Join our FREE webinar on May 1st to learn about managing anxiety.

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
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.

WOOT early bird pricing is in effect, don’t miss out! If you took MathWOOT Level 2 last year, no worries, it is all new problems this year! Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training program is for high school level competitors. AoPS designed these courses to help our top students get the deep focus they need to succeed in their specific competition goals. Check out the details at this link for all our WOOT programs in math, computer science, chemistry, and physics.

Looking for summer camps in math and language arts? Be sure to check out the video-based summer camps offered at the Virtual Campus that are 2- to 4-weeks in duration. There are middle and high school competition math camps as well as Math Beasts camps that review key topics coupled with fun explorations covering areas such as graph theory (Math Beasts Camp 6), cryptography (Math Beasts Camp 7-8), and topology (Math Beasts Camp 8-9)!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]April 3rd (Webinar), 4pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learning with AoPS: Perspectives from a Parent, Math Camp Instructor, and University Professor
[*]April 8th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS State Discussion
April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
[*]April 10th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MathILy and MathILy-Er Math Jam: Multibackwards Numbers
[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Aug 26

Calculus
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15

Physics 1: Mechanics
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
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
Find all integer pairs (m,n) such that 2^n! + 1 | 2^m! + 19
Goblik   1
N a few seconds ago by GreenTea2593
Find all positive integer pairs $(m,n)$ such that $2^{n!} + 1 | 2^{m!} + 19$
1 reply
Goblik
2 hours ago
GreenTea2593
a few seconds ago
orthocenter, intersection of 2 circles, 2 midpoints of arcs, are concyclic
parmenides51   7
N 10 minutes ago by Yagiz_Gundogan
Source: Turkey JBMO TST 2018 p3
Let $H$ be the orthocenter of an acute angled triangle $ABC$. Circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$ and the circle of diameter $[AH]$ intersect at point $E$, different from $A$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of the small arc $BC$ of the circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$ and let $N$ the midpoint of the large arc $BC$ of the circumcircle of the triangle $BHC$ Prove that points $E, H, M, N$ are concyclic.
7 replies
parmenides51
Sep 16, 2018
Yagiz_Gundogan
10 minutes ago
all functions satisfying f(x+yf(x))+y = xy + f(x+y)
falantrng   31
N 22 minutes ago by Matematikus
Source: Balkan MO 2025 P3
Find all functions $f\colon \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$,
\[f(x+yf(x))+y = xy + f(x+y).\]
Proposed by Giannis Galamatis, Greece
31 replies
falantrng
Apr 27, 2025
Matematikus
22 minutes ago
x^3+x is a surjection mod n
v_Enhance   55
N 24 minutes ago by cursed_tangent1434
Source: APMO 2014 Problem 3
Find all positive integers $n$ such that for any integer $k$ there exists an integer $a$ for which $a^3+a-k$ is divisible by $n$.

Warut Suksompong, Thailand
55 replies
v_Enhance
Mar 28, 2014
cursed_tangent1434
24 minutes ago
No more topics!
Constructing orthocenter using ruler with width
Quantum-Phantom   20
N Tuesday at 3:53 PM by cj13609517288
Source: Canada MO 2024/5
Initially, three non-collinear points, $A$, $B$, and $C$, are marked on the plane. You have a pencil and a double-edged ruler of width $1$. Using them, you may perform the following operations:
[list]
[*]Mark an arbitrary point in the plane.
[*]Mark an arbitrary point on an already drawn line.
[*]If two points $P_1$ and $P_2$ are marked, draw the line connecting $P_1$ and $P_2$.
[*]If two non-parallel lines $l_1$ and $l_2$ are drawn, mark the intersection of $l_1$ and $l_2$.
[*]If a line $l$ is drawn, draw a line parallel to $l$ that is at distance $1$ away from $l$ (note that two such lines may be drawn).
[/list]
Prove that it is possible to mark the orthocenter of $ABC$ using these operations.
20 replies
Quantum-Phantom
Mar 8, 2024
cj13609517288
Tuesday at 3:53 PM
Constructing orthocenter using ruler with width
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: Canada MO 2024/5
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Quantum-Phantom
272 posts
#1
Y by
Initially, three non-collinear points, $A$, $B$, and $C$, are marked on the plane. You have a pencil and a double-edged ruler of width $1$. Using them, you may perform the following operations:
  • Mark an arbitrary point in the plane.
  • Mark an arbitrary point on an already drawn line.
  • If two points $P_1$ and $P_2$ are marked, draw the line connecting $P_1$ and $P_2$.
  • If two non-parallel lines $l_1$ and $l_2$ are drawn, mark the intersection of $l_1$ and $l_2$.
  • If a line $l$ is drawn, draw a line parallel to $l$ that is at distance $1$ away from $l$ (note that two such lines may be drawn).
Prove that it is possible to mark the orthocenter of $ABC$ using these operations.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Quantum-Phantom, Mar 8, 2024, 4:22 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
awesomeming327.
1711 posts
#2 • 5 Y
Y by PRMOisTheHardestExam, GeoKing, Jack_w, ihatemath123, MS_asdfgzxcvb
My method:

Note that you can easily get angle bisectors so you can get incenter and excenter. By Euclidea 9.5 you can get midpoints and by Euclidea 11.5 you can get parallel lines without the distance 1 condition. Then you use midpoint of incenter and excenter and midpoint of a side to get a perpendicular bisector, which you can use parallel line to get to the perpendicular from a vertex to a side and we're done.

Alternative without Euclidea 11.5 would be to use perp bisectors to construct circumcenter then use Euler line
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by awesomeming327., Mar 8, 2024, 4:36 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
khina
993 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Jack_w
I really like this problem!

Here are the only two constructions we will need:
1) Note that given two lines $l_1, l_2$, we can construct the lines $1$ away from $l_1$ and the lines $1$ away from $l_2$. These four lines form a rhombus whose diagonals bisect the original angle between $l_1$ and $l_2$.
2) Given a triangle $ABC$, let a line $1$ away from $BC$ intersect $AB, AC$ at $F, E$. Then intersect $CF \cap BE = X$, and intersect $AX \cap BC$ to get the median. This way we can construct the midpoint of any segment. Now note that by Ceva-Menelaus, given collinear $X, Y, Z$ we can always construct $W$ such that $(W, X; Y, Z) = -1$. Hence given any segment $XY$, construct (by two midpoints) a point $N$ on the segment satisfying that $XN = 3YN$. Now by Ceva-Menelaus construct a point $U$ on the ray $XY$ such that $XU = 3YU$, ergo $YU = 2XY$. Now construct the midpoint of $YU$. This allows you to reflect points over other points. Notably Ceva-Menelaus again lets us split a segment into thirds (and really you should be able to construct rational multiples of segments on the same line using this).

Anyways, using operation $1$ construct the incenter $I$ and $A$-excenter $I_A$. Note that the external angle bisector of $\angle{BIC}$ and the internal angle bisector of $\angle{BI_AC}$ intersect on the perpendicular bisector of $BC$ by Fact 5. Do the same to construct its antipode on $(BIC)$. This way we can construct the perpendicular bisector of $BC$, and now the circumcenter.

Operation $2$ now evidently gives us the centroid. We are now done by applying operation $2$ and noting that $HG = 2OG$.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
GrantStar
820 posts
#4
Y by
cute question!!!!

We present a series of claims.

Claim: We can construct the incenter $I$ and excenters.
Proof. By taking lines $1$ away from $AC$ and $BC$, we can get the angle bisectors. Thus, intersect them to get the incenter $I$ and constructing other points of $BC$ we can get exterior angle bisectors. $\blacksquare$

Claim: We can construct the midpoint of any two points. Similarly, we can construct the reflection of a point over another.
Proof. The midpoint part is just Ceva: if the points are $X,Y$ take $Z$ and draw a line parallel to $XY$. If it hits $ZX$ and $ZY$ at $E,F$, then $YE\cap XF$ lies on the median by Ceva.
To construct $X$ over $Y$, let $Z$ again be any point and $M$ be the midpoint of $XZ$. Let $N$ be the midpoint then of $YM$, and $DN\cap ZY=K$. Then, $MK\cap XY=X'$ is the desired point since $\frac{ZN}{NY}=2$ so $N$ is the centroid $ZXX'$. $\blacksquare$

Now, we can construct midpoints of $ABC$ and medians. But we can also construct all angle bisectors! So by the Iran lemma, we can construct $2$ points on every intouch chord. Thus we can get $D$, the $A$-intouch point, and by reflection over the midpoint, we get $E$, the $A$-extouch point. Then intersect $EI$ and $DI_A$ which is well known to be the midpoint of the $A$-altitude, thus finishing.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
InterLoop
280 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Jack_w, L13832
nice
Click to reveal hidden text
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by InterLoop, Mar 8, 2024, 10:24 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
sixoneeight
1138 posts
#6
Y by
Solved with MathLuis and kingu

Claim: We can construct the midpoint of a segment $XY$.
Proof. Let $T$ be a point at a distance further than $1$ from $XY$. Construct a line parallel to $XY$ intersecting segments $TX$ and $TY$ at $D$ and $E$. By Ceva, the line connecting $T$ and $XE \cap YD$ is a median of $TXY$, which intersects $XY$ at its midpoint.

Claim: We can construct the reflection of a point $B$ over a point $A$.
Proof. Let $C$ be an arbitrary point on a line $\ell$ at a distance $1$ from $AB$ which is also parallel to $AB$. Construct the midpoint of $AC$ and let the line through this point and $B$ intersect $\ell$ at $D$. Then, $ABCD$ is a parallelogram. Now, construct the midpoint of $AD$ and let the line through this point and $C$ intersect $AB$ at $E$. This forms parallelogram $ACDE$. Therefore, $E$ is the reflection of $B$ over $A$.

Claim: We can construct the line through $X$ parallel to another line $YZ$ at an arbitrary distance.
Proof. Reflect $X$ over $Y$ and over $Z$ to $Y'$ and $Z'$. Now, reflect $Y'$ over $Z$ to $Z''$ and $Z'$ over $Y$ to $Y''$. We can easily check that $Y''Z''$ is parallel to $YZ$ and passes through $X$.

Claim: We can construct an angle bisector given two lines $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$.
Proof. Construct parallel lines at a distance $1$ away from each line. This forms a rhombus, and connecting opposite vertices creates an angle bisector.

Now, we can construct the incenter and excenters of $ABC$. If $I$ is the incenter and $I_A$ is the $A$-excenter, we can take the midpoint, which is the midpoint of minor arc $BC$. We can also construct the midpoint of $BC$, so we can construct the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. Doing this repeatedly gives us the circumcenter $O$. Now, we can construct midpoints midpoints, so we also have medians and therefore the centroid $G$. We can now finish using the Euler Line. Specifically, reflect $O$ over $G$ to $O'$, then reflect $G$ over $O'$ to the orthocenter, 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.
shendrew7
794 posts
#7
Y by
This solution doesn't make use of the incenter construction, which is unfortunate as it's the first and nicest one I found :(
  • Rhombus with given diagonal: Just use our double edged ruler, where we assume the diagonal has length greater than 1 (patched in the next construction).
  • Integer Homotheties: We first use this to scale up the diagram to where all necessary lengths later in the solution are greater than 1. Choose a far away point $X$. For each point $K$, construct one rhombus with diagonal $XK$, and another by shifting the ruler. The opposite vertex in this second rhombus is the reflection of $X$ across $K$, and we can induct to get all integers. Other than trivial degenerate cases, this allows us to scale the diagram by powers of 2, as well as constructing homotheties in our scaled diagram.
  • Midpoints and Perpendicular Bisectors: Simply use the other diagonal of a constructed rhombus. Thus we get $G$, $O$.

Thus, Euler line gives us $H$, from which we scale back (if necessary) using midpoints to get the desired orthocenter. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by shendrew7, Mar 9, 2024, 6:44 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Deadline
13 posts
#8 • 1 Y
Y by Om245
solution
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by Deadline, Oct 10, 2024, 3:22 AM
Reason: HUH
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
CT17
1481 posts
#9
Y by
Wow.

Step 1: Given $X,Y$ can mark the midpoint of $XY$

Proof: Mark an arbitrary point $P$, and intersect a line parallel to $XY$ with $PX$ and $PY$. The intersection of the diagonals of the resulting trapezoid lies on the $P-$ median of $\triangle PXY$.

Step 2: Given $\triangle XYZ$ we can mark the angle bisectors of $\angle YXZ$.

Proof: Draw the distance $1$ lines from $XY$ and $XZ$. Their intersection lies on the internal or external bisector of $\angle YXZ$, depending on which lines are chosen.

Step 3: Given $X,Y$ we can draw the perpendicular bisector of $XY$.

Proof: Mark an arbitrary point $P$. The midpoint of the incenter and the $P-$ excenter of $\triangle PXY$ is the arc midpoint of $XY$, so we can draw the line through this point and the midpoint of $XY$.

Step 4: We can mark the Symmedian point of $\triangle ABC$.

Proof: Let the perpendicular bisectors of $AB$ and $AC$ intersect the $A-$ median at $D$ and $E$. By 2008 USAMO $2$, $BD\cap CE$ is the $A-$ Dumpty point, so we can draw the $A-$ Symmedian which suffices.

Finish: The line through the midpoint of $BC$ and the Symmedian point is the $A-$ Schwatt line, which intersects the $A-$ midline at the midpoint of the $A-$ altitude. Hence, we can draw the altitudes, which finishes.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by CT17, Mar 10, 2024, 2:00 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
awesomeming327.
1711 posts
#10
Y by
shendrew7 wrote:
This solution doesn't make use of the incenter construction, which is unfortunate as it's the first and nicest one I found :(
  • Rhombus with given diagonal: Just use our double edged ruler, where we assume the diagonal has length greater than 1 (patched in the next construction).
  • Integer Homotheties: We first use this to scale up the diagram to where all necessary lengths later in the solution are greater than 1. Choose a far away point $X$. For each point $K$, construct one rhombus with diagonal $XK$, and another by shifting the ruler. The opposite vertex in this second rhombus is the reflection of $X$ across $K$, and we can induct to get all integers. Other than trivial degenerate cases, this allows us to scale the diagram by powers of 2, as well as constructing homotheties in our scaled diagram.
  • Midpoints and Perpendicular Bisectors: Simply use the other diagonal of a constructed rhombus. Thus we get $G$, $O$.

Thus, Euler line gives us $H$, from which we scale back (if necessary) using midpoints to get the desired orthocenter. $\blacksquare$

How do you do it given diagonal???
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
P2nisic
406 posts
#11
Y by
What is hapening with this manufacturing problems?
A similar one
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by P2nisic, May 8, 2024, 2:03 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
InCtrl
871 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Plasma_Vortex, khina
Claim 1: we can construct angle bisectors.
Proof: Given angle $\angle XYZ$, place your ruler along the interior of $XY$, then along the interior of $YZ$. Their intersection $W$ is such that $WXYZ$ is a rhombus, and so $YW$ is the angle bisector.

Claim 2: we can construct midpoints.
Proof: Given $\overline{XY}$, mark some point $T$ on the plane. Draw $l$ parallel to $XY$ and let it intersect $TX, TY$ at $D, E$ respectively. Then, let $DY, EX$ intersect at $K$. It's clear now by Ceva/projection/homothety that $TK$ is the median in $\triangle TXY$, so it intersects $XY$ at its midpoint $M$.

Claim 3: give two points $P, Q$, we can construct the reflection $P'$ of $P$ across $Q$.
Proof: draw $l$ parallel to $PQ$, pick two points $p,p'$ on $l$ and construct its midpoint $q$. Let $Pp$ intersect $Qq$ at $T$. It's clear now that $Tp'$ intersects $PQ$ at $P'$ as defined.

In fact, we can easily generalize this claim to find the point $Q+n(Q-P)$.

Using the angle-bisector tool, we can construct triangle $\triangle I_AI_BI_C$ where the vertices are the excenters of $\triangle ABC$. If we change our reference triangle to the excentral triangle, we notice that $\triangle ABC$ is the orthic triangle. We also find the incenter $I$ of $\triangle ABC$ which is the orthocenter of $\triangle I_AI_BI_C$. Now, mark the midpoints of $\triangle I_AI_BI_C$, as well as the midpoints of $II_A, II_B, II_C$. Note that these points form the 9 point circle of $\triangle I_AI_BI_C$, which is just the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$! A diameter of this circle is formed by connecting the midpoint of $II_A$ and the midpoint of $I_BI_C$. We can mark its midpoint to find the circumcenter $O$.

Now, by finding the medians in $\triangle ABC$, we can find the centroid $G$. We now use the general form of claim $3$ to reflect $O$ across $G$ to $G+ 2(G-O) = 3G = H$, as desired.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by InCtrl, Mar 19, 2024, 5:34 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
sami1618
901 posts
#13
Y by
Tool 1: Given two lines $l_1$ and $l_2$ we can construct both angle bisectors
Construct all four lines that are a distance one away from $l_1$ or $l_2$. The diagonals of the rhombus formed by these lines are the desired bisectors.
Tool 2: Given two points $X$ and $Y$ we can construct their midpoint
Let $l$ be a line a distance one away from $XY$. Chose arbitrary $E$ and $F$ along $l$. Then the line passing through $XE\cap YF$ and $XF\cap YE$ bisects $XY$.
Tool 3: Given three points $X$, $Y$, and $P$ we can construct the line through $P$ parallel to $XY$
Construct the midpoint $M$ of $XY$ and chose a point $Q$ along $XP$. Define $Z=QM\cap PY$. Then we can take the line passing through $P$ and $XZ\cap QY$.

Now we can construct the incenter $I$ and the excenter $I_A$. We can also construct the midpoint, $M$, of $BC$. Notice that the midpoint of $II_A$ is the arc midpoint, $N$. Now draw the line passing through $A$ parallel to $MN$. This is the $A$-altitude so we can easily finish.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
cursed_tangent1434
610 posts
#14 • 1 Y
Y by GeoKing
A different solution as in we don't really need to be able to construct arbitrary pairs of parallel lines to be able to construct the orthocenter. We start off with our preliminary loci.

Construction : Given two points $X$ and $Y$ we can mark their midpoint $M_{XY}$.
Proof : Draw line $XY$ and the two lines $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ on either side of $\overline{XY}$ each a distance one away from $XY$ and parallel to it. Now, it is fairly intuitive that there exists two parallel lines $m_1$ and $m_2$ which are a distance of one apart where $m_1$ passes through $X$ and $m_2$ passes through $Y$. Consider the quadrilateral formed by $\ell_1$ , $\ell_2$ , $m_1$ and $m_2$, it is not hard to see that it is a parallelogram so intersecting the diagonals of this quadrilateral yields the midpoint of segment $XY$, as desired.

Construction : Given two intersecting lines $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ we can construct their internal and external angle bisectors.
Proof : Draw the lines $m_1$ and $m_2$ parallel to $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ and a distance of 1 away from each respectively (on the side such that they intersect these lines). This then forms a parallelogram. We can further note that it is also a rhombus since the distances between the parallel side pairs is the same. Thus, if we draw the diagonal of this parallelogram which passes through the intersection of $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ which must be the internal angle bisector of $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$. Repeating this process of the obtuse angle formed by $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ gives us the external angle bisector.

Now, we use our configuration geometry knowledge. We first prove the following claim.

Claim : Given a triangle $\triangle ABC$ it is possible to construct its intouch points.
Proof : Since we can construct midpoints, it is possible to construct the midlines of $\triangle ABC$ as well. Now, by Iran Lemma we know that the intersections $K$ and $J$ of the $C$-angle bisector and $B$-midline and the $B$-angle bisector and $C$-midline lie on the line $\overline{EF}$ where $E$ and $F$ are the $B$ and $C$-intouch points. Then, drawing the line $\overline{KJ}$ and taking its intersections with the sides $AB$ and $AC$ allows us to mark the $B$ and $C$-intouch points. Similarly, we can also construct the $A$-intouch point which proves the claim.

Now, since we can construct internal and external angle bisectors it is immediate that we can construct the incenter $I$ and $A-$excenter $I_A$. Now, we draw line $\overline{I_AD}$ and the $A-$midline. By the Midpoint of the Altitude Lemma, it is well known that their intersection is the midpoint of the $A-$altitude, $H_A$. It simply remains to construct the perpendicular from $A$ to $BC$ by drawing line $\overline{AH_A}$. Repeating this process on all 3 sides, we can construct all three perpendiculars and in particular mark the orthocenter of $\triangle ABC$ as desired.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
TestX01
340 posts
#15 • 1 Y
Y by GeoKing
original solution hopefully not fakesolve.

Construction: Given $X,Y$ we can construct midpoint $M$.

Construct $\ell$ distance $1$ from $XY$ parallel to it. Pick a point $P$, and let $XP\cap \ell=X', YP\cap \ell=Y'$ Consider $XY'\cap X'Y=Q$, by Ceva clearly $PQ$ bisects $XY$.

Construction: Given $\angle XPY$ we can construct its bisectors.

Construct $\ell$ parallel to $XP$ with distance $1$, and construct $\ell'$ parallel to $PY$ with distance $1$ such $XP,PY,\ell,\ell'$ form a rhombus. Taking $P\ell\cap\ell'$ is the internal bisector from symmetry. The external bisector is the same but with the rhombus on the outside.

Construction: Given $XY$, and a point $P$ we can construct the parallel line to $XY$ through $P$.

Construct the midpoint of $XY=M$. Let $D$ be a point on $XP$. Let $DM\cap PY=N$. Let $DY$ intersect $XN$ at $Z$. $PZ$ is the desired parallel line by Ceva.

Construction: Given $XY$, we can construct its perpendicular bisector..

Now, we can construct the incenter and $P$-excenter of $(PXY)$ for any point $P$. The midpoint of the two points is by Fact 5, the midpoint of minor arc $XY$ in $(PXY)$. Taking the line through that and the midpoint of $XY$ finishes.

Hence, we return to our problem.

From constructing the midpoints, we may get the medians of $ABC$ and hence the centroid $G$. The perpendicular bisector of $BC$ intersects $AB$ at $K$. Then $KC$ intersects the parallel line to $BC$ through $A$ at the point $A'$, such $ABCA'$ is an isosceles trapezium.

Now, intersect $GA'$ with $BC$. This gives the foot from $A$ to $BC$ by a well-known Why-Point /2011 G4 Point property.

Hence, repeating for all three sides, and intersecting we have the orthocentre.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
v_Enhance
6877 posts
#16 • 3 Y
Y by vinyx, Rizzon, H_Taken
Solution from Twitch Solves ISL:

We prove the following series of claims.
Claim: Given two intersecting lines $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$, we get the two angle bisectors.
Proof. Make a parallelogram two of whose sides are $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ and where the distance to opposite sides is $1$. This is actually a rhombus. $\blacksquare$

Claim: Given a line segment $\overline{XY}$ we can find its midpoint.
Proof. Draw two lines parallel to $\overline{XY}$ distance $1$ away, say $\ell$ and $\ell'$. Let $Z$ be on $\ell'$. Let rays $ZX$ and $ZY$ meet $\ell$ again and $X'$ and $Y'$. Then we can get the centroid of $\triangle X'Y'Z$. $\blacksquare$
From now on fix triangle $ABC$. Our goal is to draw the $A$-altitude; see the figure below.

[asy]
pair A = dir(130); pair B = dir(210); pair C = dir(330); draw(unitcircle, dotted+blue); draw(A--B--C--cycle, blue); pair N = dir(270); pair M = midpoint(B--C); pair Q = 0.6*C+0.4*A; pair P = extension(B, Q, A, M); pair R = extension(B, P, A, A+B-C); draw(B--N--C, grey); draw(B--R, red); pair S = extension(A, R, M, N); pair L = midpoint(A--M); pair D = foot(A, B, C); draw(A--D, dashed+deepgreen); draw(A--M, blue); draw(A--R, blue); draw(S--N, blue); draw(D--S, deepgreen+dashed);
dot("$A$", A, dir(A)); dot("$B$", B, dir(B)); dot("$C$", C, dir(C)); dot("$N$", N, dir(N)); dot("$M$", M, dir(45)); dot("$Q$", Q, dir(85)); dot("$P$", P, dir(250)); dot("$R$", R, dir(R)); dot("$S$", S, dir(S)); dot("$L$", L, dir(L)); dot(D);
/* -----------------------------------------------------------------+ |                 TSQX: by CJ Quines and Evan Chen                  | | https://github.com/vEnhance/dotfiles/blob/main/py-scripts/tsqx.py | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ A = dir 130 B = dir 210 C = dir 330 unitcircle / dotted blue A--B--C--cycle / blue N = dir 270 M 45 = midpoint B--C Q 85 = 0.6*C+0.4*A P 250 = extension B Q A M R = extension B P A A+B-C B--N--C / grey B--R / red S = extension A R M N L = midpoint A--M D .= foot A B C A--D / dashed deepgreen A--M / blue A--R / blue S--N / blue D--S / deepgreen dashed */
[/asy]

Claim: We can construct the perpendicular bisectors of side $\overline{BC}$, which meets $\overline{BC}$ at its midpoint $M$.
Proof. Bisect all the angles of $ABC$ to get the incenter $I$ and excenters $I_A$. Let $N$ be the midpoint of $\overline{II_A}$ which is equidistant from $B$ and $C$. Then the internal bisector of $\angle BNC$ is the perpendicular bisector of side $BC$. $\blacksquare$
To finish, an arbitrary line $g$ through $B$ inside the triangle, and let it meet $\overline{AM}$ at $P$ and $\overline{AC}$ at $Q$. Using a straightedge alone we can construct the harmonic conjugate $R$ of $P$ with respect to $\overline{BQ}$. Then from $(BC;M\infty) = -1$, where $\infty$ is the point at infinity along line $BC$, we conclude that $\overline{AR} \parallel \overline{BC}$.
Bisect $\overline{AM}$ to get $L$. Let line $AR$ meet the perpendicular bisector of $BC$ at $S$. Then $\overline{SL}$ passes through the foot of the $A$-altitude and we're done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by v_Enhance, Oct 26, 2024, 3:08 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Ziyadel
11 posts
#17
Y by
Great Solution above
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
L13832
265 posts
#18
Y by
Claim: Given $BC$ we can construct its midpoint.
Proof: Let $\ell$ be a line parallel and $1$ away from $BC$. After choosing arbitary points $D,E$ on $\ell$ we consider line passin through $BD\cap CE$ and $BE\cap CD$ to bisect $BC$. $\square$

Using this we can construct the centroid of $ABC$.

Claim: We can construct the angle bisector of $ABC$.
Proof: Construct the lines parallel and $1$ away to $AB$ and $BC$, the line connecting intersection of these two parallel lines and $B$ marks the angle bisector. $\square$

Using this we can construct the incenter and excenters of $ABC$. And due to INMO 2025 P3 we can construct the perpendicular bisector of $BC$ and get the circumcenter of $ABC$ as well.

Claim: Given $BC$, we can construct the reflection of $B$ over $C$.
Proof: Let $\ell$ be a line parallel to $BC$, then choose $2$ points $D,E$ on $\ell$ and consider their midpoint $N$. Then consider $BD\cap CN$ to be $R$. And finally $RE\cap BC$ gives us the relfection of $B$ over $C$. $\square$
(this claim is basically just working backwards on BPT such that we start with only $2$ points.)

Since we can already construct $O$, $G$ we can also construct $H$ by noting that $HG=2GO$ and using the above Claim two times.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
endless_abyss
42 posts
#19
Y by
Nice problem!

We claim that we can construct the -

1. Incentre (Construct a rhombus using given tools, the diagonal ends up being the angle bisector, repeat for other vertices, intersect the lines, giving us the incentre.)
2. Excentres (Simply construct the angle bisector of the side extended.)
3. Reflect points over other points (Use the parallelogram property where the diagonals are bisected )
4. A line parallel to another line through an arbitrary point. (Consider a point $X$, and line $Y Z$, reflect $X$ over $Y$ and reflect back over $Z$, the last point and point $X$ make up the parallel line.)
5. Mid-points Just use Ceva's theorem after drawing a parallel line.
6. Mark the circumcentre - Make a square with (say) $A, B$ as the two vertices and $m_3$ as the point of intersection of the diagonals. Get the line through the midpoint where the circumcentre must lie, repeat the same to get the circumcentre.
7. Now, to construct the $A$-Altitude simply draw a line parallel to $O I_A$ through $A$, repeat the same process and mark the intersection as the orthocentre.

:starwars:
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
quantam13
112 posts
#20
Y by
1. Constructing the angle bisectors We can create a rhombus to get both internal and external angle bisector.
2. Creating midpoint: Use standard Ceva construction to get the midpoint with parallel line.
3. Creating perpendicular bisector of sides: Draw the incenter and excenters from the first step. In triangle $ABC$, with the $A$-excenter $I_a$ and the incenter $I$, draw their midpoint. This coincides with the minor arc midpoint of $BC$ in $(ABC)$. Connect this to $BC$ midpoint.
4. Line parallel to $BC$ through $A$: There are multiple ways to do this but the fastest way is to draw a line through $B$, intersect it with the $A$-median and $AC$ and $X$ and $Y$ respectivley and draw the harmonic conjugate of $X$ with respect to $BY$ to be $Z$. Midpoint infinity harmonic bundle immediatley gives $AZ\parallel BC$.
5. Foot of altitude. Draw the midpoint of the $A$ median to be $D$ and the intersection of $BC$'s perpendicular bisector with $AZ$ to be $E$. Now $DE\cap BC$ can easily be checked to be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to $BC$ by noticing the rectangle.
6. Finishing with the orthocenter Construct the orthocenter from the feet of alititudes and straightedge
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
cj13609517288
1897 posts
#21
Y by
:skull: :skull: :skull: :skull: :skull:

Claim. Given points $A$ and $B$, we can draw the midpoint of $AB$.
Proof. Draw line $AB$ and a line parallel to $AB$, then use Ceva's theorem to build the median.

Claim. Given two lines forming an angle, we may draw its angle bisector.
Proof. Say it's angle $ABC$. Then draw the line farther from $C$ parallel to $AB$ with distance $1$, and draw the line farther from $A$ parallel to $BC$ with distance $1$. These two pairs of parallel lines determine a rhombus, so the intersection of the two new lines we drew lies on the angle bisector.

Claim. Given two points $B$ and $C$, we may draw the perpendicular bisector of $BC$.
Proof. Choose an arbitrary point $A$, and draw the incenter $I$ and $A$-excenter $I_A$. Then their midpoint lies on the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. Repeat this for a different $A$ to win.

We are done by ELMO 2020/3.
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a