IMO 1975 · Problem 3

On the sides of an arbitrary triangle \(ABC\), triangles \(ABR, BCP, CAQ\) are constructed externally with \(\angle CBP = \angle CAQ = 45^\circ\), \(\angle BCP = \angle ACQ = 30^\circ\), \(\angle ABR = \angle BAR = 15^\circ\). Prove that \(\angle QRP = 90^\circ\) and \(QR = RP\).

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

Solution

Identify the plane with the complex plane. By applying a similarity and, if necessary, a reflection, we may assume that the complex coordinates of \(A,B,C\) are \[ a=0,\qquad b=1,\qquad c=x+iy,\qquad y>0. \] Write \(p,q,r\) for the coordinates of \(P,Q,R\), and put \[ t=\frac{\sqrt3-1}{2},\qquad 0<t<1. \]

The angles at \(P\) and \(Q\) in their respective constructed triangles are both \(105^\circ\). Thus the sine rule gives \[ \frac{BP}{BC}=\frac{AQ}{AC} =\frac{\sin30^\circ}{\sin105^\circ} =\sqrt2\,t. \] Because the triangles are constructed externally, the direction \(BC\) is rotated clockwise through \(45^\circ\) to obtain the direction \(BP\), while \(AC\) is rotated counterclockwise through \(45^\circ\) to obtain \(AQ\). Consequently, \[ p=1+t(1-i)(c-1),\qquad q=t(1+i)c. \]

The triangle \(ABR\) is isosceles and lies below the real axis. Its altitude from \(R\) therefore gives \[ r=\frac12-\frac{i}{2}\tan15^\circ =\frac12-\frac{i}{2}(2-\sqrt3) =\frac12+i\left(t-\frac12\right). \] Using the expressions for \(p\) and \(q\), we obtain \[ \begin{aligned} q-ip &=t(1+i)c-i\bigl(1+t(1-i)(c-1)\bigr)\\ &=t+i(t-1)\\ &=(1-i)r. \end{aligned} \] Hence \[ \boxed{q-r=i(p-r)}. \]

We must also check that these vectors are nonzero. If \(p=r\), the boxed identity implies \(q=r\), and then \[ c=\frac{r}{t(1+i)} =\frac12+i\,\frac{t-1}{2t}. \] Its imaginary part is negative because \(0<t<1\), contradicting \(y>0\). Thus \(p\ne r\), and the boxed identity also gives \(q\ne r\).

Multiplication by \(i\) is a counterclockwise rotation through \(90^\circ\) and preserves length. The boxed identity therefore proves that \[ \angle QRP=90^\circ \qquad\text{and}\qquad QR=RP. \]

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