Diameter Dynamics


$AB$ is the diameter of a circle. Tangents $AD$ and $BC$ are drawn so that $AC$ and $BD$ intersect at a point on the circle. Suppose $AD = a$ and $BC = b$, and $a \neq b$. What is the diameter $AB$?


Source: BdMO 2018 National Secondary P2


Proof Based Problems  


  1 Upvote                    0 Downvote


Solution

Disclaimer: The solutions we've shared are just one exciting approach, and there are surely many other wonderful methods out there. We’d love to hear your alternative solutions in the community thread below, so let's keep the creativity flowing!

Since $AB$ is a diameter and both $AD$ and $BC$ are tangents, we have $AD \perp AB$ and $BC \perp AB$. Basically we have trapezoid $ABCD$ with two right angles, we have to find $AB$ using $AD$ and $BC$. Let $O = BD \cap AC$. Let $OA = y. OB = q, OC = x, OD = p$. Since AB is the diameter ,  $\therefore \angle AOB = 90^\circ$ . 


Because of the fact that $\triangle AOD$ and $\triangle BOC$ are right angled triangles we have:

$a^2+b^2 = p^2 + y^2 + x^2 + q^2 = AB^2 + CD^2$

$\Rightarrow AB^2 = a^2 +b^2 - CD^2$


Also we have 

$CD^2 = p^2 + x^2$

$AB^2 = a^2 +b^2 - p^2 - x^2$

Since DA and CB are tangents , by using power of point with respect to the circumcircle of $\triangle AOC$ we have:

\[b^2 = x(x+y)\]

\[a^2 = p(p+q)\]


combining with the previous equation we get 

$AB^2 = p(p+q) + x(x+y) - p^2 - x^2$

$\Rightarrow AB^2 = pq + xy$

We have $AD \parallel BC$ so,

$\frac{p}{q} = \frac{y}{x}$

$\Rightarrow pq = \frac{q^2y}{x}$


Combining with the previous equation we get,

$AB^2 =\frac{q^2y}{x} +xy $

$\Rightarrow AB^2 = \frac{y}{x}(q^2+x^2)$

$\Rightarrow AB^2 = \frac{y}{x}b^2$

$\Rightarrow AB^2 = \frac{a}{b}b^2$

$\Rightarrow AB^2 = ab$


So the answer is $AB = \sqrt{ab}$

This is a proof based problem added for learning purposes and does not accept submissions.

You can view the solution by clicking on the solution tab.