Baltic Way 1994 · Problem 12

Solution:

We shall prove that the lines $S_{1} O_{1}$, $S_{2} O_{2}$, $S_{3} O_{3}$ are the bisectors of the angles of the triangle $S_{1} S_{2} S_{3}$. Let $O$ and $r$ be the centre and radius of the inscribed circle $C$ of the triangle $A_{1} A_{2} A_{3}$. Further, let $P_{1}$ and $H_{1}$ be the points where the inscribed circle of the triangle $A_{1} S_{2} S_{3}$ (with the centre $O_{1}$ and radius $r_{1}$) touches its sides $A_{1} S_{2}$ and $S_{2} S_{3}$, respectively (see Figure 2). To show that $S_{1} O_{1}$ is the bisector of the angle $\angle S_{3} S_{1} S_{2}$ it is sufficient to prove that $O_{1}$ lies on the circumference of circle $C$, for in this case the arcs $O_{1} S_{2}$ and $O_{1} S_{3}$ will obviously be equal. To prove this, first note that as $A_{1} S_{2} S_{3}$ is an isosceles triangle the point $H_{1}$, as well as $O_{1}$, lies on the straight line $A_{1} O$. Now, it suffices to show that $\left|O H_{1}\right|=r-r_{1}$. Indeed, we have

$$\begin{aligned} & \frac{r-r_{1}}{r}=1-\frac{r_{1}}{r}=1-\frac{\left|O_{1} P_{1}\right|}{\left|O S_{2}\right|}=1-\frac{\left|P_{1} A_{1}\right|}{\left|S_{2} A_{1}\right|}=\frac{\left|S_{2} A_{1}\right|-\left|P_{1} A_{1}\right|}{\left|S_{2} A_{1}\right|} \\ & =\frac{\left|S_{2} P_{1}\right|}{\left|S_{2} A_{1}\right|}=\frac{\left|S_{2} H_{1}\right|}{\left|S_{2} A_{1}\right|}=\frac{\left|O H_{1}\right|}{\left|O S_{2}\right|}=\frac{\left|O H_{1}\right|}{r} . \end{aligned}$$

Figure 2