IMO 2003 · Problem 4

\(ABCD\) is cyclic. The feet of the perpendicular from \(D\) to the lines \(AB,BC,CA\) are \(P,Q,R\) respectively. Show that the angle bisectors of \(ABC\) and \(CDA\) meet on the line \(AC\) iff \(RP=RQ\).

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

Solution

We first establish a projection identity that covers all possible positions of the perpendicular feet. If \(U,V\) are the orthogonal projections of a point \(X\) onto two lines through \(O\), making an angle \(\theta\in(0,\pi)\), then \[ UV=OX\sin\theta. \] Indeed, choose coordinates with \(O=(0,0)\), \(X=(x,y)\), and the lines directed along \((1,0)\) and \((\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\). Writing \(c=\cos\theta\), \(s=\sin\theta\), we have \[ U=(x,0),\qquad V=(xc+ys)(c,s). \] Consequently, \[ UV^2=(-xs^2+ycs)^2+(xcs+ys^2)^2 =s^2(x^2+y^2), \] which proves the identity, including cases where a projection coincides with \(O\) or \(X\).

Apply this identity to the projections of \(D\) onto \(AB,AC\), and then onto \(CB,CA\). It gives \[ RP=AD\sin\angle BAC,\qquad RQ=CD\sin\angle BCA. \] By the sine rule in triangle \(ABC\), \[ \frac{\sin\angle BAC}{\sin\angle BCA}=\frac{BC}{AB}. \] All these lengths and sines are positive, since the four vertices of a cyclic quadrilateral are distinct and no three are collinear. Hence \[ \frac{RP}{RQ}=\frac{AD\cdot BC}{CD\cdot AB}, \] and therefore \[ RP=RQ \quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad \frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{AD}{CD}. \tag{1} \]

Let the internal bisectors of \(\angle ABC\) and \(\angle CDA\) meet the segment \(AC\) at \(E\) and \(F\), respectively. The angle bisector theorem gives \[ \frac{AE}{EC}=\frac{AB}{BC}, \qquad \frac{AF}{FC}=\frac{AD}{CD}. \] A point \(T\) in the open segment \(AC\) is uniquely determined by \(AT/TC\): if this ratio is \(t\), then \[ AT=\frac{t}{1+t}\,AC. \] Thus \[ E=F \quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad \frac{AB}{BC}=\frac{AD}{CD}. \] Each bisector meets the line \(AC\) at its specified point, so the bisectors have a common point on \(AC\) exactly when \(E=F\). This also covers the case where their supporting lines coincide. Combining this equivalence with (1) proves the assertion.

The solution was checked against Evan Chen's published IMO solution notes.