IMO 1961 · Problem 6

Consider a plane \(\varepsilon\) and three non-collinear points \(A,B,C\) on the same side of \(\varepsilon\); suppose the plane determined by these three points is not parallel to \(\varepsilon\). In plane a take three arbitrary points \(A',B',C'\). Let \(L,M,N\) be the midpoints of segments \(AA',BB',CC'\); let \(G\) be the centroid of triangle \(LMN\). (We will not consider positions of the points \(A',B',C'\) such that the points \(L,M,N\) do not form a triangle.) What is the locus of point \(G\) as \(A',B',C'\) range independently over the plane \(\varepsilon\)?

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Answer

Let \(T\) be the centroid of \(ABC\), and let \(H\) be its perpendicular projection onto \(\varepsilon\). The locus is the entire plane parallel to \(\varepsilon\) through the midpoint of \(TH\).

Solution

Denote the proposed plane by \(\pi\), and use position vectors relative to a fixed origin.

For any admissible choice of \(A',B',C'\), define \(P\) by \[ \mathbf p=\frac{\mathbf a'+\mathbf b'+\mathbf c'}3. \] Since \(A',B',C'\) lie in the plane \(\varepsilon\), their affine average \(P\) also lies in \(\varepsilon\). This remains valid when these three points are collinear or coincide.

The midpoint and centroid formulas give \[ \begin{aligned} \mathbf g &=\frac{\mathbf l+\mathbf m+\mathbf n}{3}\\ &=\frac{\mathbf a+\mathbf b+\mathbf c+ \mathbf a'+\mathbf b'+\mathbf c'}6\\ &=\frac{\mathbf t+\mathbf p}{2}. \end{aligned} \] Thus \(G\) is the midpoint of \(TP\). The homothety centered at \(T\) with ratio \(1/2\) maps \(\varepsilon\) onto \(\pi\): it preserves the plane’s directions and sends \(H\) to the midpoint of \(TH\). Consequently, every admissible \(G\) lies in \(\pi\).

Conversely, let \(X\) be any point of \(\pi\). By the same homothety, there is a point \(P\in\varepsilon\) such that \(X\) is the midpoint of \(TP\). Choose \[ A'=B'=C'=P. \] Then \(L,M,N\) are the images of \(A,B,C\), respectively, under the homothety centered at \(P\) with ratio \(1/2\). Since \(A,B,C\) are non-collinear and the ratio is nonzero, \(L,M,N\) are non-collinear. Hence this configuration is admissible. The displayed formula now gives \[ \mathbf g=\frac{\mathbf t+\mathbf p}{2}=\mathbf x. \]

Every point of \(\pi\) is therefore attained by a nondegenerate triangle \(LMN\), proving the stated locus.

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).