Coordinate Bashing

Online Class 15 Sunday, July 26

Problem 1. In the right triangle ACE, we have AC = 12, CE = 16, and EA = 20. Points
B, D, and F are located on AC, CE, and EA, respectively, so that AB = 3, CD = 4, and
EF = 5. What is the ratio of the area of 4DBF to that of 4ACE?

Solution: Let us set up a coordinate system with C as the origin, and taking x-axis along
CE and y-axis along CA. Then, C = (0, 0), A = (0, 12), E = (16, 0), B = (0, 9), and
D = (4, 0). Since EF : F A = 1 : 3, we can find the coordinate of F using the section
formula
3E + A 3(16, 0) + (0, 12)
F = = = (12, 3).
3+1 3+1
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Since 4ACE is right angled, we can easily find its area: 2
× 16 × 12 = 96. To find the area
of 4BDF we shall use the shoelace formula:

1  
0 × 0 + 4 × 3 + 12 × 9 − 4 × 9 − 12 × 0 − 0 × 3 = 42.

2

Ans : 42/96 = 7/16.

Problem 2. Two circles centered at O and P have radii of length 5 and 6 respectively. Circle
O passes through point P. Let the intersection points of circles O and P be M and N. Find
the area of 4M N P .
Solution: Let us set up a coordinate system with O as the origin and taking the x-axis along
OP and such that P = (5, 0). So the equation of the smaller circle is x2 + y 2 = 52 and the
equation of the bigger circle is (x − 5)2 + y 2 = 62 . Solving these two equations we find the
coordinates of M and N.

14 7
(x − 5)2 − x2 = 62 − 52 =⇒ x = = .
10 5

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Putting x = 7/5 in the equation of the smaller circle, we get

(7/5)2 + y 2 = 52 =⇒ y 2 = (5 + 7/5)(5 − 7/5) =⇒ y = ±24/5.

The coordinate of the point of intersection of M N and OP is clearly (14/10, 0).

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Therefore, the area of 4M N P = 2
× 2(24/5) × (5 − 7/5) = 432/25.

Problem 3. Let ABCD be a square with side length 8. Let M be the midpoint of BC
and let Ω be the circle passing through M, A, and D. Let O be the center of Ω, X be the
intersection point (besides A) of Ω with AB, and Y be the intersection point of OX and
AM. Find the length of OY.

Solution: Let us set up a coordinate system with A as the origin and taking the x-axis along
AB such that B = (8, 0) and y-axis along AD such that D = (0, 8). Then C = (8, 8).
Since O lies on the perpendicular bisector of AD, we can immediately say that its y-coordinate
√
will be 4. So let O = (t, 4). Then OM = 8 − t and OA = t2 + 42 . Since OA = OM, we
have t2 + 42 = (8 − t)2 =⇒ t = 3. Therefore O = (3, 4) and hence X = (6, 0) (since O lies
on the perpendicular bisector of AX.)
Equation of AM : y = 21 x and equation of OX is y = 4−0
3−6
− 6) = − 43 (x − 6). Solving
(x
q 25
these, we get that coordinate of Y is ( 11 , 11 ). Ans: OY = (3 − 48
48 24
11
24 2
)2 + (4 − 11 ) = .
11

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Problem 4. Let ABC be a triangle with AB = 13, BC = 14, CA = 15. Let O be its
circumcentre and let AD ⊥ BC with D on BC. Suppose that X is on DC and Y is on AD
such that XY k AO and AX ⊥ Y O. Find the length of BX.
Solution: First we observe that area(ABC) = 84 (sq. unit)
2·area(ABC)
and AD = BC
= 12. Of course there are other ways
to arrive at this (take the adjacent figure as a hint). Let us
set up a coordinate system with D as the origin and taking
the x-axis along DC and the y-axis along DA, such that
A = (0, 12), C = (9, 0), and B = (−5, 0).
B+C
If M be the midpoint of BC, then M = 2
= (2, 0). The circumradius R can be found as:
abc 65
= area(ABC) =⇒ R = .
4R 8
√ q
Since OM = R2 − M C 2 = ( 65
8
)2 − 72 = 33
8
, we conclude that O = (2, 33
8
).

Let X = (p, 0) and Y = (0, q). Now considering slopes, we get from the conditions XY k OA
and Y O ⊥ AX two relations involving p and q, which are as follows.

q−0 33/8 − 12 12 − 0 33/8 − q

= and × = −1.
0−p 2−0 0−p 2−0

Note that it suffices to find only p, because our goal is to determine BX = BD + DX. Now
in order to find p, we have to eliminate q from the above two relations. The first equation
63
gives q = 16
p. We substitute it into the second equation to obtain

33
12 − 0 8
− 63
16
p 6 × 33 6 × 63 198
× = −1 =⇒ − = 1 =⇒ p = .
0−p 2−0 8p 16 197

198 1
Therefore BX = BD + DX = 5 + 197
= 6 197 .

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Problem 5. In acute triangle ABC angle B is greater than C. Let M is midpoint of BC.
E and F are the feet of the altitudes from B and C respectively. K and L are midpoint of
M E and M F respectively. If KL intersect the line through A parallel to BC in P , prove
that P A = P M .
Solution: Let us set up a coordinate system with D as the origin and taking the x-axis
along DC. Let A = (0, a), B = (b, 0), and C = (c, 0). Also, let P = (p, a). We have
B+C
M= 2
= ( b+c
2
, 0). Let us find the coordinates of E and F now.

y
Equation of AC : x
c
+ a
= 1. Since BE ⊥ AC, its equation must be of the form x
a
− yc = d
(some constant). Since BE passes through B(b, 0), the equation of BE must be x
a
− yc = ab .
Solving the two equations ax + cy − ac = 0 and cx − ay − bc = 0 :

c(a2 + bc) ac(c − b)

 
x y 1
2 2
= 2
= =⇒ E = (x, y) = , 2 .
−bc − a c −ac + abc −(a + c2 )
2 a2 + c 2 a + c2

b(a2 + bc) ab(b − c)

 
Similarly (just interchange the role of b and c) we get F = , 2 .
a2 + b 2 a + b2
Let us calculate the slope of EF

b c
a(b − c) a2 +b2
+ a2 +c2 a(b − c) b(a2 + c2 ) + c(a2 + b2 ) a(b + c)
· b c
= · = 2 .
a2 + bc a2 +b2
− a2 +c2
2 2 2 2
a + bc b(a + c ) − c(a + b ) 2 a − bc

In the last step, we used the following identities

c(a2 + b2 ) + b(a2 + c2 ) = (b + c)(a2 + bc) (1)

and
c(a2 + b2 ) − b(a2 + c2 ) = (c − b)(a2 − bc). (2)

M +E M +F
Next, K = 2
and L = 2
. Let us note down the coordinate of K :

b + c c(a2 + bc) ac(c − b)

 
M +E
K= = + , = (kx , ky ). (say) (3)
2 4 2(a2 + c2 ) 2(a2 + c2 )

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Our goal is to prove that P A = P M. Since P = (p, a), all we need to show that
2
a2

2 b+c b+c
p = p− + a2 ⇐⇒ p = + . (∗)
2 b+c 4

Since P lies on KL, we can say that slope of P K = slope of KL = slope of EF . This gives

a − ky a(b + c)
= 2 .
p − kx a − bc

Hence we have

a2 − bc a2 − bc
   
ac(c − b) c(c − b)
p − kx = a− = 1−
a(b + c) 2(a2 + c2 ) (b + c) 2(a2 + c2 )
a2 bc (a2 − bc)(c − b)c
= − −
b + c b + c 2(a2 + c2 )(b + c)
a2 bc (c(a2 + b2 ) − b(a2 + c2 ))c

= − − using (2)
b+c b+c 2(a2 + c2 )(b + c)
a2 2bc(a2 + c2 ) + (c(a2 + b2 ) − b(a2 + c2 ))c
= −
b+c 2(a2 + c2 )(b + c)
a2 (c(a2 + b2 ) + b(a2 + c2 ))c
= −
b+c 2(a2 + c2 )(b + c)
a2 (b + c)(a2 + bc)c

= − using (1)
b + c 2(a2 + c2 )(b + c)
a2 c(a2 + bc) a2 b+c
= − 2 2
= + − kx .
b + c 2(a + c ) b+c 4

This finishes the proof of (∗) and hence the proof.

Moral: One powerful thing about bashing is that you know it will work, in principle. So
if the calculations seem to be not-so-messy, don’t lose hope! Just try to figure out where
you have to go and how far have you come.

An interesting article: http://www.mit.edu/ ehjin/files/CoordBash.pdf.

I borrowed 2 problems from this note for today’s class. I highly recommend you to read it.

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 Some Problems as Homework

1. In circle O, P O ⊥ OB, and P O equals the length of the diameter of circle O. Compute
the ratio P A/AB.
2. In 4ABC, ∠C is a right angle. Point M is the midpoint of AB, point N is the midpoint of
AC, and point O is the midpoint of AM The perimeter of 4ABC is 112 and ON = 12.5.
What is the area of M N CB?
3. Square AIM E has sides of length 10 units. Isosceles triangle GEM has base EM, and
the area common to triangle GEM and square AIM E is 80 square units. Find the length
of the altitude to EM in 4GEM.
4. ABC is an equilateral triangle with side length 1. Point D lies on AB, point E lies on
AC, and points G and F lie on BC, such that DEF G is a square. What is the area of
DEF G?
5. An equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle. Points D and E are midpoints of AB
and BC, respectively, and F is the point where DE meets the circle. Find DE/EF.
6. Let ABC be triangle in which AB = AC. Suppose the orthocentre of the triangle lies on
the in-circle. Find the ratio AB/BC.
7. 4ABC has side lengths AB = 8, AC = 15, and BC = 17. If D, E, and F are the
circumcentre, centroid, and incentre respectively of 4ABC, find the area of 4DEF.
8. A cube with side length 1 is sliced by a plane that passes through two diagonally opposite
vertices A and C and the midpoints B and D of two opposite edges not containing A or
C. What is the area of quadrilateral ABCD?
9. A tetrahedron has all its faces triangles with sides 13, 14, 15. What is its volume?
10. Point D lies inside triangle ABC such that ∠DAC = ∠DCA = 30◦ and ∠DBA = 60◦ .
Point E is the midpoint of segment BC. Point F lies on segment AC with AF = 2F C.
Prove that DE ⊥ EF .
11. Quadrilateral AP BQ is inscribed in circle ω with ∠P = ∠Q = 90◦ and AP = AQ < BP .
Let X be a variable point on segment P Q. Line AX meets ω again at S (other than A).
Point T lies on arc AQB of ω such that XT is perpendicular to AX. Let M denote the
midpoint of chord ST . As X varies on segment P Q, show that M moves along a circle.