1997 USAMO Problems/Problem 2

Revision as of 13:21, 13 February 2015 by Suli (talk | contribs) (Solution)

Problem

$\triangle ABC$ is a triangle. Take points $D, E, F$ on the perpendicular bisectors of $BC, CA, AB$ respectively. Show that the lines through $A, B, C$ perpendicular to $EF, FD, DE$ respectively are concurrent.

Solution

Let the perpendicular from A meet FE at A'. Define B' and C' similiarly. By Carnot's Theorem, The three lines are concurrent if

$FA'^2-EA'^2+EC'^2-DC'^2+DB'^2-FB'^2 = AF^2-AE^2+CE^2-CD^2+BD^2-BF^2 = 0$

But this is clearly true, since D lies on the perpendicular bisector of BC, BD = DC.

QED


Solution 2

These three lines concur at the radical center of the three circles centered at $D, E, F$ and passing through $C, A, B$ respectively. (Indeed, each line passes through one intersection point of a pair of circles, and because it is perpendicular to the line of centers it must the the radical axis of these circles.)

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

See Also

1997 USAMO (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 1
Followed by
Problem 3
1 2 3 4 5 6
All USAMO Problems and Solutions

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