(A.Zaslavsky, 9--11) Given two circles. Their common external tangent is tangent to them at points $ A$ and $ B$. Points $ X$, $ Y$ on these circles are such that some circle is tangent to the given two circles at these points, and in similar way (external or internal). Determine the locus of intersections of lines $ AX$ and $ BY$.
Problem
Source: Sharygin contest 2008. The correspondence round. Problem 16
Tags: geometric transformation, geometry, power of a point, radical axis, geometry proposed
03.09.2008 23:23
Assume without loss of generality that the third circle $ \Gamma$ is tangent internally to the first two given ones (the other case can be treated analogously). Denote by $ X^{\prime}$, and by $ Y^{\prime}$ the intersections of the line $ XY$ with the first, and second circle respectively, and let $ O_{1}$, $ O_{2}$ be the centers of these first two given circles $ \gamma_{1}$, and $ \gamma_{2}$; finally let $ Q$ be the center of $ \Gamma$. Since $ \angle{O_{1}XX^{\prime}}=\angle{O_{1}X^{\prime}X}=\angle{QXY}=\angle{QYX}=\angle{O_{2}YY^{\prime}}=\angle{O_{2}Y^{\prime}Y},$ we have that $ O_{1}X \| O_{2}Y^{\prime}$, and $ O_{1}Y \| O_{1}X^{\prime}$. Thus, $ \angle{AXX^{\prime}}=\angle{BY^{\prime}Y}$, and since $ AB$ is tangent to $ \gamma_{2}$, we conclude that $ \angle{AXX^{\prime}}=\angle{BY^{\prime}Y}=\angle{ABY}$. This shows that the points $ A$, $ B$, $ X$, and $ Y$ lie on a same circle.
10.04.2010 18:31
Let $ \omega_1 ,\omega_2$ denote the two given circles and $ \omega$ denotes the third circle internally/externally tangent to $ \omega_1 ,\omega_2$ at $ X,Y.$ Let $ O$ be the exsimilicenter of $ \omega_1 \sim \omega_2,$ $ X,Y$ are the exsimilicenters/insimilicenters of $ \omega \sim \omega_1$ and $ \omega \sim \omega_2.$ Therefore, by Monge & d'Alembert theorem $ XY$ passes through $ O$ $\Longrightarrow$ $ X,Y$ and $ A,B$ are inverse points under the direct inversion through pole $ O$ that takes $ \omega_1$ and $ \omega_2$ into each other $ \Longrightarrow$ $ A,B,X,Y$ are concyclic $ \Longrightarrow$ $ P \equiv AX \cap BY$ moves on the radical axis of $ \omega_1 ,\omega_2.$
02.07.2010 17:02
First, let's see that $\{T \} \equiv AX \cap BY$ belongs to the third circle. Proof: if $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ are the first two circles and $\Omega$ - the third one, then $X$ is the similicenter (in- or ex-) of $\omega_1$ and $\Omega$ and, obviously, if $\{X, T' \} \equiv AX \cap \Omega$, then the tangent to $\Omega$ at $T'$ is parallel to $AB$, the same for $B$ and $T"$, $T"$ being the intersection of $BY$ with $\Omega$, hence $T" \equiv T' \equiv T$. Next, if $(TZ$ is the direction $(BA$ of this tangent, we have $\widehat{BAT}=\widehat{XTZ}$ $(1)$, but from the circle $\Omega $: $\widehat{XTZ}=\widehat{XYT}$, $(2)$, from $(1)$ and $(2)$ getting that $ABYX$ is cyclic, i.e. $T$ belongs to the radical axis of $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$. Best regards, sunken rock