Loose Ends from Previous Talks

Tom Rike
Berkeley Math Circle March 16, 2003

1 Problems

1. (Hiroshi Harukis Lemma) Suppose AB and F D are nonintersecting chords in a circle

and that P is a variable point on the arc AB, remote from F and D. Then, for each
position of P , the lines P F and P D cut AB into three segments of lengths x, y, z such
xz
that = a constant k.
y


2. (Herons Proof) The area of a triangle is equal to s(s a)(s b)(s c).


3. (Eulers Proof) The area of a triangle is equal to s(s a)(s b)(s c).

Here are some problems that can be solved using the area addition property
in the plane.
4. Suppose that Cevians AD, BE and CF are concurrent at point P of the interior of
DP EP FP
triangle ABC. Prove that + + = 1.
AD BE CF
5. Let triangle ABC be acute and let H be its orthocenter. The altitudes AA1 , BB1 , and
AH BH CH
CC1 . Prove that + + = 2.
AA1 BB1 CC1
6. Let triangle ABC be isosceles with AB = AC. The altitude from A is AE and cevian
BF intersects AE at D. If AF : AC = 1 : 3 Then nd AD : DE and BD : BF .
7. Quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed in a circle. Let AB = a, BC = b, CD = c, DA = d,
p ad + bc
AC = p and BD = q. Prove Ptolemys second theorem that =
q ab + cd
Use the idea of excenters and incenters to solve the following problems.
8. (Carleton University Mathematics Competition for High School Students, 1976)
ABC is an isosceles triangle with
ABC =
ACB = 80 . P is the point on AB such
that
P CB = 70 . Q is the point on AC such that
QBC = 60 . Find
P QA.
9. (Pythagoras Olympiad in The Netherlands, 1980) In triangle ABC, point D is such
that
DCA =
DCB =
DBC = 10 and
DBA = 20 . Find the measure of
CAD.
10. (Alberta High School Mathematics Competition, 198990) In quadrilateral ABCD
with diagonals BD and AC,
ABD = 40 ,
CBD = 70 ,
CDB = 50 ,
ADB = 80 .
Find the measure of
CAD.

1
11. (Junior Problem A-6, Tournament of Towns, Spring 1997) Let P be a point inside
triangle ABC with AB = BC,
ABC = 80 ,
P AC = 40 and
ACP = 30 . Find
the measure of
BP C.

12. Senior Problem A-2, Tournament of Towns, Spring 1997) D is the point on BC and E
is the point on CA such that AD and BE are the bisectors of
A and
B of triangle
ABC. If DE is the bisector of
ADC, nd the measure of
A.

13. In
ABC, D, E, and F are the trisection points of AB, BC, and CA nearer A,B,C,
respectively. Let BF AE = J. Show that BJ : JF = 3 : 4 and AJ : JE = 6 : 1.

14. In the previous problem, let CD AE = K and CD BF = L. Use the previous

problem to show that DK : KL : LC = 1 : 3 : 3 = EJ : JK : KA = F L : LJ : JB.

15. Use the previous two problems to show that the triangle
JKL is one-seventh the
area of
ABC. Generalize the problem using points which divide the sides in a ratio
of 1 : n to show the ratio of the areas is (1 n)3 : (1 n3 ). This can be generalized
even further using dierent ratios on each side. It is known as Rouths Theorem. See
[2] [5] and [8].

16. (AIME 1985 #6) In triangle ABC, cevians AD, BE and CF intersect at point P .
The areas of triangles P AF, P F B, P BD and P CE are 40,30,35 and 84, respectively.
Find the area of triangle ABC.

17. (AIME 1988 #12) Let P be an interior point of triangle ABC and extend lines from
the vertices through P to the opposite sides. Let AP = a, BP = b, CP = c and the
extensions from P to the opposite sides all have length d. If a + b + c = 43 and d = 3
then nd abc.

18. (AIME 1989 #15) Point P is inside triangle ABC. Line segments AP D, BP E,
and CP F are drawn with D on BC, E on CA, and F on AB. Given that AP = 6,
BP = 9, P D = 6, P E = 3, and CF = 20, nd the area of triangle ABC.

19. (AIME 1992 #14) In triangle ABC, A , B  , and C  are on sides BC, AC, AB,
respectively. Given that AA , BB  , and CC  are concurrent at the point O, and that

+ OC
= 92, nd the value of OA
OB
OC
.
AO BO CO AO BO CO
OA

+ OB

20. (Larson [14] problem 8.3.4) In triangle ABC, let D and E be the trisection points
of BC with D between B and E. Let F be the midpoint of AC, and let G be the
midpoint of AB. Let H be the intersection of EG and DF . Find the ratio EH : HG.

21. (Mandelbrot March 2003) The square of the area of a quadrilateral that admits an
inscribed circle is equal to (a + b + c + d)(abc + abd + acd + bcd) where a, b, c, and d
are the lengths of the tangent segments from the vertices to the incircle.

22. (Theorem) The points A1 , B1 , C1 are chosen on the sides of triangle ABC (A1 on
BC, etc.). The segments AA1 , BB1 and CC1 intersect at one point if and only if
sin BAA1 sin ACC1 sin CBB1
=1
sin CAA1 sin BCC1 sin ABB1

2
2 Some Hints and Answers
16. 315
d d d
17. 441 (Show a+d
+ b+d
+ c+d
= 1.)

18. 108 (Show CP:PF = 3:1. Draw a line segment from D to the midpoint of P B. Notice
that it forms a 3-4-5 triangle which is one-eighth of the total area.

19. 94 (Assign weights of x, y, z to the vertices, nd the ratios and multiply.)

20. 2 : 3 (First draw GC intersecting DF at K. Find CK : KG. Now work on triangle

DCG.)

3 References
1. George Berzsenyi, Stephen Maurer. The Contest Problem Book V, 1983-1988. Math-
ematical Association of America, 1997.

2. H. S. M. Coxeter. Introduction to Geometry. pp 216-221. John Wiley & Sons Inc.,1969.

3. Ross Honsberger. Mathematical Gems 5. Geometry via Physics, Two Year College
Mathematics Journal now The College Math Journal. pp 271-276, September 1979.

4. Ross Honsberger, Mathematical Gems: The Buttery Problem, The Two-Year College
Mathematics Journal, Mathematical Association of America, January 1983.

5. Murray Klamkin, Andy Liu. Three More Proofs of Rouths Theorem, Crux Mathemati-
corum. pp 199-203 Vol. 7 No. 6 June 1981.

6. Loren Larson. Problem Solving Through Problems. pp 304-305, Springer-Verlag New

York Inc., 1983.

7. Andy Liu, A Better Angle From Outside,Mathematical Horizons, November 1997,

pp. 2729.

8. Ivan Niven. A New Proof of Rouths Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly
pp25-27, January 1976. Mathematical Association of America.

9. V.V. Prasolov, Essays on Numbers and Figures, American Mathematical Association,

2000.

10. Harry Sitomer, Steven R. Conrad. Mass Points. Eureka now Crux Mathematicorum,
pp 55-62 Vol. 2 No. 4 April 1976.

11. William Dunham, Journey Through Genius, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1990.

12. William Dunham, Euler, The Master of Us All, Mathematical Association of Amer-
ica,1999.

If you have comments, questions or nd glaring errors, please contact me by e-mail at the
following address: trike@ousd.k12.ca.us