IMO 1966 · Problem 2

Let \(a,b,c\) be the lengths of the sides of a triangle, and \(\alpha,\beta,\gamma\), respectively, the angles opposite these sides. Prove that if \[ a+b=\tan\frac{\gamma}{2}(a\tan\alpha+b\tan\beta), \] the triangle is isosceles.

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

Solution

The tangents in the hypothesis are defined, so \(\cos\alpha\ne0\) and \(\cos\beta\ne0\). By the sine rule, the given equality becomes \[ \sin\alpha+\sin\beta =\tan\frac{\gamma}{2} \left(\frac{\sin^2\alpha}{\cos\alpha} +\frac{\sin^2\beta}{\cos\beta}\right). \] Since \(\alpha+\beta=\pi-\gamma\), the sum-to-product identities give \[ \tan\frac{\gamma}{2} =\cot\frac{\alpha+\beta}{2} =\frac{\cos\alpha+\cos\beta}{\sin\alpha+\sin\beta}. \] Here \(\sin\alpha+\sin\beta>0\). Substituting this expression and multiplying by \((\sin\alpha+\sin\beta)\cos\alpha\cos\beta\), we obtain \[ (\sin\alpha+\sin\beta)^2\cos\alpha\cos\beta =(\cos\alpha+\cos\beta) (\sin^2\alpha\cos\beta+\sin^2\beta\cos\alpha). \] Expanding and cancelling common terms yields \[ 0=\sin^2\alpha\cos^2\beta+\sin^2\beta\cos^2\alpha -2\sin\alpha\sin\beta\cos\alpha\cos\beta =(\sin\alpha\cos\beta-\sin\beta\cos\alpha)^2. \] Thus \(\sin(\alpha-\beta)=0\). Because \(0<\alpha,\beta<\pi\), we have \(-\pi<\alpha-\beta<\pi\), so \(\alpha=\beta\). The sine rule now gives \(a=b\), proving that the triangle is isosceles. \(\square\)

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