB > PC = PD$. Then we see that $AM > CM$ and $BN > DN$, so $(1)$ gives us $[PAB] > [PCD]$. This proves the other implication, and we are done.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Ruy
27 posts
#15
Y by
orl wrote:
A convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ has perpendicular diagonals. The perpendicular bisectors of the sides $AB$ and $CD$ meet at a unique point $P$ inside $ABCD$. Prove that the quadrilateral $ABCD$ is cyclic if and only if triangles $ABP$ and $CDP$ have equal areas.

I guess you can successfully complex-bash this using the axis as diagonals with the standard aereal formula and the power of the origin point.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Davsch
381 posts
#16
Y by
Ruy wrote:
I guess you can successfully complex-bash this using the axis as diagonals with the standard aereal formula and the power of the origin point.
Well, even cartesian coordinates are enough. Let $A=(0,a),B=(b,0),C=(0,c),D=(d,0)$. $ABCD$ is cyclic if and only if $ac=bd$. By perpendiculars from $\left(\frac b2,\frac a2\right)$ and $\left(\frac d2,\frac c2\right)$, $P=\left(\frac{b^2c-a^2c-ad^2+ac^2}{2(bc-ad)},\frac{bc^2+b^2d-bd^2-a^2d}{2(bc-ad)}\right)$. Using determinants, the equation $[ABP]=[CDP]$ factors as $0=(bd-ac)((b-d)^2+(a-c)^2)$, as desired.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Mahdi_Mashayekhi
689 posts
#17
Y by
Let diagonals meet at $S$ and Let $M,N$ be midpoint's of $AB,CD$. we have $[APB] = [CPD] \implies [AMP] = [DNP] \implies \frac{MS}{NS} = \frac{NP}{MP}$. we also have $\angle MSN = \angle MAS + \angle NDS + \angle 90 = \angle MPN$ which implies that $MPN$ and $NSM$ are congruent so $MPNS$ is parallelogram so $SM \perp DN$ and $SN \perp AM$ and $AS \perp DS$ which implies $AMS$ and $DNS$ are similar so $\angle MAS = \angle NDS$ so $ABCD$ is cyclic.

Now assume $ABCD$ is cyclic. $2[APB] = AP.PB.\sin{APB} = DP.PC.\sin{DPC} = 2[DPC] \implies [APB] = [CPD]$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
asdf334
7586 posts
#18 • 1 Y
Y by Sross314
Let $A=(0,2a)$, $B=(2b,0)$, $C=(0,2c)$, $D=(2d,0)$, where $a,b>0$ and $c,d<0$. Then we have:
\[AB:y=\frac{b}{a}x-\frac{b^2}{a}+a\]\[CD:y=\frac{d}{c}x-\frac{d^2}{c}+c\]and their intersection has $x$-coordinate $\frac{b^2c+ac^2-ad^2-a^2c}{bc-ad}.$ Clearly the length of the altitude from $P$ to $AB$ is then
\[\left(b-\frac{b^2c+ac^2-ad^2-a^2c}{bc-ad}\right)\cdot \frac{\sqrt{a^2+b^2}}{a}\]while the length of the base, $AB$, is $2\sqrt{a^2+b^2}$. Then the area of $ABP$ is equal to
\[\left(\frac{d^2+ac-c^2-bd}{bc-ad}\right)(a^2+b^2).\]Similarly, the length of the altitude from $P$ to $CD$ is equal to
\[\left(\frac{b^2c+ac^2-ad^2-a^2c}{bc-ad}-d\right)\cdot \frac{\sqrt{c^2+d^2}}{-c}\]and the length of the base is $2\sqrt{c^2+d^2}$. Then the area of $CDP$ is equal to
\[-\left(\frac{b^2+ac-a^2-bd}{bc-ad}\right)(c^2+d^2).\]If $ABP$ and $CDP$ have equal areas then
\[(d^2+ac-c^2-bd)(a^2+b^2)=-(b^2+ac-a^2-bd)(c^2+d^2)\]which is obviously true when $ac=bd$, which is precisely the condition that $ABCD$ is cyclic. Then, it suffices to show that from this equation follows $ac=bd$; note that the equation is equivalent to
\[(ac-bd)(a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2)=(a^2-b^2)(c^2+d^2)+(a^2+b^2)(c^2-d^2)=2a^2c^2-2b^2d^2.\]Then if $ac\neq bd$ then we have that $a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2=2ac+2bd$ which implies that $a=c$ and $b=d$, a contradiction because $a,b>0$ and $c,d<0$. We are done. $\blacksquare$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
awesomeming327.
1677 posts
#19
Y by
Diagram

Forward Direction
If $ABCD$ is cyclic then $P$ must be the circumcenter. Since $AC\perp BD$ we have $\widehat{AB}+\widehat{CD}=180^\circ.$ Thus, $\angle APB,\angle CPD$ are supplementary. In particular, $\sin (\angle APB)=\sin (\angle CPD).$ Let $r$ be the circumradius then \[[APB]=\frac{1}{2}r^2\sin (\angle APB)=\frac{1}{2}r^2\sin (\angle CPD)=[CPD]\]as desired.

Backward Direction
If $[APB]=[CPD]$ then let $E$ be the intersection of $AC$ and $BD.$ Let $M$ be midpoint of $CD$ and $N$ be midpoint of $AB.$ We claim that $EMPN$ is a parallelogram.

To prove our claim, let $E=(0,0),A=(0,a),B=(b,0),C=(0,-c),D=(-d,0)$ where $a,b,c,d$ are positive. $M=(-\frac{d}{2},-\frac{c}{2})$ and $N=(\frac{b}{2},\frac{a}{2}).$ It suffices to show that $P=(\frac{b-d}{2},\frac{a-c}{2}).$ Let $P'=(\frac{b-d}{2},\frac{a-c}{2})$ and we verify that $P'C=PD$ and $P'A=P'B.$ Since $P$ is unique, we know that $P'=P$ so our claim holds.

Since $EMPN$ is a parallelogram, $EM=PN$, which implies $DM=PN.$ We have $[DMP]=[APN]$ which implies $\triangle DMP\cong \triangle PNA.$ Thus, $DP=AP$ and so $P$ is equidistant from $A,B,C,D.$ It follows that $ABCD$ is cyclic, as desired.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by awesomeming327., Dec 28, 2022, 3:54 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
bobthegod78
2982 posts
#20 • 2 Y
Y by Mango247, Mango247
The direction from cyclic to equal area is pretty easy so I'll skip it.

Here's a really easy way for equal area to cyclic (i don't think anyone's posted a coordinate method yet? or at least the easy way). Let $P=(0,0)$ and let the circle centered at $P$ through $AB$ be $x^2+y^2=1$ and through $C,D$ be $x^2+y^2=r^2.$ Now wlog the perpendicular lines to be perpendicular to the axes. We can wlog some more variables and find that $A(-\sqrt{1-y^2}, y), B(x, \sqrt{1-x^2}), C(\sqrt{r^2-y^2}, y), D(x, -\sqrt{r^2-x^2}).$ Now Shoelace trivializes the problem by giving us that $\sqrt{(r^2-x^2)(r^2-y^2)} = \sqrt{(1-x^2)(1-y^2)}$ and we get $r=1$, as desired.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by bobthegod78, Sep 16, 2022, 12:37 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Taco12
1757 posts
#21
Y by
Apply cartesian coordinates with $A=(0,a), C=(0,c), B=(b,0), D=(d,0)$ so that the diagonals lie on the axis of the coordinate plane. Then we have the perpendicular bisector of $AB$ as $y=\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{a}{2}-\frac{b^2}{2a}$ and similarly the perpendicular bisector of $CD$ is $y=\frac{d}{c}x+\frac{c}{2}-\frac{d^2}{2c}$. Then, we have $$P=\left(\frac{ac^2+b^2c-a^2c-ad^2}{2bc-2ad},\frac{bc^2+b^2d-bd^2-a^2d}{2bc-2ad}\right)$$and Shoelace now gives $$-a^3c + a^2 b d + 2 a^2 c^2 - a b^2 c - a c^3 - a c d^2 + b^3 d - 2 b^2 d^2 + b c^2 d + b d^3=0 \rightarrow ac=bd,$$which implies cyclicity. $\blacksquare$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
awesomehuman
496 posts
#22
Y by
Assume $ABCD$ is cyclic. Then $P$ is the center of $(ABCD)$. We have $\angle APB+\angle CPD=2\angle ACB+2\angle CAD=180$. So, $AP*BP*sin(APB)=CP*DP*sin(CPD)$. So, $[ABP]=[CDP]$.

Assume $[ABP]=[CDP]$. Then, $[ABPC]=[CDPB]$. Let $X$ and $Y$ be the feet of the perpendiculars from $P$ to $AC$ and $BD$ respectively. Then, $[ABYC]=[CDXB]$. So, $CX/AX=DY/BY$.

Let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of $AB$ and $CD$ respectively. Then, $PY^2+BY^2=BP^2=AP^2=PX^2+AX^2$. Similarly, $PY^2+DY^2=PX^2+CX^2$. So, $CX^2-AX^2=DY^2-BY^2$. Combining this with $CX/AX=DY/BY$, we find that $DY=BY$ and $CX=AX$ (in which case $ABCD$ is cyclic as desired) or $AC=BD$. In this case, $PY=PX$, so by symmetry, $ABCD$ is an isosceles trapezoid, which is cyclic.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
huashiliao2020
1292 posts
#26
Y by
Necessity: Given ABCD is cyclic it is well known that the intersection P is the unique circumcenter. <ADB+<CAD=90 degrees (orthogonal quad), so <APB+<CPD=180 degrees. Then (CP=DP=AP=BP) CP*DPsinCPD=AP*BPsinAPB, or [ABP]=[CBP]. (directed angles might be necessary depending on config? can someone pm or tell me here if it is necessary, the sketch is done though)
Sufficiency: Given [ABP]=[CBP] I use coordinates. Unfortunately my proof was not saved but basically I let the intersection of the diagonals be the origin, and shoelace formula to get PoP stays constant on the origin with ac=bd.

Actually, this can lead to an interesting corollary: BF=EP, from which it follows that EC=PF.
Attachments:
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
lpieleanu
2823 posts
#27
Y by
only if (forward direction)
if (backward direction)
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
ezpotd
1251 posts
#28
Y by
WLOG let $AC$ be the $y$ axis, $BD$ be the $x$ axis, WLOG let $A,D$ have nonnegative coordinates, $B,C$, nonpositive . Then fix points $P,C,D$, WLOG let $P$ lie within $OCD$ where $O$ is the origin. Let $A = (0,a), B = (-b, 0 )$, with $a,b> 0$. Note that for each value of $a$, the point $B$ lies on the circle with radius $AP$ centered at $P$, and the $x$ axis, but this circle intersects the $x$ axis at two points, one of which is on the wrong side, so $b$ is a function of $a$. We show this function is increasing. Let $P = (x,-y)$ with $x,y  > 0$, then $(b + x)^2 + y^2 = (a + y)^2 + x^2$, so clearly as $a$ increases, so does $(a + y)$ since $a, y > 0$, and so does $(a + y)^2 $ , so $(b + x)^2$ is forced to increase, since $b + x > 0$ we also see that $b + x$ is forced to increase, so $b$ is forced to increase. Now we show that this property implies that the area of $APB$ is increasing as a function of $a$. It suffices to show that the areas of $AOB, AOP, BOP$ increase, but this is trivial by sine area formula and observing that all side lengths are constant or increasing. Thus for each fixture of $C,P,D$, exactly one position of $A$ forces a position of $B$ such that $APB$ and $CPD$ have equal areas. It suffices to prove that if $ABCD$ is cyclic, then $APB$ and $CPD$ have equal areas. This is because we have shown $APB$ and $CPD$ are equal areas in exactly one position position of $A$, so it will be then implied that position is exactly the one for which $ABCD$ is cyclic, hence proving the only if direction. If $ABCD$ is cyclic, then we see it has circumcenter $P$, so we can calculate the area of $APB$ as $\frac 12 R^2  \sin 2 \angle ACB$, symmetrically the other area is $\frac 12 R^2 \sin 2 \angle CAD$, so it remains to prove $2 \angle ACB$ and $2 \angle CAD$ are supplements, which is obvious.

It's obvious all possible quadrilaterals $ABCD$ are handled via this argument, but it should be noted.
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a