Stay ahead of learning milestones! Enroll in a class over the summer!

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
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.

Summer camps are starting next month at the Virtual Campus in math and language arts that are 2 - to 4 - weeks in duration. Spaces are still available - don’t miss your chance to have an enriching summer experience. 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 upcoming events:
[list][*]May 9th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, Casework 2: Overwhelming Evidence — A Text Adventure, a game where participants will work together to navigate the map, solve puzzles, and win! All are welcome.
[*]May 19th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, What's Next After Beast Academy?, designed for students finishing Beast Academy and ready for Prealgebra 1.
[*]May 20th, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 1 Math Jam, Problems 1 to 4, join the Canada/USA Mathcamp staff for this exciting Math Jam, where they discuss solutions to Problems 1 to 4 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz!
[*]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]
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
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
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, 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
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
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
Tuesday, May 6 - Aug 19
Wednesday, Jun 4 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Oct 19
Friday, Jul 18 - Nov 14

Introduction to Geometry
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

Paradoxes and Infinity
Mon, Tue, Wed, & Thurs, Jul 14 - Jul 16 (meets every day of the week!)

Intermediate: Grades 8-12

Intermediate Algebra
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
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Wednesday, Jun 18 - Sep 3

Precalculus
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
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
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

AIME Problem Series A
Thursday, May 22 - Jul 31

AIME Problem Series B
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21

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
Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs, Jun 23 - Jun 26 (meets every day of the week!)
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
Erasing the difference of two numbers
BR1F1SZ   1
N 4 minutes ago by BR1F1SZ
Source: Austria National MO Part 1 Problem 3
Consider the following game for a positive integer $n$. Initially, the numbers $1, 2, \ldots, n$ are written on a board. In each move, two numbers are selected such that their difference is also present on the board. This difference is then erased from the board. (For example, if the numbers $3,6,11$ and $17$ are on the board, then $3$ can be erased as $6 - 3=3$, or $6$ as $17 - 11=6$, or $11$ as $17 - 6=11$.)

For which values of $n$ is it possible to end with only one number remaining on the board?

(Michael Reitmeir)
1 reply
BR1F1SZ
Yesterday at 9:48 PM
BR1F1SZ
4 minutes ago
3-var inequality
sqing   1
N 17 minutes ago by Natrium
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 ,a+b+c =1. $ Prove that
$$\frac{ab}{2c+1} +\frac{bc}{2a+1} +\frac{ca}{2b+1}+\frac{27}{20} abc\leq \frac{1}{4} $$
1 reply
sqing
May 3, 2025
Natrium
17 minutes ago
Geo metry
TUAN2k8   0
30 minutes ago
Help me plss!
Given an acute triangle $ABC$. Points $D$ and $E$ lie on segments $AB$ and $AC$, respectively. Lines $BD$ and $CE$ intersect at point $F$. The circumcircles of triangles $BDF$ and $CEF$ intersect at a second point $P$. The circumcircles of triangles $ABC$ and $ADE$ intersect at a second point $Q$. Point $K$ lies on segment $AP$ such that $KQ \perp AQ$. Prove that triangles $\triangle BKD$ and $\triangle CKE$ are similar.
0 replies
TUAN2k8
30 minutes ago
0 replies
mathemetics
Pangbowen   0
42 minutes ago
Let a,b,c≥0 and a+b+c=7. Prove that : a/b+b/c+c/a+abc≥ab+bc+ca-2
0 replies
Pangbowen
42 minutes ago
0 replies
Inspired by Austria 2025
sqing   3
N 44 minutes ago by Pangbowen
Source: Own
Let $ a,b\geq 0 ,a,b\neq 1$ and $  a^2+b^2=1. $ Prove that$$   (a + b ) \left( \frac{a}{(b -1)^2} + \frac{b}{(a - 1)^2} \right) \geq 12+8\sqrt 2$$
3 replies
sqing
Today at 2:01 AM
Pangbowen
44 minutes ago
Property of a function
Ritangshu   1
N an hour ago by Natrium
Let \( f(x, y) = xy \), where \( x \geq 0 \) and \( y \geq 0 \).
Prove that the function \( f \) satisfies the following property:

\[
f\left( \lambda x + (1 - \lambda)x',\; \lambda y + (1 - \lambda)y' \right) > \min\{f(x, y),\; f(x', y')\}
\]
for all \( (x, y) \ne (x', y') \) and for all \( \lambda \in (0, 1) \).

1 reply
Ritangshu
May 3, 2025
Natrium
an hour ago
max value
Bet667   2
N an hour ago by Natrium
Let $a,b$ be a real numbers such that $a^2+ab+b^2\ge a^3+b^3.$Then find maximum value of $a+b$
2 replies
1 viewing
Bet667
2 hours ago
Natrium
an hour ago
Geometry
gggzul   2
N an hour ago by gggzul
In trapezoid $ABCD$ segments $AB$ and $CD$ are parallel. Angle bisectors of $\angle A$ and $\angle C$ meet at $P$. Angle bisectors of $\angle B$ and $\angle D$ meet at $Q$. Prove that $ABPQ$ is cyclic
2 replies
gggzul
3 hours ago
gggzul
an hour ago
thank you !
Piwbo   2
N 2 hours ago by Piwbo
Given positive integers $a,b$ such that $a$ is even , $b$ is odd and $ab(a+b)^{2023}$ is divisible by $a^{2024}+b^{2024}$ .Prove that there exists a prime number $p$ such that $a^{2024}+b^{2024}$ is divisible by $p^{2025}$
2 replies
Piwbo
2 hours ago
Piwbo
2 hours ago
Inequality involving square root cube root and 8th root
bamboozled   2
N 2 hours ago by bamboozled
If $a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,k\in R^+$ and $a+b+c=d+e+f=g+h+k=8$, then find the maximum value of $\sqrt{ad^3 g^4} +\sqrt[3]{be^3 h^4} + \sqrt[8]{cf^3 k^4}$
2 replies
bamboozled
Today at 4:46 AM
bamboozled
2 hours ago
find positive n so that exists prime p with p^n-(p-1)^n$ a power of 3
parmenides51   12
N 2 hours ago by n-k-p
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2017 NT5
Find all positive integers $n$ such that there exists a prime number $p$, such that $p^n-(p-1)^n$ is a power of $3$.

Note. A power of $3$ is a number of the form $3^a$ where $a$ is a positive integer.
12 replies
parmenides51
Jul 25, 2018
n-k-p
2 hours ago
hard problem
Cobedangiu   5
N 3 hours ago by KhuongTrang
$a,b,c>0$ and $a+b+c=7$. CM:
$\dfrac{a}{b}+\dfrac{b}{c}+\dfrac{c}{a}+abc \ge ab+bc+ca-2$
5 replies
+1 w
Cobedangiu
Yesterday at 4:24 PM
KhuongTrang
3 hours ago
Nordic 2025 P3
anirbanbz   9
N 3 hours ago by Tsikaloudakis
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 $\vert OE \vert = \vert OF \vert$.
9 replies
anirbanbz
Mar 25, 2025
Tsikaloudakis
3 hours ago
Aime type Geo
ehuseyinyigit   1
N 3 hours ago by ehuseyinyigit
Source: Turkish First Round 2024
In a scalene triangle $ABC$, let $M$ be the midpoint of side $BC$. Let the line perpendicular to $AC$ at point $C$ intersect $AM$ at $N$. If $(BMN)$ is tangent to $AB$ at $B$, find $AB/MA$.
1 reply
ehuseyinyigit
Yesterday at 9:04 PM
ehuseyinyigit
3 hours ago
Similar triangles formed by angular condition
Mahdi_Mashayekhi   5
N Apr 21, 2025 by sami1618
Source: Iran 2025 second round P3
Point $P$ lies inside of scalene triangle $ABC$ with incenter $I$ such that $:$
$$ 2\angle ABP = \angle BCA , 2\angle ACP = \angle CBA $$Lines $PB$ and $PC$ intersect line $AI$ respectively at $B'$ and $C'$. Line through $B'$ parallel to $AB$ intersects $BI$ at $X$ and line through $C'$ parallel to $AC$ intersects $CI$ at $Y$. Prove that triangles $PXY$ and $ABC$ are similar.
5 replies
Mahdi_Mashayekhi
Apr 19, 2025
sami1618
Apr 21, 2025
Similar triangles formed by angular condition
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: Iran 2025 second round P3
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Mahdi_Mashayekhi
695 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Rounak_iitr, Parsia--
Point $P$ lies inside of scalene triangle $ABC$ with incenter $I$ such that $:$
$$ 2\angle ABP = \angle BCA , 2\angle ACP = \angle CBA $$Lines $PB$ and $PC$ intersect line $AI$ respectively at $B'$ and $C'$. Line through $B'$ parallel to $AB$ intersects $BI$ at $X$ and line through $C'$ parallel to $AC$ intersects $CI$ at $Y$. Prove that triangles $PXY$ and $ABC$ are similar.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
gghx
1072 posts
#2
Y by
Let $S=BP\cap CI$ and $T=BI\cap CP$. Note that $$\angle BPC=\angle ABP+\angle ACP=\angle ACI+\angle ABI=\angle BIC,$$hence $BPIC$ is cyclic.

We now prove that $S$ is the circumcenter of $\triangle B'IX$. This is true because $$\angle SB'I=\angle BAI + \angle ABP=\frac{1}{2}(\angle A + \angle C)=\angle IAC+\angle ACI = \angle SIB',$$hence $SI=SB'$. Furthermore, $$\angle ISB'=180^\circ-\angle A - \angle C=\angle B=2\angle ABI=2\angle B'XI,$$hence $S$ is the circumcenter of $\triangle B'IX$ as desired.

Now, $\angle SXI=\angle SIX=\angle SIT=\angle SPT$, hence $SXTP$ is cyclic. Similarly, $SYTP$ is cyclic, so $SXTPY$ is cyclic.

We are now ready to finish the question. We have $$\angle YPX=\angle XSI=180^\circ-2\angle SIX=\angle A$$and $$\angle YXP=180^\circ-\angle PSI=\angle ABP+\angle ACI=\angle C,$$so triangles $PXY$ and $ABC$ are similar.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
ItzsleepyXD
130 posts
#3
Y by
quite similar (or same IDK) to @above

since $\triangle ABB' \sim \triangle ACI$ and $\triangle ACC' \sim \triangle ABI$
implies that $\triangle BB'I \sim \triangle CIC'$

Let $E = BB' \cap IY , F= CC' \cap IX$ .
So $EB'=EI , FC'=FI$
Known that $\angle B'EI = \angle ABC = 2 \angle B'XI$ implies that $E =$ center of $(B'IX)$.
so $ \angle EXI = \angle EIX = \angle EPF$ so $E,X,F,P$ concyclic.
same as $E,Y,F,P$ concyclic .
so $E,Y,X,F,P$ concyclic.
thus $\angle PXY = \angle PEY = \angle ABC$ and $ \angle PYX = 180^{\circ} - \angle PFX = \angle ACB$
Conclude that $\triangle PXY \sim \triangle ABC$ . done $\square$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
mathuz
1524 posts
#4
Y by
Consider the intersection $C'Y\cap B'X = O(.)$. Then $O$ is the circumcenter of $PB'C'$, and it suffices to show that $O$ lies on the circumcircle of $PXY$.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
bin_sherlo
719 posts
#5
Y by
Let $BP\cap CI=U,PC\cap BI=V,AI\cap BC=D$. Note that $\measuredangle CPB=90+\frac{\measuredangle A}{2}=\measuredangle CIB$ hence $B,I,C,P$ are concyclic.
By Menelaus at $B'UBDCI$ we get $\frac{B'B}{IC}=\frac{\sin \measuredangle C}{\sin \measuredangle B}$. Hence $BX=BB'.\frac{\sin \frac{\measuredangle C}{2}}{\sin \frac{\measuredangle B}{2}}=\frac{BB'.IB}{IC}=\frac{\sin \measuredangle C}{\sin \measuredangle B}.IB$ Also $\frac{BV}{BP}=\frac{\cos \frac{\measuredangle A}{2}}{\sin \measuredangle C}$ thus,
\[\frac{BX.BV}{BP}=\frac{BI}{\sin \measuredangle B}.\cos \frac{\measuredangle A}{2}=BU\]which implies $X\in (PUV)$. Similarily $Y\in (PUV)$. Hence $\measuredangle XYP=\measuredangle XVC=\measuredangle C$ and $\measuredangle PXY=\measuredangle PUY=\measuredangle B$ as desired.$\blacksquare$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
sami1618
904 posts
#6
Y by
Here is a different approach rephrasing the problem in terms of reference triangle $PB'C'$. When I first drew the diagram the points $P$, $X$, and $Y$ were all very close together so this solution was motivated by drawing a diagram consisting of the points other than $A$, $B$, and $C$. :)
It is not hard to show that $\angle B'PC'=90^{\circ}-\tfrac{1}{2}\angle A$, $\angle PB'C'=90^{\circ}-\tfrac{1}{2}\angle B$, and $\angle PC'B'=90^{\circ}-\tfrac{1}{2}\angle C$. Since $\angle BPC=\angle BIC$, it must be that $I$ lies on the interior of segment $B'C'$. Because of this, it is also not hard to see that $X$, $Y$, and $P$ all lie on the same side of segment $AI$.
[asy]

import geometry;

size(10cm);
pair A = dir(110);
pair B = dir(200);
pair C = dir(340);
pair I = incenter(A, B, C);
pair D = foot(I, B, C);
pair Ep=B+C-D;
pair J=I+Ep-D;
pair P=isogonalconjugate(triangle(A,B,C),J);
pair Bp=intersectionpoint(line(B,P),line(A,I));
pair Cp=intersectionpoint(line(C,P),line(A,I));
pair X=intersectionpoint(line(Bp,B+Bp-A), line(B,I));
pair Y=intersectionpoint(line(Cp,C+Cp-A), line(C,I));
pair O=intersectionpoint(line(Cp,Y), line(Bp,X));
point[] Ap=intersectionpoints(circle(Bp,O,Cp),line(O,I));
pair Ap=Ap[1];
pair Op=circumcenter(Ap,Bp,Cp);
pair M_a=2*Op-O;
point[] N_c=intersectionpoints(circle(Bp,O,Cp),line(P,Cp));
pair N_c=N_c[0];
point[] N_b=intersectionpoints(circle(Bp,O,Cp),line(P,Bp));
pair N_b=N_b[0];


draw(A--B--C--cycle, black);
draw(B--Bp,black); draw(C--P,black); draw(A--Cp,black); draw(B--I,black); 
draw(C--Y,black); draw(Bp--X); draw(Cp--Y);  draw(P--Bp--Cp--cycle, black);


dot("$A$", A, dir(A));
dot("$B$", B, dir(B));
dot("$C$", C, dir(C));
dot("$I$", I, dir(50));

dot("$P$", P, dir(140));
dot("$B'$", Bp, dir(40));
dot("$C'$", Cp, dir(290));
dot("$X$", X, dir(310));
dot("$Y$", Y, dir(110));
[/asy]
Now notice that $\triangle B'IX\sim\triangle AIB$ and $\triangle C'IY\sim \triangle AIC$. We will now focus on the acute reference triangle $PB'C'$. Let $O$ be the circumcenter of $PB'C'$. Let $X'$ be the second intersection of line $B'O$ with the circumcircle of triangle $POC'$ and let $Y'$ be the second intersection of line $C'O$ with the circumcircle of triangle $POB'$. It is easy to show that $\triangle PX'C'\sim$ $\triangle PB'Y'\sim$ $\triangle ABC$. Now notice that $\triangle B'C'X'\sim$ $\triangle AIB\sim$ $\triangle B'IX$. Thus $X$ is the point on segment $B'X'$ with $IX\parallel C'X'$. Similarly, $Y$ is the point along segment $C'Y'$ with $IY\parallel B'Y'$.
[asy]
import geometry;

size(10cm);

pair P=dir(100);
pair Bp=dir(270+55);
pair Cp=dir(270-55);
pair O=(0,0);
pair I=intersectionpoint(line(O,P),line(Bp,Cp));
pair Xp[]=intersectionpoints(line(Bp,O),circle(P,O,Cp));
pair Xp=Xp[1];
pair Yp[]=intersectionpoints(line(Cp,O),circle(P,O,Bp));
pair Yp=Yp[1];
pair X=intersectionpoint(line(I,I+Xp-Cp), line(Bp,Xp));
pair Y=intersectionpoint(line(I,I+Yp-Bp), line(Cp,Yp));

fill(P--Xp--Cp--cycle,palered+white);
fill(P--Yp--Bp--cycle,palered+white);
fill(P--X--Y--cycle, palered);

draw(P--X--Y--cycle);
draw(P--Bp--Cp--cycle);
draw(circle(P,O,Cp));
draw(circle(P,O,Bp));
draw(Bp--Xp); draw(Cp--Yp);
draw(X--I--Y);
draw(Cp--Xp--P--Yp--Bp);

dot("P",P,2*dir(P));
dot("B'",Bp,dir(270));
dot("C'",Cp,dir(270));

dot("O",O,dir(270));
dot("I",I,dir(270));
dot("X'",Xp,dir(150));
dot("Y'",Yp,dir(30));
dot("X",X,dir(220));
dot("Y",Y,dir(-40));
[/asy]
Then we have that $$\frac{X'X}{XB'}=\frac{C'I}{IB'}=\frac{C'Y}{YY'}.$$Thus triangle $PXY$ is a linear combination of triangle $PX'C'$ and $PB'Y'$. Since these triangles are both similar to $ABC$, it is a well-known result that $PXY$ must be similar to $ABC$ as well.
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a