Given is a triangle $ABC$ and the points $M, P$ lie on the segments $AB, BC$, respectively, such that $AM=BC$ and $CP=BM$. If $AP$ and $CM$ meet at $O$ and $2\angle AOM=\angle ABC$, find the measure of $\angle ABC$.
Problem
Source: Bulgaria NMO 2024, Problem 2
Tags: geometry
VicKmath7
15.04.2024 15:51
The answer is $\angle ABC=90^{\circ}.$ Let the angle bisector of $\angle ABC$ meet $AP$ at $K$; the given angle condition implies that $BMKO$ is cyclic, i.e. $AM \cdot AB=AK \cdot AO$ by power of point.
If $a, b, c$ are the lengths of the sides of $ABC$, then is easy to see that $BP=2a-c$ and hence by angle bisector theorem $\frac{AK} {AP}=\frac{c} {2a}$. By Menelaus for $\triangle ABP$ and the line $M, O, C$, we obtain $\frac{AO} {AP}=\frac{a^2}{(c-a)^2+a^2}$ and by LoC for triangle $ABP$ we have $AP^2=c^2+(2a-c)^2-2c(2a-c)\cos \beta$. Hence, $$ac=AM \cdot AB=AO \cdot AK=\frac{a^2c}{2a((c-a)^2+a^2)}(c^2+(2a-c)^2-2c(2a-c)\cos \beta),$$which rearranges to $2c(2a-c)\cos \beta=0$, i.e. $\angle ABC=90^{\circ}$.
Marinchoo
22.04.2024 11:42
In fact, it's easier to construct $O'$ first as the center of rotation sending $AM\to BC$, and then $D$ as the image of $B$ under this rotation. This was actually the way I constructed these points during the contest.
Assassino9931
04.08.2024 13:03
Marinchoo wrote: As far as I know, most contestants resorted to either only trigonometry, or a mixture with a few synthetic observations. The solution below shows how simple the problem really is. Yep, we are aware of only $2$ contestants to have solved the problem completely synthetically, though for me this problem definitely is "trig bash directly and don't play with unnecessary things".
NO_SQUARES
06.12.2024 17:34
Also Kvant M2809.