IMO 2023 · Problem 2

Let \(ABC\) be an acute-angled triangle with \(AB<AC\). Let \(\Omega\) be the circumcircle of \(ABC\). Let \(S\) be the midpoint of the arc \(CB\) of \(\Omega\) containing \(A\). The perpendicular from \(A\) to \(BC\) meets \(BS\) at \(D\) and meets \(\Omega\) again at \(E\ne A\). The line through \(D\) parallel to \(BC\) meets line \(BE\) at \(L\). Denote the circumcircle of triangle \(BDL\) by \(\omega\). Let \(\omega\) meet \(\Omega\) again at \(P\ne B\). Prove that the line tangent to \(\omega\) at \(P\) meets line \(BS\) on the internal angle bisector of \(\angle BAC\).

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

Solution

Let \(M\) be the midpoint of the arc \(BC\) not containing \(A\). Then \(AM\) is the internal angle bisector of \(\angle BAC\). Both \(S\) and \(M\) lie on the perpendicular bisector of \(BC\), so \(SM\) is a diameter of \(\Omega\). In particular, \[ AD\parallel SM. \] Set \(T=AM\cap BS\). We will prove that \(TP\) is tangent to \(\omega\).

We first locate the relevant points. Write \[ \alpha=\angle BAC,\qquad \beta=\angle ABC,\qquad \gamma=\angle ACB. \] Since \(AB<AC\), we have \(\beta>\gamma\), and \[ \angle SBC=\frac{180^\circ-\alpha}{2} =\frac{\beta+\gamma}{2}<\beta. \] Thus ray \(BS\) lies strictly inside \(\angle ABC\). Consequently, \(T\) lies inside triangle \(ABC\), and hence inside both segments \(AM\) and \(BS\). If \(H\) is the foot of the altitude from \(A\), then \(D\) lies strictly between \(A\) and \(H\), so \(D\) is inside \(\Omega\).

Also, \(E\) lies on the opposite side of \(BC\) from \(A\). Since \(DL\parallel BC\), the point \(L\) lies on the ray from \(B\) opposite to \(E\), and therefore outside \(\Omega\). As \(BE\ne BS\), triangle \(BDL\) is nondegenerate. The circle \(\omega\), containing a point inside \(\Omega\) and a point outside it, indeed has a second intersection \(P\ne B\) with \(\Omega\).

We claim that \[ AP\perp DP. \] First, \(P\ne A\). Otherwise \(A,B,D,L\) would be concyclic, and \(AD\perp DL\) would imply \(AB\perp BL=BE\). Thus \(AE\) would be a diameter of \(\Omega\). Since \(AE\perp BC\), it would then be the perpendicular bisector of \(BC\), giving \(AB=AC\), a contradiction. Also \(P\ne D\), because \(D\) is inside \(\Omega\).

Now use directed angles modulo \(180^\circ\). From the cyclic quadrilaterals \(ABEP\) and \(BDLP\), and the collinearity of \(B,E,L\), we obtain \[ \begin{aligned} \angle(AP,DP) &=\angle(AP,BP)+\angle(BP,DP)\\ &=\angle(AE,BE)+\angle(BL,DL)\\ &=\angle(AE,DL)\\ &=90^\circ. \end{aligned} \] This proves the claim. Hence \(P\) lies on the circle \(\Gamma\) with diameter \(AD\).

Because \(A,T,M\) and \(D,T,S\) are collinear and \(AD\parallel MS\), the homothety with centre \(T\) taking \(A\) to \(M\) also takes \(D\) to \(S\). These configurations are nondegenerate: if \(D=T\), then \(AM\parallel SM\), forcing \(A=S\) and therefore \(AB=AC\).

The homothety therefore takes the circle \(\Gamma\), with diameter \(AD\), to \(\Omega\), with diameter \(MS\). Their centres are collinear with \(T\). Moreover, the circles are distinct, since \(D\notin\Omega\), and their common chord is \(AP\). Their line of centres is consequently the perpendicular bisector of \(AP\). Thus \[ TP=TA. \tag{1} \]

The same homothety gives \[ \frac{TD}{TS}=\frac{TA}{TM}. \tag{2} \] Its ratio is negative, because \(T\) lies between \(A\) and \(M\). Hence \(D\) and \(S\) lie on opposite sides of \(T\), so \(B\) and \(D\) lie on the same ray from \(T\).

Applying the intersecting-chords theorem in \(\Omega\), we have \[ TB\cdot TS=TA\cdot TM. \] Together with (1) and (2), this yields \[ \operatorname{Pow}_{\omega}(T) =TB\cdot TD =(TB\cdot TS)\frac{TA}{TM} =TA^2 =TP^2. \] Since \(P\in\omega\), this equality proves that \(TP\) is tangent to \(\omega\). Indeed, if \(W\) and \(r\) are its centre and radius, then \[ TW^2=TP^2+r^2=TP^2+WP^2, \] so \(TP\perp WP\).

Therefore the tangent at \(P\) meets \(BS\) at \(T\), which lies on the internal angle bisector \(AM\), as required.

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.