IMO 2012 · Problem 5

Let \(ABC\) be a triangle with \(\angle BCA = 90^\circ\), and let \(D\) be the foot of the altitude from \(C\). Let \(X\) be a point in the interior of the segment \(CD\). Let \(K\) be the point on the segment \(AX\) such that \(BK = BC\). Similarly, let \(L\) be the point on the segment \(BX\) such that \(AL = AC\). Let \(M\) be the point of intersection of \(AL\) and \(BK\).

Show that \(MK = ML\).

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

Solution

Put \[ a=AC,\qquad b=BC,\qquad q=\sqrt{CD^2-DX^2}>0. \] By the Pythagorean theorem, \[ AB^2=a^2+b^2,\qquad AX^2=a^2-q^2,\qquad BX^2=b^2-q^2. \]

For a point \(P\) on \(AX\), write \(t=AP/AX\), so \(0\le t\le1\). Stewart’s theorem gives \[ \begin{aligned} BP^2 &=(1-t)AB^2+tBX^2-t(1-t)AX^2\\ &=b^2+a^2(1-t)^2-q^2t^2. \end{aligned} \] Thus \(BP=b\) is equivalent to \[ a(1-t)=qt, \] because both sides are nonnegative. Its unique solution is \(t=a/(a+q)\), which lies strictly between \(0\) and \(1\). This proves that \(K\) exists uniquely in the interior of \(AX\), and \[ \frac{AK}{KX}=\frac{a}{q}. \] Interchanging \(A\) and \(B\) proves likewise that \(L\) lies in the interior of \(BX\), with \[ \frac{BL}{LX}=\frac{b}{q}. \]

The interior cevians \(BK\) and \(AL\) of triangle \(ABX\) intersect inside the triangle. Hence \(M\) lies strictly between \(B\) and \(K\), and between \(A\) and \(L\).

Apply Menelaus’s theorem in triangle \(BKX\) to the collinear points \(M,A,L\). It yields \[ \frac{BM}{MK}\frac{KA}{AX}\frac{XL}{LB}=1, \] and therefore \[ \frac{BM}{MK} =\frac{AX}{AK}\frac{BL}{LX} =\frac{a+q}{a}\frac{b}{q}. \] Since \(BM+MK=BK=b\), we obtain \[ MK=\frac{b}{1+\dfrac{b(a+q)}{aq}} =\frac{abq}{ab+aq+bq}. \]

Similarly, Menelaus’s theorem in triangle \(ALX\), using the collinear points \(M,B,K\), gives \[ \frac{AM}{ML} =\frac{BX}{BL}\frac{AK}{KX} =\frac{b+q}{b}\frac{a}{q}. \] As \(AM+ML=AL=a\), \[ ML=\frac{a}{1+\dfrac{a(b+q)}{bq}} =\frac{abq}{ab+aq+bq} =MK. \] All denominators are positive, so the argument applies to every permitted configuration. \(\square\)

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.