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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:
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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
FE f(x)f(y)+1=f(x+y)+f(xy)+xy(x+y-2)
steven_zhang123   0
5 minutes ago
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$, we have $f(x)f(y)+1=f(x+y)+f(xy)+xy(x+y-2)$.
0 replies
steven_zhang123
5 minutes ago
0 replies
Problem 4
teps   74
N 8 minutes ago by bjump
Find all functions $f:\mathbb Z\rightarrow \mathbb Z$ such that, for all integers $a,b,c$ that satisfy $a+b+c=0$, the following equality holds:
\[f(a)^2+f(b)^2+f(c)^2=2f(a)f(b)+2f(b)f(c)+2f(c)f(a).\]
(Here $\mathbb{Z}$ denotes the set of integers.)

Proposed by Liam Baker, South Africa
74 replies
1 viewing
teps
Jul 11, 2012
bjump
8 minutes ago
Cono Sur Olympiad 2011, Problem 6
Leicich   22
N 9 minutes ago by cosinesine
Let $Q$ be a $(2n+1) \times (2n+1)$ board. Some of its cells are colored black in such a way that every $2 \times 2$ board of $Q$ has at most $2$ black cells. Find the maximum amount of black cells that the board may have.
22 replies
1 viewing
Leicich
Aug 23, 2014
cosinesine
9 minutes ago
Brasil NMO (OBM) - 2007
oscar_sanz012   0
24 minutes ago
Show that there exists an integer ? such that
/frac{a^{19} - 1} {a - 1}
have at least 2007 distinct prime factors.
0 replies
oscar_sanz012
24 minutes ago
0 replies
VERY HARD MATH PROBLEM!
slimshadyyy.3.60   4
N 27 minutes ago by slimshadyyy.3.60
Let a ≥b ≥c ≥0 be real numbers such that a^2 +b^2 +c^2 +abc = 4. Prove that
a+b+c+(√a−√c)^2 ≥3.
4 replies
slimshadyyy.3.60
44 minutes ago
slimshadyyy.3.60
27 minutes ago
Functional Equation!
EthanWYX2009   1
N 30 minutes ago by DottedCaculator
Source: 2025 TST 24
Find all functions $f:\mathbb Z\to\mathbb Z$ such that $f$ is unbounded and
\[2f(m)f(n)-f(n-m)-1\]is a perfect square for all integer $m,n.$
1 reply
1 viewing
EthanWYX2009
Today at 10:48 AM
DottedCaculator
30 minutes ago
Solve this hard problem:
slimshadyyy.3.60   1
N 34 minutes ago by FunnyKoala17
Let a,b,c be positive real numbers such that x +y+z = 3. Prove that
yx^3 +zy^3+xz^3+9xyz≤ 12.
1 reply
1 viewing
slimshadyyy.3.60
an hour ago
FunnyKoala17
34 minutes ago
Hard geometry
jannatiar   1
N 36 minutes ago by alinazarboland
Source: 2024 AlborzMO P4
In triangle \( ABC \), let \( I \) be the \( A \)-excenter. Points \( X \) and \( Y \) are placed on line \( BC \) such that \( B \) is between \( X \) and \( C \), and \( C \) is between \( Y \) and \( B \). Moreover, \( B \) and \( C \) are the contact points of \( BC \) with the \( A \)-excircle of triangles \( BAY \) and \( AXC \), respectively. Let \( J \) be the \( A \)-excenter of triangle \( AXY \), and let \( H' \) be the reflection of the orthocenter of triangle \( ABC \) with respect to its circumcenter. Prove that \( I \), \( J \), and \( H' \) are collinear.

Proposed by Ali Nazarboland
1 reply
jannatiar
Mar 4, 2025
alinazarboland
36 minutes ago
IMO ShortList 1998, number theory problem 6
orl   28
N an hour ago by Zany9998
Source: IMO ShortList 1998, number theory problem 6
For any positive integer $n$, let $\tau (n)$ denote the number of its positive divisors (including 1 and itself). Determine all positive integers $m$ for which there exists a positive integer $n$ such that $\frac{\tau (n^{2})}{\tau (n)}=m$.
28 replies
orl
Oct 22, 2004
Zany9998
an hour ago
A projectional vision in IGO
Shayan-TayefehIR   14
N an hour ago by mathuz
Source: IGO 2024 Advanced Level - Problem 3
In the triangle $\bigtriangleup ABC$ let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to the side $BC$ and $I$, $I_A$, $I_C$ be the incenter, $A$-excenter, and $C$-excenter, respectively. Denote by $P\neq B$ and $Q\neq D$ the other intersection points of the circle $\bigtriangleup BDI_C$ with the lines $BI$ and $DI_A$, respectively. Prove that $AP=AQ$.

Proposed Michal Jan'ik - Czech Republic
14 replies
Shayan-TayefehIR
Nov 14, 2024
mathuz
an hour ago
(a²-b²)(b²-c²) = abc
straight   3
N 2 hours ago by straight
Find all triples of positive integers $(a,b,c)$ such that

\[(a^2-b^2)(b^2-c^2) = abc.\]
If you can't solve this, assume $gcd(a,c) = 1$. If this is still too hard assume in $a \ge b \ge c$ that $b-c$ is a prime.
3 replies
straight
Mar 24, 2025
straight
2 hours ago
A checkered square consists of dominos
nAalniaOMliO   1
N 2 hours ago by BR1F1SZ
Source: Belarusian National Olympiad 2025
A checkered square $8 \times 8$ is divided into rectangles with two cells. Two rectangles are called adjacent if they share a segment of length 1 or 2. In each rectangle the amount of adjacent with it rectangles is written.
Find the maximal possible value of the sum of all numbers in rectangles.
1 reply
nAalniaOMliO
Yesterday at 8:21 PM
BR1F1SZ
2 hours ago
A lot of numbers and statements
nAalniaOMliO   2
N 2 hours ago by nAalniaOMIiO
Source: Belarusian National Olympiad 2025
101 numbers are written in a circle. Near the first number the statement "This number is bigger than the next one" is written, near the second "This number is bigger that the next two" and etc, near the 100th "This number is bigger than the next 100 numbers".
What is the maximum possible amount of the statements that can be true?
2 replies
nAalniaOMliO
Yesterday at 8:20 PM
nAalniaOMIiO
2 hours ago
USAMO 1981 #2
Mrdavid445   9
N 2 hours ago by Marcus_Zhang
Every pair of communities in a county are linked directly by one mode of transportation; bus, train, or airplane. All three methods of transportation are used in the county with no community being serviced by all three modes and no three communities being linked pairwise by the same mode. Determine the largest number of communities in this county.
9 replies
Mrdavid445
Jul 26, 2011
Marcus_Zhang
2 hours ago
balkan geo 2003
Valentin Vornicu   34
N Oct 27, 2023 by bodannikolov
Source: Balkan MO 2003, problem 2
Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let the tangent to the circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$ at $A$ meet the line $BC$ at $D$. The perpendicular to $BC$ at $B$ meets the perpendicular bisector of $AB$ at $E$. The perpendicular to $BC$ at $C$ meets the perpendicular bisector of $AC$ at $F$. Prove that the points $D$, $E$ and $F$ are collinear.

Valentin Vornicu
34 replies
Valentin Vornicu
Feb 6, 2004
bodannikolov
Oct 27, 2023
Source: Balkan MO 2003, problem 2
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Valentin Vornicu
7301 posts
#1 • 4 Y
Y by Armanb, Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let the tangent to the circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$ at $A$ meet the line $BC$ at $D$. The perpendicular to $BC$ at $B$ meets the perpendicular bisector of $AB$ at $E$. The perpendicular to $BC$ at $C$ meets the perpendicular bisector of $AC$ at $F$. Prove that the points $D$, $E$ and $F$ are collinear.

Valentin Vornicu
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Valentin Vornicu, Oct 24, 2005, 12:54 AM
Z K Y
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Valentin Vornicu
7301 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
my solution can be found HERE, I am expecting other solutions :D

[Moderator edit: Just for the sake of completeness, I post this solution here:

Because both triangles DBE and DCF are right-angled triangles, it is sufficient to prove that they are similar to obtain D,E,F collinear. All we must prove is that DB/DC=BE/FC (1)

Now let's compute each ratio: for the first one, we'll use the fact that AD is tangent to the circumcircle of ABC. Therefore <DAB=<ACB thus the triangles DAB and DCA are similar, which gives us:
DB/DC=AB/AC=AD/BC => DB/DC = c<sup>2</sup>/b<sup>2</sup> (2)

Let's compute now BE and EF. Let M be the midpoint of [BC]. Then in the right-angled trapezoid [EBMO] because <EOM=<A+<B it follows that <BEO = <C. Using the latter fact we can compute easily the length of
BE=(a/2)cotB+RcosA
and by the same arguments FC=RcosA+(a/2)cotC . Now we have to prove using (2) that: (RcosA+(a/2)cotB)b<sup>2</sup> = (RcosA+(a/2)cosC)c<sup>2</sup> which is obvious after some computations.
Thus the three points are collinear.

]
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treegoner
637 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
The point of this problem is to compute DB/DC. But you can easily prove that DB/DC = (AB/AC)^2. Let D' be the intersection of EF and BC. By using Thales theorem you can proveit easily. Thanks. :D
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Valiowk
374 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I found it slightly strange that the proposer's solution uses trigonometry when a relatively straightforward synthetic solution can be found :?

I think treegoner's hint is more than enough to solve the problem :) (I don't know what Thales' theorem is, and I didn't use the intersection of EF and BC) - my solution doesn't quite reach half a page.
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A1lqdSchool
179 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
"I don't know what Thales' theorem is" =>
Are you sure?? It's very well-known Theorem.
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grobber
7849 posts
#6 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
The trigonometric solution is kind of short too: BE=AB/2sinB, CF=AC/2sinC, and we then use the fact that DB/DC=AB<sup>2</sup>/AC<sup>2</sup> (this is well-known; the tangent in A to the circumcircle is the ex-symmedian of ABC corresponding to A). Then, as Treegoner said, Thales works fine.

[Moderator edit: Someone said there is another solution by inversion.]
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Valiowk
374 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Maybe I know it by some other name...
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Peter
3615 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
A1lqdSchool wrote:
"I don't know what Thales' theorem is" =>
Are you sure?? It's very well-known Theorem.

not only well-known, most people would use this intuitively, without knowing it has a name, so don't worry about it

it's just the rules of x/x = x/x in triangles of the same form :maybe:
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Valentin Vornicu
7301 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Valiowk wrote:
I found it slightly strange that the proposer's solution uses trigonometry when a relatively straightforward synthetic solution can be found :?
not so strange. I didn't tought much about the problem when I proposed it, and one solution sufficed.

I had no idea it will make it to the actual contest :D:D.
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treegoner
637 posts
#10 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I don't know what this following theroem is called in your country, but it is a basic one of geometry. I call it Thales 's theorem
Let ABC be a triangle and D, E are in AB and AC. Then we have
DE//BC iff AD/AB = AE/AC.
What do you call it in your country ? :D
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grobber
7849 posts
#11 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
The interesting thing about the theorem is that Thales only proved it for rational ratios, an the prooff coul only be completed after calculus was invented, so the theorem was used intuitively (without a complete proof) for a long time.
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darij grinberg
6555 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
What you call Thales theorem is known as Thales theorem in Russia, but in Germany it is called "Strahlensatz"; moreover, the German "Satz von Thales" is the fact that the diameter of a circle suspends a 90 angle.

However, it is really useless to discuss about such naming issues.

Of course, the problem is simple. I wonder why Valentin solves it by heavy trigonometry, whereas there are simple solutions either synthetic or with a quite little use of trigonometry (sine law).


Friendly,
Darij Grinberg
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arniszt
2 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let C1 and C2 be the circumferences of centre F and centre E that intersect at A. Clearly BC is a common tangent line to these two circles, we will show that D is their homothecy centre. Indeed, let A' be the second intersection point of AD with C1, we have that <BAD=<CAB=<CA'A. Hence CA' || AB, which implies the result.
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jayme
9772 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by zuss77, Adventure10
Dear Mathlinkers,
let A*B*C* the tangentiel triangle of ABC and O the circumcenter of ABC
According to the Desargues's theorem, A*O is the perspectrix of the triangle BEC* and CFB*;
in consequence, these triangle are perspective
...
Sincerely
Jean-Louis
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vittasko
1327 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Thank you for nice solutions dear arniszt and Jean-Louis.

Let us to present an alternative approach based on the douple ratio theory.

$ \bullet$ Let be the points $ B'\equiv AD\cap OF,\ C'\equiv AD\cap OE,\ E'\equiv BC\cap OE$ and $ F'\equiv BC\cap OF.$

It is clear that the line segments $ C'B,\ B'C,$ tangent to the circumcircle $ (O)$ of $ \bigtriangleup ABC,$ at points $ B,\ C,$ respectively.

In the configuration of the pencils $ B.COEC',\ C.BOFB',$ where $ O$ is the circumcenter of $ \bigtriangleup ABC,$ we see that congruent angles are formed, by their homologous rays $ ($ $ \angle CBO = \angle BCO$ and $ \angle OBE = \angle OCF$ and $ \angle EBC' = \angle FCB'$ $ ).$

So, we conclude that these pencils have congruent douple ratios ( = cross ratios ).

That is we have $ (B.COEC') = (C.BOFB')$ $ ,(1)$

Because of now, the line segments $ OE,\ OF,$ intersect the pencils $ B.COEC',\ C.BOFB'$ respectively, we have that $ (B.COEC') = (E',O,E,C')$ $ ,(2)$ and $ (C.BOFB') = (F',O,F,B')$ $ ,(3)$

From $ (1),$ $ (2),$ $ (3)$ $ \Longrightarrow$ $ (E',O,E,C') = (F',O,F,B')$ $ ,(4)$

From $ (4),$ we conclude that the line segments $ E'F'\equiv BC,\ EF,\ B'C',$ are concurrent at one point, here the point $ D$ and the proof is completed.

REMARK. – We can say the same words, also when $ E,\ F,$ are points on the mid-perpendiculars of the side-segments $ AB,\ AC$ respectively, such that $ \angle EBC = \angle FCB$ and in this general case also hold, the proofs presented by arniszt and Jean-Louis.

Kostas Vittas.
Attachments:
t=3659.pdf (6kb)
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now or never
11 posts
#16 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
This problem also can be solve by Thales's Theorem. :)
In my point view,if using this theorem, your solution may be become clear and easy. :roll:

Friendly. :P
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jayme
9772 posts
#17 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Dera now and never,
can you post your solution?
Thanks in advance
Sincerely
Jean-Louis
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armpist
527 posts
#18 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Here we have again that Greek invention called PARABOLA

with focus in A and directrix BC; OE,OF are tangents,

BE, CF are diameters.


M.T.
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Jorge Miranda
157 posts
#19 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I see no one posted my solution yet, so... :P

Let $ O$ be the circumcenter of $ ABC$, and $ R$ the circumradius.
If we prove that $ \triangle DAO \sim \triangle DBE$, then analogously $ \triangle DAO \sim \triangle DCF$, and we conclude that $ \triangle DBE \sim \triangle DCF$, and as Valentin noted, that implies that $ D,E,F$ are collinear.

Since $ \angle DAO =\frac{\pi}{2}=\angle DBE$, we just need to prove that:

$ \frac{AO}{BE}=\frac{AD}{DB}$

Using the sine law in $ AEB$ and $ ABC$, we obtain:

$ \frac{EB}{AB}=\frac{\sin(90-\beta)}{\sin(2\beta)} \Leftrightarrow \frac{EB}{2R \sin\gamma}=\frac{\cos\beta}{2\sin\beta \cos\beta} \Leftrightarrow \frac{AO}{BE}=\frac{\sin \beta}{\sin {\gamma}}$

On the other hand, using the sine law on $ ABD$, we get

$ \frac{AD}{DB}=\frac{\sin\beta}{\sin\gamma}$, since AD tangent to the circumcircle $ \Rightarrow$ $ \angle DAB = \pi-\gamma$

This way, $ \frac{AO}{BE}=\frac{\sin\beta}{\sin\gamma}=\frac{AD}{DB}$

$ QED$
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Virgil Nicula
7054 posts
#20 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Valentin Vornicu wrote:
Let $ ABC$ be a triangle, and let the tangent to the circumcircle of the triangle $ ABC$ at $ A$ meet the line $ BC$ at $ D$. The perpendicular to $ BC$ at $ B$ meets the perpendicular bisector of $ AB$ at $ E$. The perpendicular to $ BC$ at $ C$ meets the perpendicular bisector of $ AC$ at $ F$. Prove that the points $ D$, $ E$ and $ F$ are collinear (Valentin Vornicu).

Proof. $ \left\|\ \begin{array}{c}
\frac {DB}{DC}=\frac {c^2}{b^2}\\\\
BE=\frac {c}{2\sin B}\\\\
CF=\frac {b}{2\sin C}\end{array}\ \right\|\ \Longrightarrow\ \frac {BE}{CF}=\frac {DB}{DC}\ \Longrightarrow\ D\in EF$ .
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Agr_94_Math
881 posts
#21 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
$ DB/DC=BE/FC$
How does this mean $ D,E,F$ are collinear points.
Please tell me even if it is so obvious. Pl dont ignore this doubt.

Thanks in advance.
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Peter
3615 posts
#22 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
That means DCF and DBE are similar triangles. Since they share a vertex and a side (and E,F lie on the same side of that side) the conclusion follows.
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Agr_94_Math
881 posts
#23 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Thanks a lot. Sorry for this stupid doubt.
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TheBernuli
155 posts
#24 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Also, this line is perpendicular to Euler line of $ABC$.
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IDMasterz
1412 posts
#25 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Let $XYZ$ be the orthic triangle. Note $\angle BAX = \angle EAB = \angle ZCB$ so if $AE \cap \odot ABC = Q$ then $Q \in CH$ where $H$ is the orthocentre of $ABC$ and define $S= AF \cap \odot ABC$, so $BH \cap \odot ABC = S$. Define $R, P$ to be the antipodes of $C, B$ respectively. Apply pascals theorem on hexagons $BPAAQC$ and $BRAASC$, giving $D, E, AP \cap CQ = K$ are collinear and $D, F, AR \cap BS = L$ are collinear. Its suffice to show $D, K, L$ are collinear.Consider the circles through $KZA$ and $LYA$, and note they are tangent to $AC, AB$ and have diametres $AK, AL$. Consider the circle with diametre $AD$, obviously passing through $X$. It suffice to show they are co-axial. Take an inversion with power $AB \cdot AZ = AC \cdot AX$ about $A$. $X$ goes to $H$, $BC$ go to $YZ$ and $D$ is on $\odot AYZ$ such that $AK \parallel YZ$. Let $TUV$ be the anti-complementary triangle of $ABC$. The intersection of $\odot KZA \cap \odot LYA$ goes to $T$, and obviously $X$ is the circumcentre of $TUV$ and $YZ$ is antiparallel to $UV$ so $TX \perp YZ$ but trivially $TD \perp YZ$ ($AX$ is diametre of $\odot AYZ$), so it follows $T, X, D$ are collinear.

Alternative:

Consider the circles with centres $E, F$ through $C, B$. Notice that if they intersect at $P$, by angle chasing it lies on $BHC$. Let $AH$ meet $BHC$ again at $Q$ and note $PBQC$ is a harmonic quadrilateral, so the tangents meet at $D$, so $DA = DP$ and the conclusion follows (Co-axial circles).

Note though that as my solution points out, this problem is equivalent to USA 2005 TST P6

It appears USA probably based their problem on this one...
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gavrilos
233 posts
#26 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Here is another (correct I hope) approach.

Lemma:(attachment at the bottom)Let $DK$ be tangent to the circle,with $K\neq A$ and $Z\equiv KB\cap l_{AB}$ where $l_{AB}$ the perpendicular bisector of $AB$.

Then $DZ\parallel AB$.

The tangent-chord theorem gives $\hat{BCK}=\hat{BKD} \ \bf \color{red} (1)$.

Also $\hat{ACK}=\hat{ABZ}=\hat{BAZ}$.

The latter is equivalent to $\hat{ACB}+\hat{BCK}=\hat{BAD}+\hat{DAZ}$

The tangent-chord theorem gives $\hat{ACB}=\hat{BAD}$ thus $\hat{BCK}=\hat{DAZ}$.

Now $\bf \color{red} (1)$ gives $\hat{BKD}=\hat{DAZ}\Leftrightarrow \hat{ZKD}=\hat{DAZ}$.

Thus,the quadrilateral $DZAK$ is cyclic.This gives $\hat{DZK}=\hat{DAK}$.The tangent-chord theorem gives $\hat{DAK}=\hat{ACK}$.

We also have $\hat{ACK}=\hat{ABZ}$.Thus $\hat{ABZ}=\hat{DZK}\Leftrightarrow \boxed{DZ\parallel AB}$


Back to our problem(attachment at the middle),let $P,Q$ be the orthogonal projections of $B$ upon $AB,BC$ respectively.
Since $DZ\parallel AB$ the quadrilateral $BDZE$ is cyclic.

Thus,the orange angles are equal because of the cyclic quadrilateral we referred to and because $PK\parallel l_{AB}$.

But one of them,$\hat{PKB}$ equals $\hat{BQP}$.We finally get $\hat{PQD}=\hat{PQB}=\hat{EDB}\Leftrightarrow \boxed{PQ\parallel DE}$.

Let $R$ be the orthogonal projection of $K$ upon $AC$ and $H\equiv l_{AC}\cap CK$ (attachment on the top)

According to the lemma,$DH\parallel AC$.Since $l_{AC}\parallel RK$ we get that the quadrilaterals $DHKF,KQRC$ are cyclic.

Thus,the blue angles are equal (angle-chasing).

This however gives $\boxed{DF\parallel QR}$.Since $\overline{PQR}$ is the Simson line $l$ of $K$ with respect to $\triangle{ABC}$

we get that $DE\parallel l$ and $DF\parallel l$ thus $DE\parallel DF$ which proves the collineartiy.
Attachments:
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TelvCohl
2312 posts
#27 • 3 Y
Y by vsathiam, Adventure10, Mango247
Perform the Inversion with center $ D $ and factor $ {DA}^2 $ $ = $ $ DB $ $ \cdot $ $ DC $, then this inversion swap $ \odot (E, EB) $ and $ \odot (F, FC) $ $ \Longrightarrow $ $ D, $ $ E, $ $ F $ are collinear .
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by TelvCohl, Jan 2, 2016, 4:07 PM
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IstekOlympiadTeam
542 posts
#28 • 4 Y
Y by rzqlzd, Starlex, Adventure10, Mango247
My Solution
It is enough to show that \[\frac{FC}{EB}=\frac{CD}{BD}=\frac{CB+BD}{BD}=1+\frac{CB}{BD}\]Let's say that $\angle ACB=\angle BAD=\alpha$,$R=\text{circumradius of triangle ABC}$ and $\angle ABC=\beta$. Then we have $$\boxed{AB=2R\sin\alpha \ ,  \ AC=2R\sin\beta \ , \ \ BC=2R\sin(\alpha+\beta)}  \  \text{(By Sine Law)}$$And again By Sine Law in triangle $ABD$ we have that \[\boxed{BD=\frac{2R\sin^2\alpha}{\sin{\beta-\alpha}}}\]And we know $BC$ and $BD$ it remain to find $EB$ and $CF$. By sine Law in triangles $ABE$ and $CFA$ we have that \[\boxed{EB=\frac{R\cdot \sin\alpha}{\sin \beta} \  , \  \  CF=\frac{R\cdot\sin\beta}{\sin\alpha}}\]And we must prove that \[\frac{FC}{EB}=1+\frac{CB}{BD}\to \frac{CB}{BD}=\frac{FC}{EB}-1\longrightarrow \frac{\sin(\alpha+\beta)\cdot\sin(\beta-\alpha)}{\sin^2\alpha}=\frac{\sin^2\beta-sin^2\alpha}{sin^2\alpha}\longrightarrow \sin(\alpha+\beta)\cdot\sin(\beta-\alpha)=\sin^2\beta-sin^2\alpha \]And The lat part is here
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by IstekOlympiadTeam, Jan 8, 2016, 6:46 PM
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henderson
312 posts
#29 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
From the problem condition it follows that it's enough to show that $\frac{BE}{BD}=\frac{CF}{CD}.$ Let's mark $\angle OAB$ with $\alpha$ and $\angle OBC$ with $\beta.$
( $O$ is center of the circle)
Using $\triangle EBA \sim \triangle OCA,$ we have $\boxed{\frac{BE}{AB}=\frac{r}{CA}}$ (where $r$ is radius of the circle) $(1)$
By $\text{sines'\ law:}$
In $\triangle ABD :$ $\boxed{AB=\text{sin}(90^\circ-2\alpha-\beta)\cdot \frac{BD}{\text{cos}\alpha}}$
In $\triangle OFC :$ $\boxed{r=\text{cos}{\alpha}\cdot \frac{CF}{\text{sin}(\alpha+\beta)}}$
In $\triangle CAD :$ $\boxed{CA=\text{sin}{(90^\circ-2\alpha-\beta)}\cdot \frac{CD}{\text{sin}(\alpha+\beta)}}$
Making the above substitutions in $\boxed{\frac{BE}{AB}=\frac{r}{CA}}$ $,$ we get $\frac{BE}{BD}=\frac{CF}{CD}$ $,$ as desired.
Note: Proving that $\frac{BE}{BD}=\frac{CF}{CD},$ we have $\angle CDF=\angle BDE,$ so the points $D,E,F$ are collinear.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by henderson, Jan 2, 2016, 6:15 PM
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Smita
514 posts
#30 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Can anyone please post a solution using Inversion please
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tworigami
844 posts
#31 • 3 Y
Y by zuss77, Adventure10, Mango247
Imagine using circles of positive radius smh.

HaPpY NeW yEaR
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Armanb
24 posts
#32 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Good problem
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lahmacun
259 posts
#33 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
WLOG $AB<AC$
Let $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ be the circles centered and $E,F$ and passing through $B,C$ respectively. Both $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ pass through $A$. Let $D'$ be their exsimilicenter. i.e. the intersection of $BC$ and $EF$. Also Let $G$ be the second intersection of $\omega_1$ and $AD'$. We have $BG\parallel CA$ because of the homothety at $D'$ swapping $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$. $$\measuredangle D'AB=\measuredangle GAB=\measuredangle GBD=\measuredangle ACD=\measuredangle ACB$$Hence $D'A$ is tangent to $(ABC)$ at $A$ and $D'=D$. Since $\overline{D'EF}$, we have $\overline{DEF}$
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zuss77
520 posts
#34
Y by
$AD\cap \odot (E,EB) = [A,L]$.
Obviously $E$ is on perp bisector of $BL$.
Also by Reim $BL\parallel AC$.
So $D$ - center of homothety $BLE\mapsto CAF$.
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bodannikolov
16 posts
#35
Y by
Complex bash cause why not
let the circle around $ABC$ be the unit circle / from AOꞱDA you get $\frac{d-a}{\overline{d}-\overline{a}}=-a^2\longrightarrow \overline{d}=\frac{2a-d}{a^2}$ from bc being a chord $\longrightarrow \overline{d}=\frac{c+b-d}{bc}\longrightarrow \frac{c+b-d}{bc}=\frac{2a-d}{a^2}\longrightarrow a^2c+a^2b-da^2=2abc-dbc\longrightarrow d=\frac{a^2(b+c)-2abc}{a^2-bc}$ from OEꞱAB you get $\frac{e-0}{\overline{e}-0}=ab$ from BEꞱCB you get $\frac{b-e}{\overline{b}-\overline{e}}=bc$ combining them you get $e=\frac{a(b-c)}{a-c}$ you get F by this way aswell because it's symmetric. Now we just have to prove collinearity we just need do calculate d-e and d-f for d-e you get $d-e=\frac{ac(a-b)(b+c-2a)}{(a^2-bc)(c-a)}$ for d-f you get the same but just switch b with c so plugging everything in you just need to prove that $\frac{\frac{ac(a-b)}{c-a}}{\frac{\overline{ac}(\overline{a-b})}{\overline{c-a}}}=\frac{\frac{ab(a-c)}{b-a}}{\frac{\overline{ab}(\overline{a-c})}{\overline{b-a}}}$ which isn't hard to prove :)
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