Where Do They Concur?

Geometry Level 3

Let A B C \triangle ABC be an acute triangle with circumcircle ω . \omega. D , E , F D,E,F are the feet of perpendiculars from A , B , C A,B,C to B C , C A , A B BC,CA,AB respectively. Let A , b , C \ell_A, \ell_b, \ell_C be the lines passing through A , B , C A,B,C and parallel to B C , C A , A B BC,CA,AB respectively. Let P , Q , R P,Q,R be the second points of intersection (apart from A , B , C A,B,C respectively) of A , B , C \ell_A, \ell_B, \ell_C with ω \omega respectively. It turns out that lines P D , Q E , R F PD, QE, RF concur at a point X X within A B C . \triangle ABC. Then, X X is the ............ of A B C . \triangle ABC.

Centroid Symmedian point Circumcenter Incenter

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3 solutions

Image link: http://s3.postimg.org/kzkbr62kj/Untitled.png Image link: http://s3.postimg.org/kzkbr62kj/Untitled.png

WLOG we assume the configuration shown in the figure.

Let X , Y , Z X,Y,Z be the midpoints of B C , C A , A B BC,CA,AB respectively, and let G G be the centroid of A B C . \triangle ABC. Consider the homothety centered at G G which maps A , B , C A,B,C to X , Y , Z X,Y,Z respectively (such a homothety exists because X Y Z A B C \triangle XYZ \sim \triangle ABC ). We shall show that this homothety maps P P to D . D.

Note that P B C = 18 0 P A C = A C B = A Y Z , \angle PBC = 180^{\circ} - \angle PAC = \angle ACB = \angle AYZ, where we have used the facts that A P B C AP \parallel BC and Y Z B C . YZ \parallel BC. Now, note that D D lies on the circle with diameter A C , AC, so Y A = Y C = Y D . YA = YC = YD. From isoceles Y C D , \triangle YCD, D Y Z = A Y Z = P B C . \angle DYZ= \angle AYZ = \angle PBC. Since A P B C , AP \parallel BC, this homothety maps P P to D . D. Hence, D , G , P D,G,P are collinear.

Similarly, E , G , Q E,G,Q and F , G , R F, G, R are also collinear. Therefore, lines D P , E Q , F R DP,EQ,FR are concurrent at the centroid \fbox{centroid} of A B C . \triangle ABC.


This problem is inspired by ISL 2011 G4 .

Alternatively, since A G : G X = 2 : 1 AG:GX=2:1 , the collinearity is equivalent to P A = 2 D X PA=2DX . To prove this simply draw the midpoint of A P AP denote it M M . By symmetry X M B C XM\perp BC , hence A M X D AMXD is a rectangle and P A = 2 A M = 2 X D PA=2AM=2XD .

Xuming Liang - 7 years ago

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Really nice! I wouldn't have thought of it that way.

Nice question.

Sharky Kesa - 7 years ago

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I agree geometry is a wonderful subject @Sharky Kesa

Mardokay Mosazghi - 7 years ago

Thanks! :)

by the way, what is syemedian point

Deepak Patil - 7 years ago

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The point where the symmedians (reflections of the medians over the internal angle bisectors) concur.

Rohit Saini
May 29, 2014

since AD is perpendicular to BC and AP || BC, so AD is perpendicular to AP. Hence PD coincides with the diameter of the circle. Similarly, QE and RF are also along the diameters. Hence they intersect at the centre of the circle i.e. centroid of the triangle ABC.

What circle are you talking about? Are you talking about the circumcircle of A P D ? \triangle APD? I really can't follow your arguments, P D PD isn't the diameter of ω , \omega , as d ∉ ω . d \not \in \omega . And also, the centroid isn't the center of ω . \omega .

Harrison Wang
May 28, 2014

Observe the diagram. Note that since it is to scale, it just takes some observation and spatial reasoning. We can eliminate some answers: It doesn't look like the circumcenter because it's not in the center of the circumcircle. It can't be the incenter because it doesn't look like one can draw three congruent perpendicular lines to the sides of the triangle. If one visually draws three lines from the vertices to the point, it seems like the opposite edge is bisected. Thus, it must be the centroid \boxed{\text{centroid}}

The main challenge was to prove that they concur at the centroid. -_-

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