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Ruler-&-compass construction of triangle with minimum area

Source: XII Rioplatense Mathematical Olympaid (2003), Level 3

August 9, 2011
geometryinequalitiesinradiusgeometry unsolved

Problem Statement

Inside right angle XAYXAY, where AA is the vertex, is a semicircle Γ\Gamma whose center lies on AXAX and that is tangent to AYAY at the point AA. Describe a ruler-and-compass construction for the tangent to Γ\Gamma such that the triangle enclosed by the tangent and angle XAYXAY has minimum area.