Difference between revisions of "2011 USAJMO Problems/Problem 5"

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Since quadrilateral <math>BOMP</math> is cyclic, <math>\angle BMP = \angle BOP</math>.  Triangles <math>BOP</math> and <math>DOP</math> are congruent, so <math>\angle BOP = \angle BOD/2 = \angle BED</math>, so <math>\angle BMP = \angle BED</math>.  Since <math>AC</math> and <math>DE</math> are parallel, <math>M</math> lies on <math>BE</math>.
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Since quadrilateral <math>BOMP</math> is cyclic, <math>\angle BMP = \angle BOP</math>.  Triangles <math>BOP</math> and <math>DOP</math> are congruent, so <math>\angle BOP = \angle BOD/2 = \angle BED</math>, so <math>\angle BMP = \angle BED</math>.  Thus, <math>AM</math> and <math>DE</math> are parallel. Because <math>AC</math> and <math>DE</math> are parallel, <math>M</math> lies on <math>BE</math> (using Euler's Parallel Postulate).
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 23:53, 15 April 2014

Problem

Points $A$, $B$, $C$, $D$, $E$ lie on a circle $\omega$ and point $P$ lies outside the circle. The given points are such that (i) lines $PB$ and $PD$ are tangent to $\omega$, (ii) $P$, $A$, $C$ are collinear, and (iii) $\overline{DE} \parallel \overline{AC}$. Prove that $\overline{BE}$ bisects $\overline{AC}$.

Solution

Let $O$ be the center of the circle, and let $M$ be the midpoint of $AC$. Let $\theta$ denote the circle with diameter $OP$. Since $\angle OBP = \angle OMP = \angle ODP = 90^\circ$, $B$, $D$, and $M$ all lie on $\theta$.

[asy] import graph;  unitsize(2 cm);  pair A, B, C, D, E, M, O, P; path circ;  O = (0,0); circ = Circle(O,1); B = dir(100); D = dir(240); P = extension(B, B + rotate(90)*(B), D, D + rotate(90)*(D)); C = dir(-40); A = intersectionpoint((P--(P + 0.9*(C - P))),circ); E = intersectionpoint((D + 0.1*(C - A))--(D + C - A),circ); M = (A + C)/2;  draw(circ); draw(P--B); draw(P--D); draw(P--C); draw(B--E); draw(D--E); draw(O--B); draw(O--D); draw(O--M); draw(O--P); draw(Circle((O + P)/2, abs(O - P)/2),dashed); draw(D--M);  dot("$A$", A, NE); dot("$B$", B, NE); dot("$C$", C, SE); dot("$D$", D, S); dot("$E$", E, S); dot("$M$", M, NE); dot("$O$", O, dir(0)); dot("$P$", P, W); label("$\theta$", (O + P)/2 + abs(O - P)/2*dir(120), NW); [/asy]

Since quadrilateral $BOMP$ is cyclic, $\angle BMP = \angle BOP$. Triangles $BOP$ and $DOP$ are congruent, so $\angle BOP = \angle BOD/2 = \angle BED$, so $\angle BMP = \angle BED$. Thus, $AM$ and $DE$ are parallel. Because $AC$ and $DE$ are parallel, $M$ lies on $BE$ (using Euler's Parallel Postulate). The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png