Let $ABC$ be a triangle and $\Gamma$ its circumcircle. Let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to the side $BC$, $M$ and $N$ the midpoints of $AB$ and $AC$, and $Q$ the point on $\Gamma$ diametrically opposite to $A$. Let $E$ be the midpoint of $DQ$. Show that the lines perpendicular to $EM$ and $EN$ passing through $M$ and $N$, respectively, meet on $AD$.
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Tags: geometry, circumcircle
18.06.2019 21:23
Beautiful Problem! WLOG, assume $AB<CA$. Let $H$ be the orthocenter WRT $\Delta ABC$. Let $H'$ be the reflection of $H$ over $BC$ and $F$ be the midpoint of $DH'$ $\implies$ $FE$ $||$ $H'Q$. Let $G$ be midpoint of $BC$ and if $O$ is the center of $\odot (ABC)$ $\implies$ $OE$ $||$ $AD$ $\implies$ $E$ lies on perpendicular bisector of $BC$ $\implies$ $DFEG$ is a rectangle. Also, since, $NG=MB=MD$ and $\angle MDF$ $=$ $90^{\circ}$ $+$ $\angle ABC$ $=$ $90^{\circ}$ $+$ $\angle NGC$ $=$ $\angle NGE$ $\implies$ $\Delta MDF$ $\cong$ $\Delta NGE$ $\implies$ $MF=NE$ and $MN||FE$ $\implies$ $MFEN$ is cyclic. Let $\odot (MFEN)$ $\cap$ $\overline{AD}$ $=$ $X$ $\implies$ $\angle AFE$ $=$ $90^{\circ}$ $=$ $\angle XME$ $=$ $\angle XNE$. Hence, $X$ is the desired point on $AD$
18.06.2019 21:38
19.06.2019 03:04
Solution. Basically, the same solution of #2. Let $D'=\overline{AD}\cap \Gamma,\ D'\neq A$, $F$ the midpoint of $DD'$, $L$ the midpoint of $BC$ and $O$, as usual, the circumcenter of $\bigtriangleup ABC$. Clearly, $OE\parallel AD$ so $OE\perp BC$ and thus $O,\ L$ and $E$ are collinear. Moreover, since $\angle DD'Q=90^\circ=\angle ADL$ and $EF\parallel D'Q$ we get $BC\parallel EF\parallel D'Q$. We infer that $DLEF$ is a rectangle. From here, the conclusion is clear: recall that $MNLD$ is an isosceles trapezoid because $MN\parallel DL$ and these four points lie on the nine-point circle of $\bigtriangleup ABC$; therefore, $MN$ and $DL$ has the same perpendicular bisector $\ell$, which also must bisects $FE$ perpendicularly because of the rectangle $DLEF$; hence, $MNEF$ is an isosceles trapezoid. Thus, if $P$ is the second intersection of $AF$ and $(MNEF)$ we must have $$\angle ENP=\angle EMP=\angle EFP=90^\circ$$as required. $\blacksquare$
19.06.2019 04:53
This problem was proposed by me. The solution I sent is completely ugly compared with the ones I have seen, and doesn't deserve time to be read. Anyway, here it is: Solution. Let $H$ and $O$ be the orthocenter and circumcenter of triangle $ABC$, $I$ the intersection point of $AD$ and $MN$, and $J$ the intersection point of the perpendicular to $BC$ passing through $O$ (which is also perpendicular to $MN$, since $MN\parallel BC$). Observe that $O$ is the midpoint of $AQ$. Then, in triangle $ADQ$, $OE$ is a line parallel to $AD$, so $E$ lies on the line perpendicular to $BC$ passing through $O$. We know that the center of the nine-point circle (passing through $M$ and $N$) is the midpoint of $OH$, and lies on the perpendicular bisector of $MN$, so it bisects $OH$, from which $AD$ and $OE$ are lines reflected over this perpendicuar bisector, and thus $MI=JN$. Since $EJ\perp MN$, we have $EM^2-EN^2=JM^2-JN^2$, and since $(MM^2-EM^2)+(EN^2-NN^2)+(NI^2-MI^2)=(EN^2-EM^2)-(IM^2-IN^2)= (EN^2-EM^2)-(JN^2-JM^2)=0$, by Carnot's Theorem, it follows that the perpendicular from $I$ on $MN$, from $M$ on $ME$ and from $N$ on $NE$ concur, or, seen in another way, the perpendiculars to $EM$ and $EN$ through $M$ and $N$ meet on $AD$.
19.06.2019 06:17
Let $AD\cap (O)=A,K$ and $P$ be the midpoint of $KD$. We show that $M,N,E,P$ lies on a circle. Then $EP\| BC\| KQ\| MN$ so $MNEP$ is a trapezoid. We have to prove that $ME=NP$. We have $ME^2=\dfrac{2(MD^2+MQ^2)-DQ^2}{4}$ and $NP^2=\dfrac{2(ND^2+NK^2)-DK^2}{4}$ so $ME^2=MP^2\Leftrightarrow 2(MD^2-ND^2+MQ^2-NK^2)+DK^2-DQ^2=0=S$. Note that $KC=BQ$. We have $MQ^2-NK^2=\dfrac{2(AQ^2+BQ^2)-AB^2}{4}-\dfrac{2(AK^2+KC^2)-AC^2}{4} =\dfrac{2AQ^2-2AK^2-AB^2+AC^2}{4}$. And $MD^2-ND^2=\dfrac{AB^2-AC^2}{4}$ so $S=AQ^2-AK^2+DK^2-DQ^2=KQ^2-KQ^2=0$. This means $MNEP$ is a scale trapezoid. Otherwise $EP\perp AD$ then Q.E.D
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19.06.2019 08:06
Nice problem! Take $M'$ and $N'$ to be the reflections of $E$ over $M$ and $N$. The perpendiculars to $EM$ and $EN$ passing through $M$ and $N$ meet in the circumcenter of triangle $EM'N'$, so it is enough to prove that $AD$ is the perpendicular bisector of $M'N'$. First, $MN$ is parallel to $M'N'$ and $AD$ is perpendicular to $MN$, so $AD$ is perpendicular to $M'N'$. Now we show that $AM' = AN'$ which will complete the proof. Notice that if $O$ is the circumcenter of $ABC$, then since $OE$ is parallel to $AD$, $OE$ is perpendicular to $BC$, and therefore $E$ is in the perpendicular bisector of $BC$, so that $BE = CE$. Also, $AM'BE$ and $AN'CE$ are parallelograms, by construction. Hence $AM' = BE = CE = AN'$ and we are done.
19.06.2019 23:12
Here's a simple solution: Lemma. Let $ABC$ be a triangle and let $A'$ be the $A$-antipode. Then the lines perpendicular to $BC$ through $A$ and $A'$ are symmetric wrt the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. Proof. Let $O$ be the circumcenter of $ABC$, which lies on the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. Then $A$ and $A'$ are symmetric wrt $O$, so the perpendiculars from them to $BC$ are symmetric wrt the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. Now, let $X, Y$ and $Z$ be the midpoints of $DA, DB$ and $DC$ respectively. Then by homothety, $E$ is the $X$-antipode in $(XYZ)$, so by the Lemma the perpendiculars to $YZ$ through $X$ and $E$ are symmetric wrt the perpendicular bisector of $YZ$. By the Lemma again, the $E$-antipode $W$ in $(EMN)$ is such that the lines perpendicular to $MN$ through $E$ and $W$ are symmetric wrt the perpendicular bisector of $MN$. However $MN$ and $YZ$ have the same perpendicular bisector, so by the two previous applications, $WX \perp MN$. As $X$ lies on $AD$ and $AD \perp MN$ it follows that $W$ lies on $AD$, as desired.
21.06.2019 19:01
Another solution. We'll prove the following more general result. Lemma 1. Let $M,\ N$ and $D$ be defined in the same way as they we're given in the problem statement. Let $P$ be an arbitrary point on the perpendicular bisector of the side $BC$ in a triangle $ABC$ so that $M,\ P$ and $N$ are not collinear. Then, the perpendicular lines through $M$ and $N$ to $MP$ and $NP$, respectively, meet on $AD$. Proof. Let $L$ be the midpoint of $BC$. As argued in post #4, $MNLD$ is an isosceles trapezoid. Since $AD$ and $PL$ are perpendicular to $BC$, these lines are symmetric with respect to the perpendicular bisector of $MN$ and $DL$. Thus, if $Q=\overline{AD}\cap (MPN)$ so that $Q$ and $P$ lie on the same side with respect to $MN$, we must have $QP\parallel MN\parallel BC$, therefore $\angle DQP=90^\circ$. Defining $R$ as $\overline{QD}\cap (MPN),\ R\neq A$, it follows that $\angle RMP=\angle RNP=\angle RQP=90^\circ$, as desired. $\blacksquare$ Clearly, the lemma above implies that our solution is complete, since $E$ lies on the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. We're done! $\blacksquare$
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22.06.2019 07:49
One-liner solution from a countryman: since $\Delta EMN$ and $\Delta ANM$ are orthologic, we're done.
22.06.2019 12:43
One-liner solution from a refugee: Let \(AD \cap (O) = R, P=\) midpoint of \(DR\) , \(l || AD : N_9 \in l\). \(M,N\) anD \(P, E\) are the reflections in \(l\) so, cyclic and antipode \(E \in AD\), we're done.
22.06.2019 19:32
When you don't have ideas. Let's do it by coordinate menthod. Suppose $A_{(0,a)}$, $B_{(b,0)}$, $C_{(c,0)}$. The lines perpendicular to $EM$ and $EN$ passing through $M$ and $N$ respectively meets at $P$. Remark 1. $D_{(0,0)}$ Remark 2. $Q_{\left (c+b,\frac{cb}{a} \right )}$. So $E_{\left ( \frac{c+b}{2},\frac{cb}{2a} \right )}$. Remark 3. $PM: (x-b/2).c/2+(y-a/2)(cb/a-a/2)=0.$ $PN: (x-c/2).b/2+(y-a/2)(cb/a-a/2)=0.$ So it is easy to see that point $P$ has abscissa is 0 or $P$ lies on $AD$. Q.E.D. P/S: I type this solution by my phone so i abbreviate latex formula.
21.08.2019 14:24
let $K$ intersection of $AD$ and $\Gamma$ and $P$ midpoint of $DK$ .let $Y=AD\cap MN$ and let say $R$ on $MN$ such that $\angle ORN=90^\circ$ and let say $T$ on $BC$ such that $\angle QTC=90^\circ$. $\angle QAC=90^\circ-\angle OQC=90^\circ-\angle ABC=\angle BAK$ so $KQ\parallel BC$ and $BK=QC$ so $BKQC$ trapozoid and $BD=CT$. if we apply homotety with center $A$ and ratio $1/2$ points $A,M,N$ goes to $A,B,C$ and $O$ goes to $Q$ so we have $R$ goes to $T$ and $NR=\dfrac{CT}{2}$. Also in this homotety point $Y$ goes to $D$ and we have $MY=\dfrac{BD}{2}=\dfrac{CT}{2}=NR$. $DE=EQ$ and $AO=OQ$ so we have $AD\parallel EO$. Because of $AD\parallel EO$ ,$EO$ perpendicular to $BC$ so $R,E,O$ on same line. because of $M,N$ midpoints, $MN\parallel BC$ and because of $P,E$ midpoints of $DK,DQ$ we have $PE\parallel KQ\parallel BC\parallel MN$. Because of $PE\parallel MN$ we have $PY=ER$.Because of $PE\parallel KQ$ and $AQ$ diameter we have $\angle YPE=\angle DKQ=90^\circ$ . so we have $MY=NR$ , $PY=ER$ and $\angle PYM=\angle ERN=90^\circ$. From there we have $MYP$ and $NRE$ similar and we found $PE\parallel MN$ , so $\angle PMN=\angle MNE=180^\circ-\angle PEN$. From there we have $PENM$ cyclic. let $(PENM)\cap AD=P,Z$ so because of $\angle ZPE=90^\circ$ we have $\angle ZME=90^\circ$ and $\angle ZNE=90^\circ$ so we get result.
10.12.2019 05:35
Let $S$ such that $SM\perp ME$ and $SN\perp NE $, $(X,Y)=MN\cap (AD,EO)$ and $P\in EO $ such that $PN\parallel ME $. Now let $X'\in MN$ such that $SX'\perp MN $. We will show that $X=X'$. First see that $EO\parallel AD\implies EO\perp MN $ with this: $$NY=\frac {BC}{2}-\frac {DC}{2}=\frac {BD}{2}=MX $$ Now see that $\triangle MSN\sim \triangle PNE $ yields: $$\frac {MX'}{X'N}=\frac {PY}{YE}=\frac {NY}{YM}~\text{(since PN $\parallel$ ME) }$$ This means $\frac {MX'}{X'N}=\frac {MX}{XN} $ since $MX=NY $. This implies $X'=X $.
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19.03.2021 08:18
Jafet98 wrote: Let $ABC$ be a triangle and $\Gamma$ its circumcircle. Let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to the side $BC$, $M$ and $N$ the midpoints of $AB$ and $AC$, and $Q$ the point on $\Gamma$ diametrically opposite to $A$. Let $E$ be the midpoint of $DQ$. Show that the lines perpendicular to $EM$ and $EN$ passing through $M$ and $N$ respectively, meet on $AD$. Let $P$ is the intersection of the lines perpendicular to $EM$ and $EN$ passing through $M$ and $N,$ note that $OE \perp MN$ we have \[PM^2-PN^2=EN^2-EM^2=ON^2-OM^2=AM^2-AN^2.\]That mean $AP \perp MN,$ so $P \in AD.$