IMO 1990 · Problem 1

Chords \(AB\) and \(CD\) of a circle intersect at a point \(E\) inside the circle. Let \(M\) be an interior point of the segment \(EB\). The tangent line at \(E\) to the circle through \(D\), \(E\), and \(M\) intersects the lines \(BC\) and \(AC\) at \(F\) and \(G\), respectively. If \[ \frac{AM}{AB}=t, \] find \[ \frac{EG}{EF} \] in terms of \(t\).

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

Answer

\[ \boxed{\frac{EG}{EF}=\frac{t}{1-t}}. \]

Solution

Let \(P\) be the second intersection of the line \(AB\) with the circle through \(C,D,M\). This circle exists because \(C,D,M\) are noncollinear. Since \(E\) lies inside its chord \(CD\), it is inside this circle, so \(P\) lies on the ray \(EA\).

Write \[ EA=a,\qquad EB=b,\qquad EM=m, \] where \(a>0\) and \(0<m<b\). Applying the intersecting-chords theorem to the original circle and to the circle \(CDMP\), we obtain \[ EP\cdot EM=EC\cdot ED=EA\cdot EB. \] Thus \[ EP=\frac{ab}{m}>a, \] so the points on \(AB\) occur in the order \[ P,\ A,\ E,\ M,\ B. \]

Let \(\ell\) be the tangent at \(E\) to the circle \(DEM\). We claim that \(\ell\parallel PC\). Indeed, using directed angles modulo \(180^\circ\), the tangent–chord theorem and the cyclicity of \(C,D,M,P\) give \[ \angle(\ell,ED) =\angle(ME,MD) =\angle(MP,MD) =\angle(CP,CD). \] Since \(CD\) and \(ED\) are the same line, this proves the claim.

Because \(P\ne A,B\) and \(C\notin AB\), the line \(PC\) is parallel to neither \(AC\) nor \(BC\). Hence \(F\) and \(G\) are uniquely defined finite points. The order above and \(\ell\parallel PC\) show that \(F\) lies on the segment \(BC\), while \(G\) lies on the ray from \(A\) opposite to \(AC\). Similar triangles therefore yield \[ \frac{EF}{PC}=\frac{EB}{PB}, \qquad \frac{EG}{PC}=\frac{EA}{PA}. \] Consequently, \[ \begin{aligned} \frac{EG}{EF} &=\frac{EA}{PA}\cdot\frac{PB}{EB}\\ &=\frac{a}{ab/m-a}\cdot\frac{ab/m+b}{b}\\ &=\frac{a+m}{b-m} =\frac{AM}{MB}. \end{aligned} \] All denominators are positive because \(0<m<b\). Finally, \(AM=t\,AB\) and \(MB=(1-t)AB\), giving \[ \boxed{\frac{EG}{EF}=\frac{t}{1-t}}. \]

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