Difference between revisions of "1981 IMO Problems/Problem 5"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
  
Three [[congruent]] [[circle]]s have a common point <math> \displaystyle O </math> and lie inside a given [[triangle]]. Each circle touches a pair of sides of the triangle. Prove that the [[incenter]] and the [[circumcenter]] of the triangle and the point <math>\displaystyle O </math> are [[collinear]].
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Three [[congruent]] [[circle]]s have a common point <math>O </math> and lie inside a given [[triangle]]. Each circle touches a pair of sides of the triangle. Prove that the [[incenter]] and the [[circumcenter]] of the triangle and the point <math>O </math> are [[collinear]].
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
  
Let the triangle have vertices <math>\displaystyle A,B,C</math>, and sides <math>\displaystyle a,b,c</math>, respectively, and let the centers of the circles inscribed in the [[angle]]s <math>\displaystyle A,B,C</math> be denoted <math>\displaystyle O_A, O_B, O_C </math>, respectively.
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Let the triangle have vertices <math>A,B,C</math>, and sides <math>a,b,c</math>, respectively, and let the centers of the circles inscribed in the [[angle]]s <math>A,B,C</math> be denoted <math>O_A, O_B, O_C </math>, respectively.
  
The triangles <math> \displaystyle O_A O_B O_C </math> and <math> \displaystyle ABC </math> are [[homothetic]], as their corresponding sides are [[parallel]].  Furthermore, since <math>\displaystyle O_A</math> lies on the [[angle bisector | bisector]] of angle <math>\displaystyle A</math> and similar relations hold for the triangles' other corresponding points, the center of homothety is the incenter of both the triangles.  Since <math>\displaystyle O</math> is clearly the circumcenter of <math>\displaystyle O_A O_B O_C </math>, <math>\displaystyle O</math> is collinear with the incenter and circumcenter of <math>\displaystyle ABC</math>, as desired.
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The triangles <math>O_A O_B O_C </math> and <math>ABC </math> are [[homothetic]], as their corresponding sides are [[parallel]].  Furthermore, since <math>O_A</math> lies on the [[angle bisector | bisector]] of angle <math>A</math> and similar relations hold for the triangles' other corresponding points, the center of homothety is the incenter of both the triangles.  Since <math>O</math> is clearly the circumcenter of <math>O_A O_B O_C </math>, <math>O</math> is collinear with the incenter and circumcenter of <math>ABC</math>, as desired.
  
 
{{alternate solutions}}
 
{{alternate solutions}}
  
== Resources ==
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{{IMO box|num-b=4|num-a=6|year=1981}}
 
 
* [[1981 IMO Problems]]
 
* [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=366643#p366643 Discussion on AoPS/MathLinks]
 
 
 
 
 
 
[[Category:Olympiad Geometry Problems]]
 
[[Category:Olympiad Geometry Problems]]

Revision as of 20:46, 25 October 2007

Problem

Three congruent circles have a common point $O$ and lie inside a given triangle. Each circle touches a pair of sides of the triangle. Prove that the incenter and the circumcenter of the triangle and the point $O$ are collinear.

Solution

Let the triangle have vertices $A,B,C$, and sides $a,b,c$, respectively, and let the centers of the circles inscribed in the angles $A,B,C$ be denoted $O_A, O_B, O_C$, respectively.

The triangles $O_A O_B O_C$ and $ABC$ are homothetic, as their corresponding sides are parallel. Furthermore, since $O_A$ lies on the bisector of angle $A$ and similar relations hold for the triangles' other corresponding points, the center of homothety is the incenter of both the triangles. Since $O$ is clearly the circumcenter of $O_A O_B O_C$, $O$ is collinear with the incenter and circumcenter of $ABC$, as desired.

Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.

1981 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by
Problem 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 6
All IMO Problems and Solutions