Points $A,B,C$ are on a plane such that $AB=BC=CA=6$. At any step, you may choose any three existing points and draw that triangle's circumcentre. Prove that you can draw a point such that its distance from an previously drawn point is: $(a)$ greater than 7 $(b)$ greater than 2019
Problem
Source: 2019 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Problem 1
Tags: Circumcenter, distance, geometry
31.03.2019 01:33
10.04.2019 04:15
We can prove that we can draw a point such that its distance is unbounded (i.e. can be greater than any constant \(c\)). We prove the following lemma: Let \(XYZ\) be an equilateral triangle with circumcenter \(O\). I claim we can construct the equilateral triangle with a side on \(YZ\) and the third vertex being \(O\). In other words, if the midpoint of \(YZ\) is \(M\), we take a homothety centered at \(M\) with scale factor 1/3. This may be done by constructing the circumcenter of \(OYZ\), which is the midpoint \(N\) of arc \(YZ\) not containing \(X\) of the circumcircle of \(XYZ\), then constructing the circumcenters of \(NOY\) and \(NOZ\), which are the two vertices of the new equilateral triangle that is not \(O\). Let \(D\) be the midpoint of \(BC\). We can use this lemma to take homotheties centered at \(D\) with negligible scale factors, obtaining points \(P\) on \(BC\) negligibly close to \(D\). Finally, we can draw \(BPC\)'s circumcenter such that the antipode of \(P\), or \(P'\) is arbitrarily far away from \(P\) (as by similar triangles, \(PC^2=PD\cdot PP'\)), implying that the circumcenter can also be arbitrarily far away from \(P\), as desired.
24.04.2019 10:50
Does this work? Let the circumcenter of $ABC$ be $O$. It is easy to see that the circumcenter of $AOB$(and others) is the reflection of $O$ over $AB$(and others), so due to symmetry over $AB$, the triangles formed by circumcenter of $AOB$(Call it $O_{AB}$), $O$ and $A$ and $B$ separately(ie- the triangles $O_{AB}OA$ and $O_{AB}OB$) have circumcentres that trisect $AB$. Call them $X$ and $Y$. Hence, $OXY$ is a triangle that is one-thrice as small as $ABC$. So the circumcenter of $OXY$ is closer to $AB$ than $O$, hence the circumcenter of $O_{XY}AB$($O_{XY}$ being the circumcenter of $OXY$) is farther away from $C$ than $O_{AB}$. Now iter starting from $OXY$. So, the new circumcenters can be made as far away from $C$ as we want. This solves both parts.
24.04.2019 18:53
Can we get exactly 7 and/or 2019?
25.04.2019 20:30
Hexagrammum16 wrote: Can we get exactly 7 and/or 2019? Bump?
26.04.2019 19:52
This problem is amenable to a so-called "proof without words." After a bit of pondering, it should be clear how the $n$th equilateral triangle is constructed.
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11.07.2019 14:03
Does circumcenter of three collinear points count as infinite distance?
24.02.2021 03:13
niksic wrote: Does circumcenter of three collinear points count as infinite distance? I'm assuming they say "triangle" as "non-degenerate triangle".