Difference between revisions of "1990 USAMO Problems/Problem 5"

Latest revision as of 20:52, 24 October 2018

Problem

An acute-angled triangle $ABC$ is given in the plane. The circle with diameter $\, AB \,$ intersects altitude $\, CC' \,$ and its extension at points $\, M \,$ and $\, N \,$ , and the circle with diameter $\, AC \,$ intersects altitude $\, BB' \,$ and its extensions at $\, P \,$ and $\, Q \,$ . Prove that the points $\, M, N, P, Q \,$ lie on a common circle.

Solution 1

Let $A'$ be the intersection of the two circles (other than $A$ ). $AA'$ is perpendicular to both $BA'$ , $CA'$ implying $B$ , $C$ , $A'$ are collinear. Since $A'$ is the foot of the altitude from $A$ : $A$ , $H$ , $A'$ are concurrent, where $H$ is the orthocentre.

Now, $H$ is also the intersection of $BB'$ , $CC'$ which means that $AA'$ , $MN$ , $PQ$ are concurrent. Since $A$ , $M$ , $N$ , $A'$ and $A$ , $P$ , $Q$ , $A'$ are cyclic, $M$ , $N$ , $P$ , $Q$ are cyclic by the radical axis theorem.

Solution 2

Define $A'$ as the foot of the altitude from $A$ to $BC$ . Then, $AA' \cap BB' \cap CC'$ is the orthocenter. We will denote this point as $H$ . Since $\angle AA'C$ and $\angle AA'B$ are both $90^{\circ}$ , $A'$ lies on the circles with diameters $AC$ and $AB$ .

Now we use the Power of a Point theorem with respect to point $H$ . From the circle with diameter $AB$ we get $AH \cdot A'H = MH \cdot NH$ . From the circle with diameter $AC$ we get $AH \cdot A'H = PH \cdot QH$ . Thus, we conclude that $PH \cdot QH = MH \cdot NH$ , which implies that $P$ , $Q$ , $M$ , and $N$ all lie on a circle.

Solution 3 (Radical Lemma)

Let $\omega_1$ be the circumcircle with diameter $AB$ and $\omega_2$ be the circumcircle with diameter $AC$ . We claim that the second intersection of $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ other than $A$ is $A'$ , where $A'$ is the feet of the perpendicular from $A$ to segment $BC$ . Note that $\angle AA'B=90^{\circ}=\angle AB'B$ so $A'$ lies on $\omega_1.$ Similarly, $A'$ lies on $\omega_2$ . Hence, $AA'$ is the radical axis of $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ . By the Radical Lemma, it suffices to prove that the intersection of lines $MN$ and $PQ$ lie on $AA'$ . But, $MN$ is the same line as $CC'$ and $PQ$ is the same line as $BB'$ . Since $AA', BB'$ , and $CC'$ intersect at the orthocenter $H$ , $H$ lies on the radical axis $AA'$ and we are done. $\blacksquare$

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

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 An acute-angled triangle <math>ABC</math> is given in the plane. The circle with diameter <math>\, AB \,</math> intersects altitude <math>\, CC' \,</math> and its extension at points <math>\, M \,</math> and <math>\, N \,</math>, and the circle with diameter <math>\, AC \,</math> intersects altitude <math>\, BB' \,</math> and its extensions at <math>\, P \,</math> and <math>\, Q \,</math>. Prove that the points <math>\, M, N, P, Q \,</math> lie on a common circle.
-== Solution ==
+== Solution 1==
 Let <math>A'</math> be the intersection of the two circles (other than <math>A</math>). <math>AA'</math> is perpendicular to both <math>BA'</math>, <math>CA'</math> implying <math>B</math>, <math>C</math>, <math>A'</math> are collinear. Since <math>A'</math> is the foot of the altitude from <math>A</math>: <math>A</math>, <math>H</math>, <math>A'</math> are concurrent, where <math>H</math> is the orthocentre.
 Now, <math>H</math> is also the intersection of <math>BB'</math>, <math>CC'</math> which means that <math>AA'</math>, <math>MN</math>, <math>PQ</math> are concurrent. Since <math>A</math>, <math>M</math>, <math>N</math>, <math>A'</math> and <math>A</math>, <math>P</math>, <math>Q</math>, <math>A'</math> are cyclic, <math>M</math>, <math>N</math>, <math>P</math>, <math>Q</math> are cyclic by the radical axis theorem.
+== Solution 2 ==
+Define <math>A'</math> as the foot of the altitude from <math>A</math> to <math>BC</math>. Then, <math>AA' \cap BB' \cap CC'</math> is the orthocenter. We will denote this point as <math>H</math>.
+Since <math>\angle AA'C</math> and <math>\angle AA'B</math> are both <math>90^{\circ}</math>, <math>A'</math> lies on the circles with diameters <math>AC</math> and <math>AB</math>.
+Now we use the Power of a Point theorem with respect to point <math>H</math>. From the circle with diameter <math>AB</math> we get <math>AH \cdot A'H = MH \cdot NH</math>. From the circle with diameter <math>AC</math> we get <math>AH \cdot A'H = PH \cdot QH</math>. Thus, we conclude that <math>PH \cdot QH = MH \cdot NH</math>, which implies that <math>P</math>, <math>Q</math>, <math>M</math>, and <math>N</math> all lie on a circle.
+==Solution 3 (Radical Lemma)==
+Let <math>\omega_1</math> be the circumcircle with diameter <math>AB</math> and <math>\omega_2</math> be the circumcircle with diameter <math>AC</math>.  We claim that the second intersection of <math>\omega_1</math> and <math>\omega_2</math> other than <math>A</math> is <math>A'</math>, where <math>A'</math> is the feet of the perpendicular from <math>A</math> to segment <math>BC</math>.  Note that <cmath>\angle AA'B=90^{\circ}=\angle AB'B</cmath> so <math>A'</math> lies on <math>\omega_1.</math>  Similarly, <math>A'</math> lies on <math>\omega_2</math>.  Hence, <math>AA'</math> is the radical axis of <math>\omega_1</math> and <math>\omega_2</math>.  By the Radical Lemma, it suffices to prove that the intersection of lines <math>MN</math> and <math>PQ</math> lie on <math>AA'</math>.  But, <math>MN</math> is the same line as <math>CC'</math> and <math>PQ</math> is the same line as <math>BB'</math>.  Since <math>AA', BB'</math>, and <math>CC'</math> intersect at the orthocenter <math>H</math>, <math>H</math> lies on the radical axis <math>AA'</math> and we are done. <math>\blacksquare</math>
 {{alternate solutions}}
-== Resources ==
+== See Also ==
-{{USAMO box|year=1990|num-b=4|after=Final Question}}
+{{USAMO box|year=1990|num-b=4|after=Last Question}}
 * [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=356630#356630 Discussion on AoPS/MathLinks]
 {{MAA Notice}}
 [[Category:Olympiad Geometry Problems]]

1990 USAMO (Problems • Resources)
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