IMO 1978 · Problem 4

In triangle \(ABC\), \(AB = AC\). A circle is tangent internally to the circumcircle of triangle \(ABC\) and also to sides \(AB\), \(AC\) at \(P\), \(Q\), respectively. Prove that the midpoint of segment \(PQ\) is the center of the incircle of triangle \(ABC\).

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

Solution

Let \(D\) be the midpoint of \(BC\), \(M\) the midpoint of \(PQ\), and \(S\) the center of the given circle, whose radius is \(r>0\). Put \[ \theta=\frac12\angle BAC,\qquad 0<\theta<\frac{\pi}{2}. \] Since \(AB=AC\), the line \(AD\) is both the internal angle bisector at \(A\) and the perpendicular bisector of \(BC\).

The two distinct tangents from \(A\) give \(AP=AQ>0\). Thus \(P,Q\) are symmetric about \(AD\), so \(M\in AD\) and \(PQ\perp AD\). Since \(SP=SQ\), the center \(S\) also lies on \(AD\).

Let \(T\ne A\) be the second intersection of the ray \(AD\) with the circumcircle. The circumcenter lies on \(AD\), so \(AT\) is a diameter. Internal tangency ensures that \(S\) is inside the circumcircle, hence between \(A\) and \(T\). The right triangle \(ASP\) gives \[ r=AS\sin\theta<AS. \] The tangency point of the two circles lies on their line of centers, so it is either \(A\) or \(T\). Since \(AS>r\), it cannot be \(A\). It is therefore \(T\), and \[ AT=AS+r=AS(1+\sin\theta). \]

Because \(AT\) is a diameter, \(\angle ABT=90^\circ\). Consequently, \[ AB=AT\cos\theta,\qquad AD=AB\cos\theta, \] and hence \[ AD=AT\cos^2\theta. \] Similarly, the right triangles \(ASP\) and \(APM\) give \[ AP=AS\cos\theta,\qquad AM=AP\cos\theta. \] Combining these identities yields \[ AM=AS\cos^2\theta =\frac{AT\cos^2\theta}{1+\sin\theta} =\frac{AD}{1+\sin\theta}. \]

In particular, \(0<AM<AD\), so \(M\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\). Its distance from \(BC\) is \[ MD=AD-AM=AM\sin\theta. \] Its perpendicular distance from each of \(AB\) and \(AC\) is also \(AM\sin\theta\), since \(AM\) bisects \(\angle BAC\).

Thus \(M\) is an interior point equidistant from all three sides of the triangle. Therefore \(M\) is its incenter. \(\square\)

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