IMO 2017 · Problem 4

Let \(R\) and \(S\) be different points on a circle \(\Omega\) such that \(RS\) is not a diameter. Let \(\ell\) be the tangent line to \(\Omega\) at \(R\). Point \(T\) is such that \(S\) is the midpoint of the line segment \(RT\). Point \(J\) is chosen on the shorter arc \(RS\) of \(\Omega\) so that the circumcircle \(\Gamma\) of triangle \(JST\) intersects \(\ell\) at two distinct points. Let \(A\) be the common point of \(\Gamma\) and \(\ell\) that is closer to \(R\). Line \(AJ\) meets \(\Omega\) again at \(K\). Prove that the line \(KT\) is tangent to \(\Gamma\).

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

Solution

The line \(RT\) meets \(\Omega\) at \(R,S\), and \(\Gamma\) at \(S,T\). Since \(R,S,T\) are distinct, this shows that \(T\notin\Omega\) and \(R\notin\Gamma\). In particular, \(A\ne R\), so \(A,S,T\) are noncollinear and their circumcircle is \(\Gamma\).

Let \(X\ne R\) be the second intersection of \(\Omega\) with the line through \(R\) parallel to \(AT\). This intersection exists because \(T\notin\ell\), so \(AT\) is not parallel to the tangent \(\ell\).

Both \(S\) and \(T\) lie in the open half-plane bounded by \(\ell\) that contains \(\Omega\setminus\{R\}\). Consequently, the rays \(RX\) and \(AT\) have the same direction. It follows that \(X\) and \(A\) lie on opposite sides of \(RT\). In particular, \(X\notin RT\), so the triangles used below are nondegenerate.

The tangent–chord theorem at \(R\), together with \(RX\parallel AT\), gives \[ \angle RXS=\angle ARS=\angle ART, \qquad \angle XRS=\angle RTA. \] Thus \[ \triangle RXS\sim\triangle TRA, \] and therefore \[ \frac{RX}{RT}=\frac{RS}{TA}=\frac{TS}{TA}, \] where the last equality uses \(RS=ST\).

Moreover, \[ \angle XRT=\angle STA. \] The preceding ratio and this included-angle equality show, by SAS similarity, that \[ \triangle RXT\sim\triangle TSA. \] Hence \[ \angle STX=\angle RTX=\angle TAS. \] Since \(X\) and \(A\) lie on opposite sides of \(ST\), the converse tangent–chord theorem shows that \(TX\) is tangent to \(\Gamma\) at \(T\).

It remains to identify \(X\) with \(K\). Because \(T\notin\Omega\), we have \(X\ne T\). The tangency just proved therefore implies \(X\notin\Gamma\), and in particular \(X\ne J\).

Now use directed angles modulo \(180^\circ\). The cyclicity of \(A,J,S,T\), the parallelism \(AT\parallel RX\), the collinearity of \(R,S,T\), and the cyclicity of \(R,X,S,J\) give \[ \angle AJS =\angle ATS =\angle XRS =\angle XJS \pmod{180^\circ}. \] Thus \(A,J,X\) are collinear. Since \(J\) and \(X\) are distinct points of \(\Omega\), \(X\) is precisely the second intersection \(K\) of \(AJ\) with \(\Omega\). Therefore \(KT\) is tangent to \(\Gamma\), as required. \(\square\)

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.