MathLabs

Problem 6

Two planes PP and QQ intersect along line pp. Points A∈PA\in P and C∈QC\in Q are not on pp. Construct an isosceles trapezoid ABCDABCD with AB∥DCAB\parallel DC, an incircle, and vertices B∈PB\in P, D∈QD\in Q.
Step 5 of 5: Complete the construction and verify it
D∈c,A′D→=A′B′→−A′C→,AD=BC=A′CD\in c,\qquad \overrightarrow{A'D}=\overrightarrow{A'B'}-\overrightarrow{A'C},\qquad AD=BC=A'C
Detailed analysis

Let cc be the line through CC parallel to pp. For the selected BB, project it orthogonally to cc and call the projection B′B'. On the directed line cc, construct DD so that A′D→=A′B′→−A′C→\overrightarrow{A'D}=\overrightarrow{A'B'}-\overrightarrow{A'C}; this is the standard completion of the isosceles trapezoid (the sign selects the side consistent with the vertex order). The circle through A′A' was chosen so that BC=A′CBC=A'C, and the parallel-base completion gives AD=BCAD=BC. Consequently AB+DC=2A′C=AD+BCAB+DC=2A'C=AD+BC, so the tangential-quadrilateral criterion gives an incircle. Depending on the circle intersections, there may be two solutions, one square, or none.