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BMC Adv Mar12 2013 PowerOfAPoint

The document discusses the Power of a Point theorem and presents various problems related to circles, concyclic points, and radical axes. It includes proofs and conditions for points to be concyclic, as well as several geometric problems involving triangles and circles. The document serves as a resource for mathematical exploration and problem-solving in geometry.

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Dimitris
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52 views3 pages

BMC Adv Mar12 2013 PowerOfAPoint

The document discusses the Power of a Point theorem and presents various problems related to circles, concyclic points, and radical axes. It includes proofs and conditions for points to be concyclic, as well as several geometric problems involving triangles and circles. The document serves as a resource for mathematical exploration and problem-solving in geometry.

Uploaded by

Dimitris
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Berkeley Math Circle

Power of a Point
Dimitar Grantcharov

1. Power of a Point
Question: What necessary and sufficient conditions do we know for four
points A, B, C, D to be concyclic (i.e. to lie on a common circle)?

Problem 1. (Power of a Point Theorem) Let k be a fixed circle with


center O and radius r, and P be fixed point in the plane. A line ` through P
intersects k at A and B. Prove that the product P A · P B depends only on
P and k, but not on the line `. Express P A · P B in terms of P and k(O, r).

Remark. The product P A · P B can be understood as a signed product.


What does that mean?

Definition. If P is a point, and k(O, r) is a circle with center O and radius


r in the plane, then OP 2 r2 is called the power of P with respect to k.

Problem 2. If the lines AB and CD meet at P and satisfy the (signed)


identity P A · P B = P C · P D, then A, B, C, D are concyclic.

Problem 3. (ARML) In a circle, chords AB and CD intersect at R. If


AR : BR = 1 : 4 and CR : DR = 4 : 9, find the ratio AB : CD.

Problem 4. Square ABCD of side length 10 has a circle inscribed in it. Let
M be the midpoint of AB. Find the length of that portion of the segment
M C that lies outside of the circle.

Problem 5. Let BD be the angle bisector of angle B in triangle ABC with


D on side AC. The circumcircle of triangle BDC meets AB at E, while the
circumcircle of triangle ABD meets BC at F . Prove that AE = CF .

Problem 6. (IMO 1995) Let A, B, C and D be four distinct points on


a line, in that order. The circles with diameters AC and BD intersect at
the points X and Y . The line XY meets BC at the point Z. Let P be a
point on the line XY di↵erent from Z. The line CP intersects the circle with
diameter AC at the points C and M , and the line BP intersects the circle
with diameter BD at the points B and N . Prove that the lines AM , DN
and XY are concurrent.

Problem 7. (USAMO 1998) Let k1 and k2 be concentric circles, with k2


in the interior of k1 . From a point A on k1 one draws the tangent AB to k2
(B 2 k2 ). Let C be the second point of intersection of AB and k1 , and let D
be the midpoint of AB. A line passing through A intersects k2 at E and F
in such a way that the perpendicular bisectors of DE and CF intersect at a
point M on AB. Find, with proof, the ratio AM : M C.

2. Radical Axes
Question: Given two circles, one with center O1 and radius r1 , the other
with center O2 and radius r2 , what is the set of points (locus) with equal
power with respect to the two circles? Describe this set for all cases of the
circles (intersecting, tangent, nonitersecting).
Answer: The radical axis of the two circles.

Problem 8. Let k1 , k2 , k3 be three circles in the plane. Prove that the


radical axes of k1 and k2 , of k2 and k3 , and k1 and k3 , either all coincide, or
are concurrent (or parallel).

Problem 9. Suppose that ABCD and CDEF are cyclic quadrilaterals,


and that the lines AB, CD, EF are concurrent. Then EF AB is also cyclic.
There is one more cyclic quadrilateral - which one is it?

Problem 10. (IMO 1997) Let ABC be a triangle, and draw isosceles
triangles BCD, CAE, ABF externally to ABC, with BC, CA, AB as their
respective bases. Prove the lines through A, B, C, perpendicular to the lines
EF, F D, DE, respectively, are concurrent.

Problem 11. (IMO 1985) A circle with center O passes through the
vertices A and C of triangle ABC, and intersects the segments AB and BC
again at distinct points K and N , respectively. The circumscribed circles of
the triangle ABC and KBN intersect at exactly two distinct points B and
M . Prove that angle \OM B is a right angle.

2
Problem 12. A quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed in a circle. Suppose that
the lines AB and DC intersect at P and the lines AD and BC intersect at
Q. From Q, draw the two tangents QE and QF to the circle where E and F
are the points of tangency. Prove that the three points P, E, F are collinear.

Problem 13. (IMO proposal) Circles !, !1 , !2 are externally tangent to


each other in points C = ! \ !1 , E = !1 \ !2 , D = !2 \ !. Lines `1 and
`2 are parallel and such that `1 is tangent to ! and !1 at points G and A,
respectively, and `2 is tangent to ! and !2 at points F and B, respectively.
Prove that AD and BC intersect in the circumcenter of 4CDE.

3. More Problems
Problem 14. Let ABC be a triangle. A line parallel to BC intersects the
lines AB and AC at D and E, respectively. Let P be a point inside the
triangle ADE, and let F and G be the intersection points of DE with BP
and CP , respectively. Show that A lies on the radical axis of the circumcircles
of P DG and P F E.

Problem 15. Let BB1 , CC1 be altitudes of the triangle ABC, and let H
be their intersection point. Assume AB 6= AC. Let M be the midpoint of
BC, and D be the intersection of the lines BC and B1 C1 . Prove that DH is
perpendicular to AM .

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