MathDB
IMO LongList 1987 - Sum of areas

Source:

September 6, 2010
geometrytrapezoidparallelogramgeometry proposed

Problem Statement

Let PQPQ be a line segment of constant length λ\lambda taken on the side BCBC of a triangle ABCABC with the order B,P,Q,CB,P,Q,C, and let the lines through PP and QQ parallel to the lateral sides meet ACAC at P1P_1 and Q1Q_1 and ABAB at P2P_2 and Q2Q_2 respectively. Prove that the sum of the areas of the trapezoids PQQ1P1PQQ_1P_1 and PQQ2P2PQQ_2P_2 is independent of the position of PQPQ on BC.BC.