Radical centre on OH

Anant Mudgal

October 25, 2020

§1 Problem
In triangle ABC with orthocentre H, circumcircle Γ and circumcentre O, let N be the
midpoint of OH. Denote by ωA the circumcircle of the triangle formed by the tangent
lines to Γ at B and C, and the line through H perpendicular to AN . Define ωB , ωC
similarly. Prove that the common chords of circles ωA , ωB , ωC meet on line OH.

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Anant Mudgal (October 25, 2020) Radical centre on OH

§2 Solution
Let DEF be the orthic and XY Z be the tangential triangles of 4ABC. The main claim
is that XD is the radical axis of ωB , ωC .

Let BE and CF meet Γ again at B1 and C1 , respectively. Let tangents to Γ at C1

and B meet at Ab and at B1 and C meet at Ac . Let EF meet Γ at PA and QA .

We prove two lemmas to set-up the finish.

Lemma 2.1
Line Ab Ac passes through H and is perpendicular to AN .

Proof. Let A0 = BC1 ∩ CB1 . By La Hire’s, Ab Ac is the polar of A0 in Γ. By Brokard’s,

H = BB1 ∩ CC1 lies on the polar of A0 .

Let A2 , B2 , C2 be the antipodes of A, B, C in Γ. Let HA be the reflection of H in A.

Since HA = B1 B2 ∩ C1 C2 , Pascal’s theorem on cyclic hexagon (BC1 C2 CB1 B2 ) yields
A0 , HA , O are collinear. Since HA O k AN and Ab Ac ⊥ OA0 , the claim follows.

Lemma 2.2
Points PA , QA lie on ωA .

Proof. Let MA be the midpoint of BC and AB , AC be the midpoints of BC1 and CB1 .
Thus ωA and (AB AC MA ) are inverses in Γ. We show that PA , QA lie on the latter circle.

Note that D lies on (MA PA QA ). Let OA be the circumcentre of 4M PA QA . Then

OA lies on the perpendicular bisector AO of PA QA and the perpendicular bisector of
DMA . So OA is the midpoint of AO.

Since 4BOC ∼ 4C1 AB1 , we see that 4AB OA AC ∼ 4BOC, by the averaging
principle. Hence ∠AB OA AC = 2∠A and OA AB = OA AC . Since MA AB k CH and
MA AC k BH we see that ∠AB MA AC = 180◦ − ∠A. Thus OA is also the circumcentre
of 4MA AB AC , concluding the proof.

The radical axis PB QB of ωB and Γ meets the radical axis PC QC of ωC and Γ at D.

So D lies on the radical axis of ωB , ωC . Since Ba Ca is tangent to Γ at A1 , it is parallel
to the tangent at X to (XY Z) so XY · XBa = XZ · XCa . Thus X lies on the radical
axis of ωB , ωC . Since 4DEF and 4XY Z are homothetic, lines XD, Y E, ZF concur on
the line joining their incentres, namely line OH and our conclusion shall follow.