IMO 2009 · Problem 2

Let \(ABC\) be a triangle with circumcentre \(O\). The points \(P\) and \(Q\) are interior points of the sides \(CA\) and \(AB\), respectively. Let \(K\), \(L\) and \(M\) be the midpoints of the segments \(BP\), \(CQ\) and \(PQ\), respectively, and let \(\Gamma\) be the circle passing through \(K\), \(L\) and \(M\). Suppose that the line \(PQ\) is tangent to the circle \(\Gamma\). Prove that \(OP = OQ\).

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

Solution

The midpoint theorem gives \[ \overrightarrow{MK}=\frac12\overrightarrow{QB}, \qquad \overrightarrow{ML}=\frac12\overrightarrow{PC}. \] Thus \(MK\) and \(ML\) have the directions of \(AB\) and \(AC\), respectively, and \[ MK=\frac{QB}{2},\qquad ML=\frac{PC}{2}, \qquad \angle KML=\angle PAQ. \] In particular, \(K,L,M\) are noncollinear, since \(ABC\) is a triangle and \(QB,PC>0\).

Since \(M\) belongs to both \(PQ\) and \(\Gamma\), the tangency is at \(M\). We claim that the tangent–chord theorem gives \[ \angle MLK=\angle KMQ=\angle AQP. \] To check the tangent ray explicitly, let \(N\) be the midpoint of \(AP\). The midpoint theorem in triangle \(APQ\) shows that \(N,M,K\) are collinear. The points \(A,C\) lie on opposite sides of this line. Moreover, \(Q\) lies on the same side as \(A\), while \(L\) lies on the same side as \(C\), because \(\overrightarrow{ML}\) has the direction of \(AC\). Hence \(Q\) and \(L\) are on opposite sides of the chord line \(MK\), which justifies the first angle equality. The second follows because the rays \(MK,MQ\) are respectively opposite in direction to \(QA,QP\).

Consequently, \[ \triangle MKL\sim\triangle APQ. \] Therefore \[ \frac{QB}{PC}=\frac{MK}{ML}=\frac{AP}{AQ}, \] so \[ AP\cdot PC=AQ\cdot QB. \]

Let \(R\) be the circumradius of \(ABC\). Taking the powers of the interior points \(P\) and \(Q\) with respect to its circumcircle gives \[ OP^{2}-R^{2}=-AP\cdot PC =-AQ\cdot QB=OQ^{2}-R^{2}. \] Thus \(OP^{2}=OQ^{2}\), and hence \(OP=OQ\), as required.

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.