MathLabs

Problem 4

Let A,BA,B be distinct points on a given circle OO, and let PP be the midpoint of ABAB. Let O1O_1 be the circle tangent to the line ABAB at PP and tangent to OO. Let ℓ\ell, different from ABAB, be the tangent to O1O_1 through AA, and let CC be the intersection point other than AA of ℓ\ell and OO. Let QQ be the midpoint of BCBC, and let O2O_2 be the circle tangent to the line BCBC at QQ and tangent to the line segment ACAC. Prove that O2O_2 is tangent to OO.
Step 3 of 5: Introduce the perpendicular-bisector point
A′∈O,A′Q⊥BC,N=A′Q∩CTA'\in O,\quad A'Q\perp BC,\quad N=A'Q\cap CT
Detailed analysis

Let A′A' be the point of OO on the perpendicular bisector of BCBC lying on the same side of BCBC as AA, and put N=A′Q∩CTN=A'Q\cap CT. The angle equalities in the official construction give △NCQ∼△TBP\triangle NCQ\sim\triangle TBP and △CA′Q∼△SPX\triangle CA'Q\sim\triangle SPX.