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Ireland

Ireland geometry

Problem

is a trapezium, in which a circle can be inscribed, with parallel to and equal to but not parallel to . The inscribed circle touches , , and at , , and respectively. and intersect at . Prove that the diagonals of pass through .

problem


problem
Solution
Let be the intersection point of the lines and . As , the triangle is isosceles with axis of symmetry the line through and . In particular, , , are collinear iff , , are collinear.



According to the converse of Menelaus' Theorem for the triangle , the three points , , are collinear iff



But this equation is true as the triangles and are similar.

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Alternative solution.

Note that implies that the line through and is an axis of symmetry for the trapezium . In particular, , , are collinear iff , , are collinear.



Because the three lines , and are parallel, it follows that

As and , we obtain hence , i.e. , , are collinear.

Techniques

TangentsMenelaus' theoremInscribed/circumscribed quadrilateralsTrigonometryAngle chasing