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Ireland geometry
Problem
Let be a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle and let be a point on the circle. Consider the projections of the point on two opposite sides of the quadrilateral, and on its diagonals. Show that there exists a circle passing through these four points if and only if the quadrilateral is a trapezoid.
Solution
Let and be the projections of on the diagonal , the side , the side , the side and the diagonal respectively. The points are collinear, because they are on Simons's line for . The points are on Simons's line for .
Because , the points lie on the circle with diameter . This implies and . Hence, the triangles and are similar. The same is true for the triangles and . Because intersects at , the points and are on a circle if and only if the triangles and are similar. Hence, and are on a circle iff the triangles and are similar. This is equivalent to being an isosceles trapezoid with parallel to .
Because , the points lie on the circle with diameter . This implies and . Hence, the triangles and are similar. The same is true for the triangles and . Because intersects at , the points and are on a circle if and only if the triangles and are similar. Hence, and are on a circle iff the triangles and are similar. This is equivalent to being an isosceles trapezoid with parallel to .
Techniques
Cyclic quadrilateralsSimson lineAngle chasing