IMO 1985 · Problem 5

A circle with center \(O\) passes through the vertices \(A\) and \(C\) of triangle \(ABC\) and intersects the segments \(AB\) and \(BC\) again at distinct points \(K\) and \(N\), respectively. The circumscribed circles of the triangles \(ABC\) and \(EBN\) intersect at exactly two distinct points \(B\) and \(M\). Prove that angle \(OMB\) is a right angle.

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

Solution

The printed statement contains an undefined point \(E\). We prove the natural corrected statement in which \(EBN\) is replaced by \(KBN\).

Let \(U,V\) be the circumcenters of \(ABC,KBN\), respectively. Use position vectors with origin \(B\), and let \(\mathbf u,\mathbf v\) be unit vectors directed from \(B\) toward \(A,C\). Write \[ A=a\mathbf u,\qquad K=k\mathbf u,\qquad C=c\mathbf v,\qquad N=n\mathbf v. \] We have \(0<k<a\) and \(0<n<c\). Indeed, the second intersections differ from \(A,C\); neither can be \(B\), since then both would be \(B\), contrary to \(K\ne N\).

Because \(U\) is equidistant from \(B,A\), expanding \[ |U|^2=|U-a\mathbf u|^2 \] gives \(2U\cdot\mathbf u=a\). Similarly, because \(O\) is equidistant from \(A,K\), \[ |O-a\mathbf u|^2=|O-k\mathbf u|^2 \] gives \(2O\cdot\mathbf u=a+k\). Applying the same reasoning to all relevant pairs yields \[ \begin{array}{lll} 2U\cdot\mathbf u=a,&2V\cdot\mathbf u=k,&2O\cdot\mathbf u=a+k,\\ 2U\cdot\mathbf v=c,&2V\cdot\mathbf v=n,&2O\cdot\mathbf v=c+n. \end{array} \] Thus \(O-U-V\) is perpendicular to both \(\mathbf u,\mathbf v\). These vectors are linearly independent because \(ABC\) is a triangle, so \[ O=U+V. \]

Since \(B=0\) and \(M\) lie on both circumcircles, \[ |M-U|^2=|U|^2,\qquad |M-V|^2=|V|^2. \] Adding the expanded equations and using \(O=U+V\), we obtain \[ |M|^2=O\cdot M. \] Consequently, \[ (O-M)\cdot(B-M)=0. \]

It remains to verify that \(O\ne M\), so this orthogonality defines a right angle. By the secant power theorem for the original circle, \[ ak=cn. \] Hence triangles \(BAC\) and \(BNK\) are similar by side-angle-side, with similarity ratio \[ \lambda=\frac an=\frac ck. \] Moreover, \[ \lambda^2=\frac{ac}{nk}>1. \] Their circumradii \(R_1=|U|\) and \(R_2=|V|\) therefore satisfy \(R_1>R_2\). If \(O=M\), however, then \[ R_1=|M-U|=|O-U|=|V|=R_2, \] a contradiction.

Thus \(O\ne M\), while \(B\ne M\) is given. The displayed dot-product identity now proves \[ \boxed{\angle OMB=90^\circ}. \]

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