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XVI OBM

Brazil geometry

Problem

Given any convex polygon, show that there are three consecutive vertices such that the polygon lies inside the circle through them.
Solution
Let and be consecutive vertices of the polygon. Let be a vertex such that is minimal. Since all angles for all of the polygon, then all vertices are contained in the circumcircle of the triangle .

If , we are done. Otherwise, consider the arc that doesn't contain and let a point in the region between the arc and the chord such that is minimal. Notice that the circumcircle of still contains the polygon and that the number of vertices between 1 and is less than the number of vertices between 2 and . Repeat the procedure exchanging and by and . We obtain again a circle with less vertices between the edges of the triangle. Continuing in this fashion we eventually obtain three consecutive vertices.

Techniques

Angle chasingConstructions and loci