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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 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
density over modulo M
SomeGuy3335   3
N a few seconds ago by ja.
Let $M$ be a positive integer and let $\alpha$ be an irrational number. Show that for every integer $0\leq a < M$, there exists a positive integer $n$ such that $M \mid \lfloor{n \alpha}\rfloor-a$.
3 replies
SomeGuy3335
Apr 20, 2025
ja.
a few seconds ago
AGI-Origin Solves Full IMO 2020–2024 Benchmark Without Solver (30/30) beat Alpha
AGI-Origin   0
22 minutes ago
Hello IMO community,

I’m sharing here a full 30-problem solution set to all IMO problems from 2020 to 2024.

Standard AI: Prompt --> Symbolic Solver (SymPy, Geometry API, etc.)

Unlike AlphaGeometry or symbolic math tools that solve through direct symbolic computation, AGI-Origin operates via recursive symbolic cognition.

AGI-Origin:
Prompt --> Internal symbolic mapping --> Recursive contradiction/repair --> Structural reasoning --> Human-style proof

It builds human-readable logic paths by recursively tracing contradictions, repairing structure, and collapsing ambiguity — not by invoking any external symbolic solver.

These results were produced by a recursive symbolic cognition framework called AGI-Origin, designed to simulate semi-AGI through contradiction collapse, symbolic feedback, and recursion-based error repair.

These were solved without using any symbolic computation engine or solver.
Instead, the solutions were derived using a recursive symbolic framework called AGI-Origin, based on:
- Contradiction collapse
- Self-correcting recursion
- Symbolic anchoring and logical repair

Full PDF: [Upload to Dropbox/Google Drive/Notion or arXiv link when ready]

This effort surpasses AlphaGeometry’s previous 25/30 mark by covering:
- Algebra
- Combinatorics
- Geometry
- Functional Equations

Each solution follows a rigorous logical path and is written in fully human-readable format — no machine code or symbolic solvers were used.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the solution structure, logic clarity, or symbolic methodology.

Thank you!

— AGI-Origin Team
AGI-Origin.com
0 replies
2 viewing
AGI-Origin
22 minutes ago
0 replies
Diophantine equation !
ComplexPhi   5
N an hour ago by aops.c.c.
Source: Romania JBMO TST 2015 Day 1 Problem 4
Solve in nonnegative integers the following equation :
$$21^x+4^y=z^2$$
5 replies
ComplexPhi
May 14, 2015
aops.c.c.
an hour ago
Combo problem
soryn   0
an hour ago
The school A has m1 boys and m2 girls, and ,the school B has n1 boys and n2 girls. Each school is represented by one team formed by p students,boys and girls. If f(k) is the number of cases for which,the twice schools has,togheter k girls, fund f(k) and the valute of k, for which f(k) is maximum.
0 replies
soryn
an hour ago
0 replies
Parity and sets
betongblander   7
N an hour ago by ihategeo_1969
Source: Brazil National Olympiad 2020 5 Level 3
Let $n$ and $k$ be positive integers with $k$ $\le$ $n$. In a group of $n$ people, each one or always
speak the truth or always lie. Arnaldo can ask questions for any of these people
provided these questions are of the type: “In set $A$, what is the parity of people who speak to
true? ”, where $A$ is a subset of size $ k$ of the set of $n$ people. The answer can only
be $even$ or $odd$.
a) For which values of $n$ and $k$ is it possible to determine which people speak the truth and
which people always lie?
b) What is the minimum number of questions required to determine which people
speak the truth and which people always lie, when that number is finite?
7 replies
betongblander
Mar 18, 2021
ihategeo_1969
an hour ago
Mount Inequality erupts on a sequence :o
GrantStar   88
N an hour ago by Nari_Tom
Source: 2023 IMO P4
Let $x_1,x_2,\dots,x_{2023}$ be pairwise different positive real numbers such that
\[a_n=\sqrt{(x_1+x_2+\dots+x_n)\left(\frac{1}{x_1}+\frac{1}{x_2}+\dots+\frac{1}{x_n}\right)}\]is an integer for every $n=1,2,\dots,2023.$ Prove that $a_{2023} \geqslant 3034.$
88 replies
GrantStar
Jul 9, 2023
Nari_Tom
an hour ago
JBMO Shortlist 2022 N1
Lukaluce   8
N 2 hours ago by godchunguus
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2022
Determine all pairs $(k, n)$ of positive integers that satisfy
$$1! + 2! + ... + k! = 1 + 2 + ... + n.$$
8 replies
Lukaluce
Jun 26, 2023
godchunguus
2 hours ago
P(x) | P(x^2-2)
GreenTea2593   4
N 2 hours ago by GreenTea2593
Source: Valentio Iverson
Let $P(x)$ be a monic polynomial with complex coefficients such that there exist a polynomial $Q(x)$ with complex coefficients for which \[P(x^2-2)=P(x)Q(x).\]Determine all complex numbers that could be the root of $P(x)$.

Proposed by Valentio Iverson, Indonesia
4 replies
GreenTea2593
4 hours ago
GreenTea2593
2 hours ago
USEMO P6 (Idk what to say here)
franzliszt   16
N 2 hours ago by MathLuis
Source: USEMO 2020/6
Prove that for every odd integer $n > 1$, there exist integers $a, b > 0$ such that, if we let $Q(x) = (x + a)^
2 + b$, then the following conditions hold:
$\bullet$ we have $\gcd(a, n) = gcd(b, n) = 1$;
$\bullet$ the number $Q(0)$ is divisible by $n$; and
$\bullet$ the numbers $Q(1), Q(2), Q(3), \dots$ each have a prime factor not dividing $n$.
16 replies
franzliszt
Oct 25, 2020
MathLuis
2 hours ago
Prove that the fraction (21n + 4)/(14n + 3) is irreducible
DPopov   110
N 2 hours ago by Shenhax
Source: IMO 1959 #1
Prove that the fraction $ \dfrac{21n + 4}{14n + 3}$ is irreducible for every natural number $ n$.
110 replies
DPopov
Oct 5, 2005
Shenhax
2 hours ago
Let \( a, b, c \) be positive real numbers satisfying \[ a^2 + c^2 = b(a + c). \
Jackson0423   3
N 2 hours ago by Mathzeus1024
Let \( a, b, c \) be positive real numbers satisfying
\[
a^2 + c^2 = b(a + c).
\]Let
\[
m = \min \left( \frac{a^2 + ab + b^2}{ab + bc + ca} \right).
\]Find the value of \( 2024m \).
3 replies
Jackson0423
Apr 16, 2025
Mathzeus1024
2 hours ago
real+ FE
pomodor_ap   3
N 3 hours ago by MathLuis
Source: Own, PDC001-P7
Let $f : \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ be a function such that
$$f(x)f(x^2 + y f(y)) = f(x)f(y^2) + x^3$$for all $x, y \in \mathbb{R}^+$. Determine all such functions $f$.
3 replies
pomodor_ap
Yesterday at 11:24 AM
MathLuis
3 hours ago
Inspired by hlminh
sqing   1
N 3 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c $ be real numbers such that $ a^2+b^2+c^2=1. $ Prove that $$ |a-kb|+|b-kc|+|c-ka|\leq \sqrt{3k^2+2k+3}$$Where $ k\geq 0 . $
1 reply
sqing
3 hours ago
sqing
3 hours ago
Is this FE solvable?
ItzsleepyXD   3
N 3 hours ago by jasperE3
Source: Original
Let $c_1,c_2 \in \mathbb{R^+}$. Find all $f : \mathbb{R^+} \rightarrow \mathbb{R^+}$ such that for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R^+}$ $$f(x+c_1f(y))=f(x)+c_2f(y)$$
3 replies
ItzsleepyXD
Yesterday at 3:02 AM
jasperE3
3 hours ago
IMO 2011 Problem 6
WakeUp   82
N Mar 13, 2025 by Ritwin
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with circumcircle $\Gamma$. Let $\ell$ be a tangent line to $\Gamma$, and let $\ell_a, \ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ be the lines obtained by reflecting $\ell$ in the lines $BC$, $CA$ and $AB$, respectively. Show that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ is tangent to the circle $\Gamma$.

Proposed by Japan
82 replies
WakeUp
Jul 19, 2011
Ritwin
Mar 13, 2025
IMO 2011 Problem 6
G H J
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WakeUp
1347 posts
#1 • 23 Y
Y by anantmudgal09, Plasma_Vortex, MathPassionForever, HamstPan38825, megarnie, jhu08, v4913, mathfan2020, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, Funcshun840, and 11 other users
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with circumcircle $\Gamma$. Let $\ell$ be a tangent line to $\Gamma$, and let $\ell_a, \ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ be the lines obtained by reflecting $\ell$ in the lines $BC$, $CA$ and $AB$, respectively. Show that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ is tangent to the circle $\Gamma$.

Proposed by Japan
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by WakeUp, Jul 24, 2011, 12:12 PM
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theSA
146 posts
#2 • 11 Y
Y by Wizard_32, Ya_pank, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, Funcshun840, and 5 other users
the only pure geometry in the IMO 2011 is P6!
Weird!
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buratinogigle
2344 posts
#3 • 24 Y
Y by soheil74, msaeids, anantmudgal09, myh2910, amar_04, Ya_pank, HamstPan38825, megarnie, AndreiVila, rayfish, Adventure10, Mango247, LoloChen, XX-math-XX, ohiorizzler1434, Funcshun840, and 8 other users
There is a generalition for this

Let $ABC$ be a triangle and a point $P$. A line pass through $P$ intersect circumcircle $(PBC),(PCA),(PAB)$ again at $P_a,P_b,P_c$, resp. Let $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c,$ be tangets of circumcircle $(PBC),(PCA),(PAB)$ at $P_a,P_b,P_c$, resp. Prove that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c$ is tangent to the circumcircle $(ABC)$.

When $P\equiv H$ orthocenter we have problem 6. I don't have solution, yet. I think we can use invension...
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vulalach
43 posts
#4 • 6 Y
Y by megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
Some idea.
App steiner line wrt P and Migel theorem.
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Nazar_Serdyuk
141 posts
#5 • 19 Y
Y by nguyenngocbao, pi37, anantmudgal09, BBBBMMMMLLLLE, Superguy, brokendiamond, megarnie, Adventure10, and 11 other users
//cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/images/60c92328726d92877115d2072e4b10da31b5319c.jpg

Denote the vertices of triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a$, $\ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ by $A_1$, $B_1$, $C_1$ respectively.
Denote the intersection points of $l$ with lines $BC$, $CA$, $AB$ by $A'$, $B'$, $C'$ respectively.
Denote the incenter of $A_1B_1C_1$ by $I$.
Denote the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$ by $w$.
Denote by $P$ tangent point of $l$ and $w$.
WLOG points $C'$ and $B'$ lies on the sides of $\triangle$ $A_1B_1C_1$ and point $A'$ lies on extension of $B_1C_1$.

Point $A$ is the excenter of triangle $A_1B'C'$ $\Longrightarrow$ $A_1A$ is the bisector of $\angle B_1A_1C_1$, similarly
$B_1B$ and $C_1C$ - are the bisectors of angles $\angle A_1B_1C_1$ and $\angle A_1C_1B_1$ respectively, then

(1) $AA_1$, $BB_1$, $CC_1$ - passes though $I$.

$\angle  B_1IC_1 = 90^{\circ}+ \frac{1}{2}\angle B_1A_1C_1$; $\angle C'AB' = 90^{\circ}- \frac{1}{2}\angle B'A_1C'$ $\Longrightarrow$ $\angle BIC + \angle BAC = 180^{\circ}$ $\Longrightarrow$

(2) $A, B, C, I$ lie on a circle $w$.

Let $P'$ - be a reflection of $P$ with respect to the line $BC$. Then $P'$ lies on $B_1C_1$. Let $Q$ - be the intersection point of circumcircles of triangles $B_1BP'$ and $C_1CP'$. Let $\angle IB_1C_1 = \alpha$, $\angle IC_1B_1 = \beta$, $\angle BCP' = x$, $\angle CBP' = y$. Then $\angle BQC = \angle BQP' + \angle P'QC = \angle BB_1P'+ \angle P'C_1C = 180^{\circ} - \angle B_1IC_1$ $\Longrightarrow$

(3) points $I, B, C, Q$ lie on a circle $w$.

$\angle B_1QC_1 = \alpha + \beta + x + y = 2\alpha +2\beta$, because $\angle BP'C = \angle B_1IC_1$ $\Longrightarrow$

(4) points $A_1, B_1, C_1, Q$ lie on a circumcircle of triangle $A_1B_1C_1$.

$\angle B_1QB + \angle QC_1B_1 = x +  \angle QC_1B_1 = \angle QCP' + \angle P'CB = \angle QCB$ $\Longrightarrow$

(5) $\angle B_1QB + \angle QC_1B_1 = \angle QCB$.

Let $t$ - tangent line from $Q$ to the circumcircle of triangle $A_1B_1C_1$. Then $\angle (g, QB) = \angle (g, QB_1) + \angle (QB_1, QB) = \angle (QC_1, C_1B_1) + x = \angle (QC, CB)$ $\Longrightarrow$ $t$ is the tangent line from $Q$ to $w$ $\Longrightarrow$

(6) $w$ tangents to circumcircle of triangle $A_1B_1C_1$ at $Q$.
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Nazar_Serdyuk
141 posts
#6 • 14 Y
Y by Drytime, anantmudgal09, huricane, megarnie, sabkx, Adventure10, Mango247, Zhaom, and 6 other users
Very good classic geometry problem for IMO, In fact there are two main parts here:

First is to prove that $AA_1$, $BB_1$, $CC_1$ - passes though $I$ and that $A, B, C, I$ lie on a circle $w$, that is not hard.

Second part is to find the way to prove that two particular circles tangent to each other while exactly point of tangency is not given from the beginning. I know only two ways here - inversion and a trick with two circles when the point of tangency is defined as an intersection point of two other circles. The second way works here. In particular case the following theorem holds:

//cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/images/92ec041398aef980d64d18d75f91b48df8bbb94b.jpg

Given a triangle $ABC$ with circumcircle $w$. Points $X$ and $Y$ are on segments $AB, AC$ respectively, $\angle BAC = \alpha$. Then there exist an arc of measure $\beta$ constructed on $XY$ (in other half-plane then point $A$) that tangent to $w$ if and only if there exist an arc of measure $\alpha + \beta$ constructed on $BC$ (in the same half-plane with point $A$) that tangent to $XY$.

This theorem can be applied in this problem for triangle $IBC$ and segment $B_1C_1$

It is not too hard to repeat the trick with two circles but it is hard to reinvent such trick during the contest.
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math154
4302 posts
#7 • 43 Y
Y by ghaith, yugrey, fractals, 62861, Python54, rafayaashary1, thunderz28, JasperL, Ultroid999OCPN, Wizard_32, Gems98, myh2910, megarnie, PianoPlayer111, rayfish, Ya_pank, sabkx, Adventure10, Mango247, LLL2019, Sedro, and 22 other users
Yes, of course it's a very nice problem if you do it synthetically.

But taking this at home (not working that efficiently, either, e.g. thinking about the fact that Harry Potter is over :( ), I was able to solve this in less than two hours with very straightforward complex numbers calculations (i.e. showing a discriminant is zero :P ...), which was extremely disappointing given the relatively simple nature of problems 4 and 5. There's only one "grind" at the end which some people like Yi Sun would not even call a grind in the first place.

In the future, I feel like we need more problems like IMO 2008 #6 which are both very hard to bash (in the context of the other two problems in that day) and very nice. (No, I did not bash it. It's one of my favorite geometry problems.)

Also, on a random note, WHERE IS THE GOOD, CHALLENGING NUMBER THEORY IN COMPETITIONS NOW?!!! Sorry, I just felt like saying that.

Too easy...
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livetolove212
859 posts
#8 • 14 Y
Y by Amir Hossein, az360, brokendiamond, ErijonHasi1, megarnie, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, and 6 other users
WakeUp wrote:
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with circumcircle $\Gamma$. Let $\ell$ be a tangent line to $\Gamma$, and let $\ell_a, \ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ be the lines obtained by reflecting $\ell$ in the lines $BC$, $CA$ and $AB$, respectively. Show that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b$ and $\ell_c$ is tangent to the circle $\Gamma$.

Denote $D, E, F$ the intersections of $l$ and $BC,CA,AB$, respectively; $X,Y,Z$ the intersections of 3 lines $l_a,l_b,l_c$.
Let $L$ be the point of contact of $l$ and $\Gamma$; $R,S,T$ be the reflections of $L$ wrt $AB,AC,BC; M$ be the Miquel point of the completed quadrilateral $XSRYTZ$.
$\angle ZXY=\angle FEX+\angle EFX=180^o-2\angle LEC+2\angle LFA=180^o-2\angle BAC.$
We have the distances from $A$ to $l, DE, FY$ are equal so $XA$ is the bisector of angle $ZXY.$
We get $\angle ZXA=\frac{1}{2}\angle ZXY=90^o-\angle BAC. (1)$
On the other side, let $U, V$ be the projections of $L$ onto $AC, AB$ then $UV$ passes through the midpoint of $LQ$.
$\angle ARL=\angle ALR=90^o-\angle LAV=90^o-\angle LUV=\angle UQL$, which follows that $L, A, Q, R$ are concyclic. We get $\angle ARQ=\angle LRQ-\angle LRA=180^o-\angle LAQ-90^o+\angle LAB=90^o-\angle BAC. (2)$
From $(1)$ and $(2)$ we obtain $A\in (XRS)$. Similarly with $B, C.$
So $\angle AMB=\angle XMY-\angle XMA-\angle BMY=2\angle ACB-\angle XRA-\angle BRY$
$=2\angle ACB-180^o+\angle ARB=2\angle CAB-180^o+\angle ALB=\angle ACB.$
Therefore $M\in \Gamma.$
Construct a tangent $Mt$ of $(XYZ)$. We will show that $Mt$ is also a tangent of $\Gamma$ iff $\angle tMA=\angle ABM$.
$\Leftrightarrow \angle AMX+\angle XMt=\angle ABR+\angle RBM (3)$
But $\angle XMt=\angle XYM=\angle RBM, \angle AMX=ARX=\angle ALE=\angle ABL=\angle ABR.$
Hence $(3)$ is true. We are done.

Another generalization: Given a triangle $ABC$ with its circumcenter $O$. Let $P$ be an arbitrary point in the plane. The line through $P$ intersects $(BPC), (CPA), (APB)$ again at $A_1, B_1, C_1$. Let $l_a$ be the tangent line through $A_1$ of $(BPC), l'_a$ be the reflection of $l_a$ wrt $BC$. Similarly we define $l'_b, l'_c$. Then the circumcircle of the triangle formed by $l'_a,l'_b,l'_c$ is tangent to $(O)$.

When $P$ lies on $(O)$ we have IMO Pro.6
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This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by livetolove212, Jul 20, 2011, 11:51 AM
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Fedor Petrov
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#9 • 10 Y
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buratinogigle wrote:
There is a generalition for this

Let $ABC$ be a triangle and a point $P$. A line pass through $P$ intersect circumcircle $(PBC),(PCA),(PAB)$ again at $P_a,P_b,P_c$, resp. Let $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c,$ be tangets of circumcircle $(PBC),(PCA),(PAB)$ at $P_a,P_b,P_c$, resp. Prove that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c$ is tangent to the circumcircle $(ABC)$.

When $P\equiv H$ orthocenter we have problem 6. I don't have solution, yet. I think we can use invension...

Yes, we really may do it, and after inversion the corresponding circle will touch the circle $ABC$ in the Miquel point of lines $AB$, $BC$, $AC$ and our line passing through $P$. It may be easily checked by some direct angle-chasing.
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goodar2006
1347 posts
#10 • 5 Y
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Fedor Petrov wrote:
buratinogigle wrote:
There is a generalition for this

Let $ABC$ be a triangle and a point $P$. A line pass through $P$ intersect circumcircle $(PBC),(PCA),(PAB)$ again at $P_a,P_b,P_c$, resp. Let $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c,$ be tangets of circumcircle $(PBC),(PCA),(PAB)$ at $P_a,P_b,P_c$, resp. Prove that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c$ is tangent to the circumcircle $(ABC)$.

When $P\equiv H$ orthocenter we have problem 6. I don't have solution, yet. I think we can use invension...

Yes, we really may do it, and after inversion the corresponding circle will touch the circle $ABC$ in the Miquel point of lines $AB$, $BC$, $AC$ and our line passing through $P$. It may be easily checked by some direct angle-chasing.

what you said seems really intresting, would you please give us a detailed solution?? Thanks
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nsato
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#11 • 14 Y
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Interestingly, the fact that the incenter of the determined triangle lies on the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$ appeared on a 1995 Iran olympiad:
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=379391
(And it works for any line.)
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darij grinberg
6555 posts
#12 • 9 Y
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livetolove212's generalization is exactly the same as buratino's. Congratulations, buratino and Fedor, for the first correct solution using inversion. (Nobody gave that in the exam. Then again, apparently only inversions with center $T$ were attempted, where $T$ is the point of tangency of $\ell$ with $\Gamma$.)

Also there is a nice solution by a contestant whose name and country I don't remember, which shows a bit more: If the altitudes of triangle $ABC$ from the vertices $A$, $B$, $C$ intersect $\Gamma$ a second time at $X$, $Y$, $Z$, respectively, and if $X'$, $Y'$, $Z'$ are the reflections of $T$ (the point where $\ell$ touches $\Gamma$) in $BC$, $CA$, $AB$, then the lines $XX'$, $YY'$, $ZZ'$ concur at the point where $\Gamma$ touches $\Gamma '$. Try to reconstruct the solution from this.

Also there exists an approach which uses Casey's theorem (with three circles being degenerate to the vertices $A'$, $B'$, $C'$, and the fourth circle being $\Gamma$). I think IRN1 found it, and maybe others too.
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shoki
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#13 • 5 Y
Y by DrKHarazmi13, brokendiamond, Adventure10, and 2 other users
yeah ... darij is right ... she found that solution :P
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Luis González
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#14 • 14 Y
Y by ghaith, msaeids, eziz, enhanced, myh2910, Adventure10, XX-math-XX, MS_asdfgzxcvb, and 6 other users
buratinogigle wrote:
Let $ABC$ be a triangle and a point $P.$ A line pass through $P$ intersect circumcircle $(PBC),$ $(PCA),$ $(PAB)$ again at $P_a,P_b,P_c,$ resp. Let $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c,$ be tangets of circumcircle $(PBC),$ $(PCA),$ $(PAB)$ at $P_a,P_b,P_c,$ resp. Prove that the circumcircle of the triangle determined by the lines $\ell_a, \ell_b, \ell_c$ is tangent to the circumcircle $(ABC).$
Perform an inversion with center $P$ and arbitrary power. Label inverse points with primes. The given line $\ell$ through $P$ is double and circles $\odot(PBC),$ $\odot(PCA)$ and $\odot(PAB)$ go to the sidelines $B'C',$ $C'A',$ $A'B'$ of $\triangle A'B'C'.$ $\ell$ cuts $B'C',$ $C'A',$ $A'B'$ at ${P_a}',$ ${P_b}',$ ${P_c}'.$ Thus, tangents $\ell_a,\ell_b,\ell_c$ of $\odot(PBC),$ $\odot(PCA),$ $\odot(PAB)$ through $P_a,P_b,P_c$ go to the circles $\omega_a,\omega_b,\omega_c$ passing through $P$ and tangent to $B'C',$ $C'A',$ $A'B'$ through ${P_a}',$ ${P_b}',$ ${P_c}'.$ Pairwise circles $\omega_a,\omega_b,\omega_c$ meet at $D',E',F',$ the inverses of the vertices of $\triangle (\ell_a,\ell_b,\ell_c) \equiv \triangle DEF.$ Hence, in order to show that $\odot(DEF)$ is tangent to $\odot(ABC),$ we shall show that $\odot(D'E'F')$ is tangent to $\odot(A'B'C').$

For convenience, drop the primes from the new figure. Let $M$ be the Miquel point of $\triangle ABC \cup \ell.$ Henceforth, we'll use oriented angles (mod 180). From the tangencies of $\omega_b, CA$ and $\omega_c,AB$ we get $\angle AP_bP_c=\angle PDP_b$ and $\angle AP_cP_b=\angle PDP_c$ $\Longrightarrow$ $D \in \odot(AP_bP_c).$ Likewise, we have $E \in  \odot(BP_cP_a)$ and $F \in \odot(CP_aP_b).$ Now, the rest is just simple angle chase using inscribed angles spanning the same arcs.

$\angle EFD=\angle PFD+\angle PFE=\angle P_cP_bD+\angle P_cP_aE=\angle DMP_c+\angle EMP_c$

$\Longrightarrow \angle EFD=\angle EMD \Longrightarrow M \in \odot(DEF) \ (\star).$

$\angle MFE=\angle EFP_a+\angle MFP_a=\angle EP_aB+\angle MCB=\angle EMB+\angle MAB.$

$\Longrightarrow 90^{\circ}-\angle MFE+\angle EMB=90^{\circ}-\angle MAB$ $\Longrightarrow$ Circumcenters of $\triangle MEF$ and $\triangle MBA$ are collinear with $M.$ Together with $(\star),$ we deduce that $\odot(ABC)$ and $\odot(DEF)$ are tangent through $M,$ as desired.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Luis González, Jul 11, 2012, 6:43 PM
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Swistak
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#15 • 4 Y
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darij grinberg wrote:
Also there exists an approach which uses Casey's theorem (with three circles being degenerate to the vertices $A'$, $B'$, $C'$, and the fourth circle being $\Gamma$). I think IRN1 found it, and maybe others too.
Could you say more about it? I thought about it few seconds after I read this problem, but I couldn't compute $d_X, d_Y, d_Z, XY, XZ, YZ$, where X, Y, Z are vertices of triangle given in this problem.
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