Solutions Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee

Geometry 2021 Mentor Program

G1. Triangle ABC satisfies AB = AC and \BAC = 40 . Points S and T lie on sides AB and BC,
respectively, such that \BAT = \BCS = 10 . Lines AT and CS intersect at point P .
Prove that BT = 2P T .

Solution
Using the fact that SACT is a cyclic quadrilateral we may angle chase all the angles in the diagram.
In particular we find \BST = \ACT = 70 . Thus triangle BT S is isosceles with BT = ST .
Also \P ST = \T AC = 30 and \ST P = \SCA = 60 .
Thus ST P is a 30 60 90 triangle, from which BT = ST = 2P T . ⇤

S P

B T C

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Solutions Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee
Geometry 2021 Mentor Program

G2. Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral such that its diagonals are AC and BD are perpendicular
and such that AB is not parallel to CD. Let P be the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of
sides AB and CD.
Prove that triangles AP B and CP D have equal area.

Solution 1
The perpendicular bisector of any chord of a circle passes through the circle’s centre. Since AB 6k CD,
the perpendicular bisectors of AB and CD are not the same line. Hence P is the centre of circle
ABCD.
Let E = AC \ BD. Let X, Y be the midpoints of AB, CD, respectively. We have
1 1
\XBP = 90 \BP X = 90 \BP A = 90 \BCA = \EBC = \DP C = \Y P C.
2 2
(Noting that BE and BP are isogonal conjugates in 4ABC would speed up this angle chase.)
Since P B = P C, we have 4BXP ⌘ 4P Y C (SAA). So |AP B| = 2|BXP | = 2|P Y C| = |CP D|. ⇤
Solution 2
As in solution 1, P is the centre of circle ABCD. Let X, Y, M, N be the respective midpoints of
AB, CD, AC, BD. Note that P M EN is a rectangle. Let AE = a, EM = N P = x, DE = b,
EN = M P = y. Note that N B = DN = b + y and M C = AM = a + x. We have
a(b + 2y) + (b + 2y)x ay ab + ay + bx + 2xy
|AP B| = |AEB| + |BEP | |AEP | = =
2 2
b(a + 2x) + (a + 2x)y bx ab + bx + ay + 2xy
|CP D| = |CED| + |CEP | |CEP | = = .
2 2
So |AP B| = |CP D|. ⇤
Comment 1 There is diagram dependence in solution 2, but all is well if we use directed lengths.
Comment 2 This problem was the easier half of IMO 1998 problem 1.

N
A
P
E

D Y C

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Solutions Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee
Geometry 2021 Mentor Program

G3. Let AP BM be a parallelogram. Let A be a circle passing through P and tangent to line AB
at point A. Let B be circle passing through P and tangent to line AB at point B. Let Q be the
second point of intersection of circles A and B . A line tangent to A at P intersects B for a
second times at point C. Let E be the intersection of lines AP and BC.
Prove that AM BEQ is a cyclic pentagon.

Solution 1
Let X = CP \ AB. By the alternate segment theorem and parallelogram AP M B, we may let
↵ = \ABM = \BAP = \AQP = \AP X = \EAC and = \P BA = \P QB = \P CB.

From 4P CE we have \AEB = \P EB = ↵ + = \AQB. Thus AQEB is cyclic.

Also \AM B + \AEB = \AM B + ↵ + = \AM B + \P M A = 180 . Thus AM BE is cyclic.
Since Q and M both lie on circle AEB, this implies that AM BEQ is cyclic. ⇤
Solution 2
Let P Q intersect AB at K. Power of a point yields KA2 = KP · KQ = KB 2 . Thus K is the
midpoint of AB and hence the centre of the parallelogram. Since Q and M both lie on KP , this
implies that P QM is a straight line.
From the definition of ↵ in solution 1, we have \AQM = \AQP = ↵ = \ABM , and so AM BQ
is cyclic. This combined with any half of solution 1, that is, AQEB is cyclic or AM BE is cyclic,
establishes that all 5 points are cyclic. ⇤

Q
E

P B

K
X

A M

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Solutions Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee
Geometry 2021 Mentor Program

G4. Let P be a point inside triangle ABC so that P A = P B. Point Q lies on the opposite side of
AC to P and satisfies \AQC = \AP B and AQ = QC. Point R lies on the opposite side of BC to
P and satisfies \CRB = \AP B and CR = BR.
Prove that P QCR is a parallelogram

Solution
We have 4AQC ⇠ AP B, which implies

4AQP ⇠ ACB. (1)

(Of course students need to justify this, e.g. by (PAP): QA

PA
= AC
AB
and \QAP = \CAB. See Similar
Switch in chapter 5 of Problem Solving Tactics.)
Analogously 4P BA ⇠ 4RBC, which implies

4CBA ⇠ 4RBP. (2)

Combining (1) and (2) yields

4AQP ⇠ 4P RB. (3)

Since AP = P B, the two triangles at (3) are congruent. Thus P R = AQ = QC and QP = RB = CR.
Since P QCR has opposite sides of equal length, it is a parallelogram. ⇤

R
Q

A B

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Solutions Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee
Geometry 2021 Mentor Program

G5. Let P and Q be two points inside a parallelogram ABCD which are symmetric with respect
to the centre of the parallelogram.
Prove that the circumcircles of triangles ABP , CDP , BCQ and ADQ all pass through a common
point.

Solution
Lemma
In the diagram below the top and bottom lines are parallel. It follows that z = x + y. This is really
easy to prove once we draw in a third parallel as shown.

For the problem at hand let us reduce clutter by only drawing in circles ABP and ADQ, and let X
be their second point of intersection. Also let O denote the centre of the parallelogram.
Let x = \BCQ and y = \QDA. Then from the lemma \DQC = x + y.
The following pairs of points are related by a half turn about O: P $ Q, A $ C and B $ D. Thus
4ABP ⌘ 4CDQ. Using this and cyclic AP XB, we have \BXA = \BP A = \DQC = x + y.
Also from cyclic ADQX we have \AXQ = 180 y. From the angle sum about X, we deduce that
\QXB = 360 \BXA \AXQ = 180 x = 180 \BCQ. Therefore BCXQ is cyclic.
A similar argument shows that circle CDP also passes through X. ⇤

B C

X
Q

O
P

A D

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Solutions Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee
Geometry 2021 Mentor Program

G6. Let ABC be a triangle and let D, E and F be the points of tangency of the incircle of triangle
ABC with the sides BC, CA and AB, respectively. Let X be an interior point of triangle ABC such
that the incircle of triangle XBC touches XB, XC and BC at Z, Y and D, respectively.
Prove that EF ZY is cyclic.

Solution 1
If AB = AC, by symmetry EF ZY is an isosceles trapezium and therefore cyclic. Henceforth we
assume without loss of generality that AB < AC.
Let T = EF \ BC and U = Y Z \ BC. Note that B is between T and C and Z is between U and Y .
By Menelaus’ theorem on 4ABC with transversal EF , we have

CE AF T B DC T B TC BC DC BD · BC
1= · · = · ) =1+ = ) TB = .
EA F B T C BD T C TB TB BD DC BD

BD·BC
Similarly, Menelaus’ theorem on 4XBC with transversal Y Z yields U B = DC BD
.
Hence U = T .
Power of a point in circles DEF and DY Z yields T F · T E = T D2 = T Z · T Y.
Since T F · T E = T Z · T Y , it follows that EF ZY is cyclic. ⇤
Solution 2 (A harmonic points speed up of solution 1)
Let T, U be as in solution 1.
Lines AD, BE, CF are concurrent at the Gergonne point, Q say, (e.g. by Ceva’s theorem). Since we
have a Ceva-Menelaus diagram based on the point Q relative to 4ABC it follows that (T, D; B, C)
is harmonic. Similarly (U, D; B, C) is harmonic. Hence U = T , and so EF, Y Z, BC are concurrent.
It follows from the converse of the radical axis theorem that EF ZY is cyclic. ⇤

X
Y
F Z

T (= U ) B D C

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