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Difficulty: 5/102016 IMO 2016 (Q1)

In convex pentagon with , let be a point on segment such that . It is given that , , , and rays and trisect . Let be the midpoint of . Let be the point such that is a parallelogram.

Prove that lines , , and are concurrent.

Options:

  • A.

    No such configuration exists under the given conditions.

  • B.

    Lines , , and are parallel.

  • Lines , , and are concurrent.

  • D.

    The relation holds only for sufficiently large values in the system.

Guide / Hint

Hint 1: Let (trisection). The isosceles conditions , , give equal base angles in several triangles.

Hint 2: Compute from the given conditions. Identify key cyclic quadrilaterals formed by the configuration.

Hint 3: Use coordinates or trigonometric Ceva's theorem. The parallelogram condition pins down explicitly. Show all three lines pass through one point.

Solution

Step 1 (Define the angle): Let . Then . Since and , triangle is isosceles with , so and .

Step 2 (Angle at ): Since and , we get .

Step 3 (Properties of ): and imply and . So lies on the perpendicular bisector of .

Step 4 (Properties of ): and . Triangle is isosceles.

Step 5 (Parallelogram ): is defined by (parallelogram). So .

Step 6 (Concurrence): Using coordinates or trigonometric cevian-style arguments (e.g., trigonometric form of Ceva's theorem on an appropriate triangle), one shows that , , and all pass through a common point. The key is that the trisection angles create symmetric relationships that force the three lines to meet.

Alternatively, showing that is cyclic (using the angle conditions) and then that passes through the intersection of and via the radical axis completes the proof.

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    2016 IMO 2016 Q1 - Olympiad Math Olympiad Question | Leminno