If an acute △ A B C , D , E , F are the feet of perpendiculars from A , B , C on B C , C A , A B respectively. Lines E F , E D , D E meet lines B C , C A , A B at points P , Q , R respectively. Let H be the orthocenter of △ A B C . Construct lines ℓ A , ℓ B , ℓ C passing through A , B , C and perpendicular to P H , Q H , R H respectively. It turns out that lines ℓ A , ℓ B , ℓ C are concurrent at a point X within △ A B C . Then, X is the .......... of △ A B C .
Details and assumptions
The picture shows how ℓ A is defined. Lines ℓ B and ℓ C are defined analogously.
This problem is inspired from a problem which appeared in the India TST.
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Image link: http://s30.postimg.org/wy0qtjcrl/Untitled.png
Let M be the midpoint of B C . We shall show that A M = ℓ A . Let J be the foot of perpendicular from H on A M . It shall suffice to show that P , H , J are collinear.
Since H F ⊥ A B , H J ⊥ A J , and H E ⊥ A C , points A , F , H , J , E lie on a circle. Let ω 1 denote this circle. Also, since B E ⊥ A C and B F ⊥ A B , points B , C , E , F lie on a circle. Let ω 2 denote this circle. Finally, let ω 3 denote the nine point circle of △ A B C , which passes through the points M , D , E , F .
Observe that E F , B C , and H J are the radical axes of ( ω 1 , ω 2 ) , ( ω 2 , ω 3 ) , and ( ω 3 , ω 1 ) respectively, so they must concur at the radical center of ω 1 , ω 2 , ω 3 . It follows that P , H , J are collinear. ■
Analogous arguments show that ℓ B and ℓ C are the medians passing through B , C respectively. Hence, ℓ A , ℓ B , ℓ C are concurrent at the c e n t r o i d of △ A B C .
There is a small typo in your problem. It says lines E F , E D , D E , but it should say E F , F D , D E .
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Let A ′ be the midpoint of segment B C . By Brokard's Theorem on cyclic quadrilateral B C E F , A ′ is the orthocenter of triangle A H P . Therefore, l A passes through A ′ , i.e. l A passes through the centroid of triangle A B C . Similarly, l B and l C pass through the centroid of triangle A B C , so X is the centroid of triangle A B C . ■
This is my first solution on Brilliant, so please give me feedback.