Difference between revisions of "1992 USAMO Problems/Problem 3"

(New page: ==Problem== Chords <math>AA'</math>, <math>BB'</math>, and <math>CC'</math> of a sphere meet at an interior point <math>P</math> but are not contained in the same plane. The sphere throug...)
 
(solution)
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
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Consider the plane through <math>A,A',B,B'</math>.  This plane, of course, also contains <math>P</math>. We can easily find the <math>\triangle APB</math> is isosceles because the base angles are equal. Thus, <math>AP=BP</math>. Similarly, <math>A'P=B'P</math>. Thus, <math>AA'=BB'</math>. By symmetry, <math>BB'=CC'</math> and <math>CC'=AA'</math>, and hence <math>AA'=BB'=CC'</math> as desired.
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<math>\mathbb{QED.}</math>

Revision as of 14:15, 26 December 2008

Problem

Chords $AA'$, $BB'$, and $CC'$ of a sphere meet at an interior point $P$ but are not contained in the same plane. The sphere through $A$, $B$, $C$, and $P$ is tangent to the sphere through $A'$, $B'$, $C'$, and $P$. Prove that $AA'=BB'=CC'$.

Solution

Consider the plane through $A,A',B,B'$. This plane, of course, also contains $P$. We can easily find the $\triangle APB$ is isosceles because the base angles are equal. Thus, $AP=BP$. Similarly, $A'P=B'P$. Thus, $AA'=BB'$. By symmetry, $BB'=CC'$ and $CC'=AA'$, and hence $AA'=BB'=CC'$ as desired.

$\mathbb{QED.}$