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Difference between revisions of "2000 USAMO Problems/Problem 5"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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Let the [[circumcenter]] of <math>\triangle ABC</math> be <math>O</math>, and let the center of <math>w_k</math> be <math>O_k</math>. <math>w_k</math> and <math>w_{k-1}</math> are externally tangent at the point <math>A_k</math>, so <math>O_k, A_k, O_{k-1}</math> are [[collinear]].  
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Let the [[circumcenter]] of <math>\triangle ABC</math> be <math>O</math>, and let the center of <math>\omega_k</math> be <math>O_k</math>. <math>\omega_k</math> and <math>\omega_{k-1}</math> are externally tangent at the point <math>A_k</math>, so <math>O_k, A_k, O_{k-1}</math> are [[collinear]].  
  
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<math>O</math> is the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of <math>\overline{A_1A_2}, \overline{A_2A_3}, \overline{A_3A_1}</math>, and each of the centers <math>O_k</math> lie on the perpendicular bisector of the side of the triangle that determines <math>w_k</math>. It follows from <math>\triangle OA_kO_k \cong \triangle OA_{k+1}O_k</math> that <math>\angle OA_kO_k = \angle OA_{k+1}O_k</math>.  
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<math>O</math> is the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of <math>\overline{A_1A_2}, \overline{A_2A_3}, \overline{A_3A_1}</math>, and each of the centers <math>O_k</math> lie on the perpendicular bisector of the side of the triangle that determines <math>\omega_k</math>. It follows from <math>OA_k = OA_{k+1}, O_kA_k = O_kA_{k+1}, OO_k = OO_k \Longrightarrow \triangle OA_kO_k \cong \triangle OA_{k+1}O_k</math> that <math>\angle OA_kO_k = \angle OA_{k+1}O_k</math>.  
  
 
<center><asy>
 
<center><asy>
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size(300);
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pathpen = linewidth(0.7); pen t = linetype("2 2");
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pair A = (0,0), B=3*expi(1), C=(3.5)*expi(0); /* arbitrary points */
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pair O=circumcenter(A,B,C), O1 = O + 5*( ((B+C)/2) - O ), O2 = IP(O -- O + 100*( ((A+C)/2) - O ), O1 -- O1 + 10*( C - O1 ));
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D(MP("A_3",A,SW)--MP("A_1",B,N)--MP("A_2",C,SE)--cycle); D(MP("O",O,NW)); D(MP("O_1",O1,E)); D(MP("O_2",O2)); D(O--B--O1--C--O--A--O2--C, linetype("4 4") + linewidth(0.7)); D(O1--O--O2,linetype("4 4") + linewidth(0.6)); D(CP(O1,C),t);D(CP(O2,C),t);D(circumcircle(A,B,C),t);
 
</asy></center>
 
</asy></center>
  
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Now <math>\theta_1 = \angle OA_1O_1 = \angle OA_2O_1 = 180 - \angle OA_2O_2 = 180 - \theta_2</math> (due to collinearility). Hence, we have the recursion <math>\theta_k = 180 - \theta_{k-1}</math>, and so <math>\theta_k = \theta_{k-2}</math>. Thus, <math>\theta_{1} = \theta_{7}</math>.
 
Now <math>\theta_1 = \angle OA_1O_1 = \angle OA_2O_1 = 180 - \angle OA_2O_2 = 180 - \theta_2</math> (due to collinearility). Hence, we have the recursion <math>\theta_k = 180 - \theta_{k-1}</math>, and so <math>\theta_k = \theta_{k-2}</math>. Thus, <math>\theta_{1} = \theta_{7}</math>.
  
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<math>\theta_{1} = \theta_{7}</math> implies that <math>O_1 \equiv O_7</math>, and circles <math>w_1</math> and <math>w_7</math> are the same circle since they have the same center and go through the same two points.  
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<math>\theta_{1} = \theta_{7}</math> implies that <math>O_1 \equiv O_7</math>, and circles <math>\omega_1</math> and <math>\omega_7</math> are the same circle since they have the same center and go through the same two points.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 15:06, 8 September 2008

Problem

Let $A_1A_2A_3$ be a triangle and let $\omega_1$ be a circle in its plane passing through $A_1$ and $A_2.$ Suppose there exist circles $\omega_2, \omega_3, \dots, \omega_7$ such that for $k = 2, 3, \dots, 7,$ $\omega_k$ is externally tangent to $\omega_{k - 1}$ and passes through $A_k$ and $A_{k + 1},$ where $A_{n + 3} = A_{n}$ for all $n \ge 1$. Prove that $\omega_7 = \omega_1.$

Solution

Let the circumcenter of $\triangle ABC$ be $O$, and let the center of $\omega_k$ be $O_k$. $\omega_k$ and $\omega_{k-1}$ are externally tangent at the point $A_k$, so $O_k, A_k, O_{k-1}$ are collinear.

$O$ is the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of $\overline{A_1A_2}, \overline{A_2A_3}, \overline{A_3A_1}$, and each of the centers $O_k$ lie on the perpendicular bisector of the side of the triangle that determines $\omega_k$. It follows from $OA_k = OA_{k+1}, O_kA_k = O_kA_{k+1}, OO_k = OO_k \Longrightarrow \triangle OA_kO_k \cong \triangle OA_{k+1}O_k$ that $\angle OA_kO_k = \angle OA_{k+1}O_k$.

[asy] size(300); pathpen = linewidth(0.7); pen t = linetype("2 2"); pair A = (0,0), B=3*expi(1), C=(3.5)*expi(0); /* arbitrary points */ pair O=circumcenter(A,B,C), O1 = O + 5*( ((B+C)/2) - O ), O2 = IP(O -- O + 100*( ((A+C)/2) - O ), O1 -- O1 + 10*( C - O1 )); D(MP("A_3",A,SW)--MP("A_1",B,N)--MP("A_2",C,SE)--cycle); D(MP("O",O,NW)); D(MP("O_1",O1,E)); D(MP("O_2",O2)); D(O--B--O1--C--O--A--O2--C, linetype("4 4") + linewidth(0.7)); D(O1--O--O2,linetype("4 4") + linewidth(0.6)); D(CP(O1,C),t);D(CP(O2,C),t);D(circumcircle(A,B,C),t); [/asy]

Since $O, A_k$, and the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{A_kA_{k+1}}$ are fixed, the angle $OA_kO_k$ determines the position of $O_k$ (since $O_k$ lies on the perpendicular bisector). Let $\theta_k = m\angle OA_kO_k$; then, $\theta_i = \theta_j$ and $i \equiv j \pmod{3}$ together imply that $O_i \equiv O_j$.

Now $\theta_1 = \angle OA_1O_1 = \angle OA_2O_1 = 180 - \angle OA_2O_2 = 180 - \theta_2$ (due to collinearility). Hence, we have the recursion $\theta_k = 180 - \theta_{k-1}$, and so $\theta_k = \theta_{k-2}$. Thus, $\theta_{1} = \theta_{7}$.

$\theta_{1} = \theta_{7}$ implies that $O_1 \equiv O_7$, and circles $\omega_1$ and $\omega_7$ are the same circle since they have the same center and go through the same two points.

See also

2000 USAMO (Problems • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 4 		Followed by
Problem 6
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6
All USAMO Problems and Solutions
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