9.6, 10.6 Construct for each vertex of the trapezium a symmetric point wrt to the diagonal, which doesn't contain this vertex. Prove that if four new points form a quadrilateral then it is a trapezium. (L. Emel'yanov)
Problem
Source: All-Russian MO Round 4, 2005
Tags: geometry, trapezoid, geometric transformation, reflection, geometry proposed
03.04.2005 03:08
Hm, I solved this problem with nothing but angle-chasing Dinner now, solution later.
03.04.2005 08:28
Wow! Very long dinner!
03.04.2005 08:49
Let $ABCD$ be the trapezoid with $AB\|CD$, and let $O$ be the intersection of the diagonals $AC,BD$. For each point $X\in\{A,B,C,D\}$, let $X'$ be the point we obtain through the described procedure. $A'C'$ is the reflection of $AC$ in $BD$, so it passes through $O$, and $B'D'$ is the reflection of $BD$ in $AC$, and it also passes through $O$. We also have $\frac{OA'}{OC'}=\frac{OA}{OC},\ \frac{OB'}{OD'}=\frac{OB}{OD},\ \frac{OA}{OC}=\frac{OB}{OD}$, so from these we get $\frac{OA'}{OC'}=\frac{OB'}{OD'}$ (and $A'C'$, on the one hand, and $B',D'$ on the other hand are on opposite sides of $O$), so $A'B'\|C'D'$.
03.04.2005 20:08
Myth wrote: Wow! Very long dinner! Lol, I apologize. Anyway, here we go. In trapezoid ABCD, AB||CD. Let A<sub>1</sub> be the projection of A onto BD, and A<sub>2</sub> be the reflection of A through BD. Define similar points for B, C, and D. We have <BAA<sub>1</sub> = 90 - <ABD = 90 - <CDB = <DCC<sub>1</sub>, and similar angle chasing gives <ABB<sub>1</sub> = <CDD<sub>1</sub>. Since the quadrilaterals ABB<sub>1</sub>A<sub>1</sub> and CDD<sub>1</sub>C<sub>1</sub> are also cyclic (because of the right angles), the other two pairs of corresponding angles are also equal, meaning these two quadrilaterals are similar. And since AB||CD, it follows that the corresponding sides of these trapezoids are parallel. Now we chase angles to find that <A<sub>2</sub>A<sub>1</sub>B<sub>1</sub> = 180 - AA<sub>1</sub>B<sub>1</sub> = 180 - CC<sub>1</sub>D<sub>1</sub> = <C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>1</sub>D<sub>1</sub>, and similarly <B<sub>2</sub>B<sub>1</sub>A<sub>1</sub> = D<sub>2</sub>D<sub>1</sub>C<sub>1</sub>. Since we also have C<sub>1</sub>C<sub>2</sub>/A<sub>1</sub>A<sub>2</sub> (*) = CC<sub>1</sub>/AA<sub>1</sub> =C<sub>1</sub>D<sub>1</sub>/A<sub>1</sub>B<sub>1</sub> (*) =DD<sub>1</sub>/BB<sub>1</sub> =D<sub>1</sub>D<sub>2</sub>/B<sub>1</sub>B<sub>2</sub> (*) (the starred equations are the important ones), the trapezoids A<sub>1</sub>A<sub>2</sub>B<sub>2</sub>B<sub>1</sub> and C<sub>1</sub>C<sub>2</sub>D<sub>2</sub>D<sub>1</sub> have three sides in proportion and the two included angles equal, i.e. they are similar. And since C<sub>1</sub>D<sub>1</sub> || A<sub>1</sub>B<sub>1</sub>, these two trapezoids have parallel corresponding sides. In particular, A<sub>2</sub>B<sub>2</sub> || C<sub>2</sub>D<sub>2</sub>.