IMO 2014 · Problem 4

Points \(P\) and \(Q\) lie on side \(BC\) of acute-angled triangle \(ABC\) so that \(\angle PAB = \angle BCA\) and \(\angle CAQ = \angle ABC\). Points \(M\) and \(N\) lie on lines \(AP\) and \(AQ\), respectively, such that \(P\) is the midpoint of \(AM\), and \(Q\) is the midpoint of \(AN\). Prove that lines \(BM\) and \(CN\) intersect on the circumcircle of triangle \(ABC\).

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

Solution

The given angle equalities imply \[ \triangle ABP\sim\triangle CBA, \qquad \triangle ACQ\sim\triangle BCA. \] Indeed, the angles at \(B\) in the first pair and at \(C\) in the second pair agree because \(P,Q\) lie on \(BC\). Consequently, \[ BP=\frac{AB^2}{BC}, \qquad CQ=\frac{AC^2}{BC}. \tag{1} \] These similarities remain valid if \(P=C\) or \(Q=B\). The other endpoints, \(P=B\) and \(Q=C\), are impossible because the prescribed angles are positive.

Choose Cartesian coordinates, scaling lengths so that \[ B=(-1,0),\qquad C=(1,0),\qquad A=(u,v),\qquad v>0, \] and put \(r=u^2+v^2>0\). Then \[ AB^2=r+2u+1,\qquad AC^2=r-2u+1. \] Since \(BC=2\), equations (1) give \[ P=\left(\frac{r+2u-1}{2},0\right), \qquad Q=\left(\frac{1+2u-r}{2},0\right). \] The midpoint conditions now yield \[ M=2P-A=(r+u-1,-v), \qquad N=2Q-A=(1+u-r,-v). \]

Consider the point \[ X=\left(\frac{u}{r},-\frac{v}{r}\right). \] We have \[ \overrightarrow{BX} =\left(\frac{u+r}{r},-\frac{v}{r}\right) =\frac1r\,\overrightarrow{BM}, \] and similarly \[ \overrightarrow{CX} =\left(\frac{u-r}{r},-\frac{v}{r}\right) =\frac1r\,\overrightarrow{CN}. \] Thus \(X\) belongs to both \(BM\) and \(CN\). These lines are distinct: otherwise their common line would contain \(B,C\), hence would be \(BC\), whereas \(M\) has nonzero second coordinate.

It remains to prove that \(X\) lies on the circumcircle of \(ABC\). The circle through \(B=(-1,0)\), \(C=(1,0)\), and \(A=(u,v)\) has equation \[ x^2+y^2+\frac{1-r}{v}\,y=1. \] Substituting the coordinates of \(X\) into its left-hand side gives \[ \frac{u^2+v^2}{r^2} +\frac{1-r}{v}\left(-\frac vr\right) =\frac1r-\frac{1-r}{r} =1. \] Therefore \(X\) lies on the circumcircle of \(ABC\), as required. \(\square\)

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.