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geometry
Problem
Let be a triangle and the foot of the altitude from . Let and be on a line passing through such that is perpendicular to , is perpendicular to , and and are different from . Let and be the midpoints of the line segments and , respectively. Prove that is perpendicular to .
Solution
Let be such that is a rectangle. Choose points and on the line such that and are rectangles. Points , and lie on the circle of diameter , hence is a cyclic quadrilateral. Similarly, , and lie on the circle of diameter , hence is a cyclic quadrilateral.
The two quadrilaterals share a side, and have the same supporting lines for the other two sides. Since they are cyclic, the remaining two sides and must be parallel. Thus , , and are vertices of a trapezoid.
On the other hand, in rectangle , is the midpoint of , and is parallel to , so is the midpoint of . Since is the midpoint of , we obtain that, in trapezoid , is parallel to .
This implies that quadrilateral is cyclic, having the sides parallel to the sides of . Moreover, lies on the circle circumscribed to this quadrilateral, because the other three vertices of the rectangle lie on it. Hence the quadrilateral is cyclic.
Consequently, .
The two quadrilaterals share a side, and have the same supporting lines for the other two sides. Since they are cyclic, the remaining two sides and must be parallel. Thus , , and are vertices of a trapezoid.
On the other hand, in rectangle , is the midpoint of , and is parallel to , so is the midpoint of . Since is the midpoint of , we obtain that, in trapezoid , is parallel to .
This implies that quadrilateral is cyclic, having the sides parallel to the sides of . Moreover, lies on the circle circumscribed to this quadrilateral, because the other three vertices of the rectangle lie on it. Hence the quadrilateral is cyclic.
Consequently, .
Techniques
Cyclic quadrilateralsAngle chasingConstructions and loci