IMO 1967 · Problem 4

Let \(A_0B_0C_0\) and \(A_1B_1C_1\) be any two acute-angled triangles. Consider all triangles \(ABC\) that are similar to \(\Delta A_1B_1C_1\) (so that vertices \(A_1,B_1,C_1\) correspond to vertices \(A,B,C\), respectively) and circumscribed about triangle \(A_0B_0C_0\) (where \(A_0\) lies on \(BC\), \(B_0\) on \(CA\), and \(AC_0\) on \(AB\)). Of all such possible triangles, determine the one with maximum area, and construct it.

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

Answer

Write \[ \alpha=\angle A_1,\qquad \beta=\angle B_1,\qquad \gamma=\angle C_1. \] There is a unique point \(P\) inside \(A_0B_0C_0\) satisfying \[ \angle B_0PC_0=\pi-\alpha,\qquad \angle C_0PA_0=\pi-\beta,\qquad \angle A_0PB_0=\pi-\gamma. \]

The unique maximizing triangle has its sides through \(A_0,B_0,C_0\), perpendicular to \(PA_0,PB_0,PC_0\), respectively. A straightedge-and-compass construction of \(P\) is given below.

If \[ a_0=B_0C_0,\quad b_0=C_0A_0,\quad c_0=A_0B_0,\quad K_0=[A_0B_0C_0], \] its maximum area is \[ \boxed{\,2K_0+\frac12\left(a_0^2\cot\alpha+ b_0^2\cot\beta+c_0^2\cot\gamma\right).\,} \]

Solution

Construct \(O_A\) on the perpendicular bisector of \(B_0C_0\), on the side opposite \(A_0\), at distance \[ \frac{a_0}{2}\cot\alpha \] from \(B_0C_0\). Equivalently, construct the exterior isosceles triangle \(O_AB_0C_0\) with base angles \(\pi/2-\alpha\). Let \(\omega_A\) be the circle with center \(O_A\) through \(B_0,C_0\). Construct \(O_B,\omega_B\) and \(O_C,\omega_C\) cyclically, using \(\beta,\gamma\).

The nonendpoint points on the arc of \(\omega_A\) lying on \(A_0\)'s side of \(B_0C_0\) satisfy \[ \angle B_0XC_0=\pi-\alpha; \] points on its other arc satisfy \(\angle B_0XC_0=\alpha\). The analogous statements hold cyclically.

We first prove that \(\omega_A,\omega_B\) have a second intersection \(P\) inside \(A_0B_0C_0\). Put \(\gamma_0=\angle B_0C_0A_0\). At their common point \(C_0\), the angle between the radii, measured through the angle \(B_0C_0A_0\), is \[ \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-\alpha\right)+\gamma_0+ \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-\beta\right)=\gamma_0+\gamma. \] Both \(\gamma_0\) and \(\gamma\) are acute, so this angle lies strictly between \(0\) and \(\pi\). The circles are therefore not tangent and have a second intersection \(P\).

Furthermore, \(A_0\) is outside \(\omega_A\). Indeed, the part of its disk on \(A_0\)'s side of \(B_0C_0\) is contained in the disk with diameter \(B_0C_0\), whereas \(A_0\) is outside that disk because \(\angle B_0A_0C_0\) is acute. Similarly, \(B_0\) is outside \(\omega_B\).

Thus the power difference for these two circles is positive at \(A_0\) and negative at \(B_0\). Their radical axis \(C_0P\) consequently meets the open segment \(A_0B_0\) at a point \(D\).

There are three possible positions of \(P\) on this line.

  • If \(P\) lies on the ray from \(C_0\) opposite \(D\), the circle-angle relations give \[ \angle B_0PC_0=\alpha,\qquad \angle C_0PA_0=\beta. \] Applying the exterior-angle theorem in triangles \(PB_0C_0\) and \(PA_0C_0\) gives \[ \gamma_0>\alpha+\beta=\pi-\gamma>\frac{\pi}{2}, \] a contradiction.

  • If \(P\) lies on the ray \(C_0D\), at or beyond \(D\), those relations give \[ \angle B_0PC_0=\pi-\alpha,\qquad \angle C_0PA_0=\pi-\beta. \] Here the ray \(PC_0\) lies between \(PB_0\) and \(PA_0\), so the sum of these two angles is at most \(\pi\). But their sum is \(\pi+\gamma>\pi\), again impossible.

  • Hence \(P\) lies strictly between \(C_0\) and \(D\), inside the triangle.

It follows that \[ \angle B_0PC_0=\pi-\alpha,\qquad \angle C_0PA_0=\pi-\beta. \] The angles around \(P\) then give \[ \angle A_0PB_0=\pi-\gamma. \] Thus \(P\) also belongs to \(\omega_C\). It is the unique interior point with these properties, since any such point must be the second intersection of \(\omega_A,\omega_B\). This proves the asserted construction of \(P\).

Now draw \[ \ell_a\perp PA_0\text{ through }A_0,\qquad \ell_b\perp PB_0\text{ through }B_0,\qquad \ell_c\perp PC_0\text{ through }C_0. \] We verify that they form an admissible triangle.

Take the half-plane bounded by each line that contains \(P\). Their outward normals are \[ \mathbf n_a=A_0-P,\qquad \mathbf n_b=B_0-P,\qquad \mathbf n_c=C_0-P. \] Because \(P\) is interior, these normals span the plane and have a linear dependence with strictly positive coefficients. Their three half-planes therefore have bounded intersection: an unbounded direction would have nonpositive scalar products with all three normals; the positive dependence would force all three products to vanish, contradicting that they span the plane. Since \(P\) lies strictly in each half-plane, their intersection is a nondegenerate triangle.

Moreover, \(P A_0\) lies inside the acute angle \(B_0A_0C_0\). Hence \(B_0,C_0\) lie strictly on \(P\)'s side of \(\ell_a\), and similarly cyclically. Consequently each prescribed contact lies in the interior of its corresponding side.

Label the intersections \[ A^*=\ell_b\cap\ell_c,\qquad B^*=\ell_c\cap\ell_a,\qquad C^*=\ell_a\cap\ell_b. \] The interior angle at \(A^*\) is the supplement of the angle between its outward normals: \[ \angle A^*=\pi-\angle B_0PC_0=\alpha. \] Likewise, \(\angle B^*=\beta\) and \(\angle C^*=\gamma\). Thus the constructed triangle is admissible.

We next prove maximality, including possible endpoint contacts. Take any admissible triangle and choose coordinates with \[ B=(0,0),\qquad C=(a,0), \] and \(A\) above \(BC\). Its contacts can be written \[ A_0=(x,0),\quad C_0=(t\cos\beta,t\sin\beta),\quad B_0=(a-s\cos\gamma,s\sin\gamma), \] where \(0\le x\le a\) and \(s,t\ge0\).

Let \(J(u,v)=(-v,u)\), rotation through \(90^\circ\). The definitions of the exterior circle centers give \[ O_B=\frac{A_0+C_0}{2} +\frac{\cot\beta}{2}J(C_0-A_0), \] \[ O_C=\frac{A_0+B_0}{2} -\frac{\cot\gamma}{2}J(B_0-A_0). \] Their horizontal coordinates are therefore \[ (O_B)_x=\frac{x}{2},\qquad (O_C)_x=\frac{a+x}{2}. \] Consequently, \[ \boxed{BC\le 2O_BO_C,} \] with equality exactly when \(BC\parallel O_BO_C\). These identities remain valid when any contact is an endpoint.

The distinct circles \(\omega_B,\omega_C\) have common chord \(PA_0\), so \[ O_BO_C\perp PA_0. \] The constructed side \(B^*C^*\) is therefore parallel to \(O_BO_C\), and attains the bound. Since \[ [ABC]=\frac{BC^2\sin\beta\sin\gamma}{2\sin\alpha}, \] the constructed triangle has maximum area.

It also attains the two cyclic side-length bounds. Any other maximizer, having the same angles and area, must have the same three side lengths and attain all three bounds. Its sides must therefore be precisely \(\ell_a,\ell_b,\ell_c\). This proves uniqueness.

Finally, we calculate the maximum area. Orient \(A_0B_0C_0\) counterclockwise, put \(A_0\) at the origin, and write \[ \mathbf u=B_0,\qquad \mathbf v=C_0. \] Then \[ 2(O_B-O_C)= \mathbf v-\mathbf u+\cot\beta\,J\mathbf v+\cot\gamma\,J\mathbf u. \] Set \(r=\cot\beta,\ s=\cot\gamma\). Using \[ |\mathbf v-\mathbf u|^2=a_0^2,\quad |\mathbf v|^2=b_0^2,\quad |\mathbf u|^2=c_0^2,\quad \det(\mathbf u,\mathbf v)=2K_0, \] expansion gives \[ 4O_BO_C^2 =(1-rs)a_0^2+(r+s)(r b_0^2+s c_0^2)+4K_0(r+s). \] Since \[ 1-rs=(r+s)\cot\alpha,\qquad r+s=\frac{\sin\alpha}{\sin\beta\sin\gamma}, \] and \(B^*C^*=2O_BO_C\), we obtain \[ [A^*B^*C^*] =\frac{4O_BO_C^2\sin\beta\sin\gamma}{2\sin\alpha} =2K_0+\frac12\left(a_0^2\cot\alpha+ b_0^2\cot\beta+c_0^2\cot\gamma\right). \]

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