The Incenter/Excenter Lemma

Evan Chen《陳誼廷》
6 August 2016

In this short note, we’ll be considering the following useful lemma.

Lemma
Let ABC be a triangle with incenter I, A-excenter IA , and denote by L the midpoint
of arc BC. Show that L is the center of a circle through I, IA , B, C.

B C

IA

Proof. This is just angle chasing. Let A = ∠BAC, B = ∠CBA, C = ∠ACB, and note
that A, I, L are collinear (as L is on the angle bisector). We are going to show that
LB = LI, the other cases being similar.
First, notice that
1 1
∠LBI = ∠LBC + ∠CBI = ∠LAC + ∠CBI = ∠IAC + ∠CBI = A + B.
2 2
However,
1 1
∠BIL = ∠BAI + ∠ABI = A + B.
2 2
Hence, 4BIL is isosceles. So LB = LI. The rest of the proof proceeds along these
lines.

Now, let’s see where this lemma has come up before. . .

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Evan Chen《陳誼廷》 — 6 August 2016 The Incenter/Excenter Lemma

§1 Mild Embarrassments
Problem 1.1 (USAMO 1988). Triangle ABC has incenter I. Consider the triangle whose
vertices are the circumcenters of 4IAB, 4IBC, 4ICA. Show that its circumcenter
coincides with the circumcenter of 4ABC.
Problem 1.2 (CGMO 2012). The incircle of a triangle ABC is tangent to sides AB and
AC at D and E respectively, and O is the circumcenter of triangle BCI. Prove that
∠ODB = ∠OEC.
Problem 1.3 (CHMMC Spring 2012). In triangle ABC, the angle bisector of ∠A meets
the perpendicular bisector of BC at point D. The angle bisector of ∠B meets the
perpendicular bisector of AC at point E. Let F be the intersection of the perpendicular
bisectors of BC and AC. Find DF , given that ∠ADF = 5◦ , ∠BEF = 10◦ and AC = 3.
Problem 1.4 (Nine-Point Circle). Let ABC be an acute triangle with orthocenter H.
Let D, E, F be the feet of the altitudes from A, B, C to the opposite sides. Show that
the midpoint of AH lies on the circumcircle of 4DEF .

§2 Some Short-Answer Problems

Problem 2.1 (HMMT 2011). Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral, and suppose that
BC = CD = 2. Let I be the incenter of triangle ABD. If AI = 2 as well, find the
minimum value of the length of diagonal BD.
Problem 2.2 (HMMT 2013). Let triangle ABC satisfy 2BC = AB + AC and have
incenter I and circumcircle ω. Let D be the intersection of AI and ω (with A, D distinct).
Prove that I is the midpoint of AD.
Problem 2.3 (Online Math Open 2014/F19). In triangle ABC, AB = 3, AC = 5, and
BC = 7. Let E be the reflection of A over BC, and let line BE meet the circumcircle of
ABC again at D. Let I be the incenter of 4ABD. Compute cos ∠AEI.
Problem 2.4 (NIMO 2012). Let ABXC be a cyclic quadrilateral such that ∠XAB =
∠XAC. Let I be the incenter of triangle ABC and by D the foot of I on BC. Given
AI = 25, ID = 7, and BC = 14, find XI.

§3 Intermediate Examples
Problem 3.1. Let ABC be an acute triangle such that ∠A = 60◦ . Prove that IH = IO,
where I, H, O are the incenter, orthocenter, and circumcenter.
Problem 3.2 (IMO 2006). Let ABC be a triangle with incenter I. A point P in the
interior of the triangle satisfies

∠P BA + ∠P CA = ∠P BC + ∠P CB.

Show that AP ≥ AI, and that equality holds if and only if P = I.

Problem 3.3 (APMO 2007). In triangle ABC, we have AB > AC and ∠A = 60◦ . Let
I and H denote the incenter and orthocenter of the triangle. Show that 2∠AHI = 3∠B.
Problem 3.4 (ELMO 2013, Evan Chen). Triangle ABC is inscribed in circle ω. A circle
with chord BC intersects segments AB and AC again at S and R, respectively. Segments

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Evan Chen《陳誼廷》 — 6 August 2016 The Incenter/Excenter Lemma

BR and CS meet at L, and rays LR and LS intersect ω at D and E, respectively. The

internal angle bisector of ∠BDE meets line ER at K. Prove that if BE = BR, then
∠ELK = 12 ∠BCD.
Problem 3.5 (Online Math Open 2012/F27). Let ABC be a triangle with circumcircle
ω. Let the bisector of ∠ABC meet segment AC at D and circle ω at M 6= B. The
circumcircle of 4BDC meets line AB at E 6= B, and CE meets ω at P 6= C. The
bisector of ∠P M C meets segment AC at Q 6= C. Given that P Q = M C, determine the
degree measure of ∠ABC.

§4 Harder Tasks
Problem 4.1 (Iran 2001). Let ABC be a triangle with incenter I and A-excenter IA .
Let M be the midpoint of arc BC not containing A, and let N denote the midpoint of
arc M BA. Lines N I and N IA intersect the circumcircle of ABC at S and T . Prove that
the lines ST , BC and AI are concurrent.
Problem 4.2 (Online Math Open 2014/F26). Let ABC be a triangle with AB = 26,
AC = 28, BC = 30. Let X, Y , Z be the midpoints of arcs BC, CA, AB (not containing
the opposite vertices) respectively on the circumcircle of ABC. Let P be the midpoint
of arc BC containing point A. Suppose lines BP and XZ meet at M , while lines CP
and XY meet at N . Find the square of the distance from X to M N .
Problem 4.3 (Euler). Let ABC be a triangle with incenter I and circumcenter O. Show
that IO2 = R(R − 2r), where R and r are the circumradius and inradius of 4ABC,
respectively.
Problem 4.4 (IMO 2010). Let I be the incenter of a triangle ABC and let Γ be its
circumcircle. Let the line AI intersect Γ again at D. Let E be a point on the arc BDC
and F a point on the side BC such that

∠BAF = ∠CAE < 12 ∠BAC.

Finally, let G be the midpoint of IF . Prove that DG and EI intersect on Γ.

§5 Bonus Problems
Problem 5.1 (Russia 2014). Let ABC be a triangle with AB > BC and circumcircle Ω.
Points M , N lie on the sides AB, BC respectively, such that AM = CN . Lines M N and
AC meet at K. Let P be the incenter of the triangle AM K, and let Q be the K-excenter
of the triangle CN K. If R is midpoint of arc ABC of Ω then prove that RP = RQ.
Problem 5.2. Let ABC be a triangle with circumcircle Ω, and let D be any point on
BC. We draw a curvilinear incircle tangent to AD at L, to BC at K and internally
tangent to Ω. Show that the incenter of triangle ABC lies on KL.

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Evan Chen《陳誼廷》 — 6 August 2016 The Incenter/Excenter Lemma

§6 Hints to the Problems

1.1. Tautological.

1.2. Who is O?

1.3. Point F is the circumcenter of 4ABC. Who are D and E?

1.4. What is the incenter of 4DEF ? What is the D-excenter?

2.1. Show that AC = 4.

2.2. Apply Ptolemy’s Theorem.

2.3. Who is C? Erase E.

2.4. Apply Ptolemy’s Theorem.

3.1. Since ∠BHC = ∠BIC = ∠BOC = 120◦ , points H and O now lie on the magic
circle too. So IH = IO is just an equality of certain arcs.

3.2. Use the angle condition to show that P also lies on the magic circle.

3.3. The point H lies on the magic circle. So ∠IHC = 180◦ − ∠IBC.

3.4. You need to do quite a bit of angle chasing. Show that R is the incenter of 4CDE.
Who is B?

3.5. Both M and P are arc midpoints. (Why?)

4.1. First show that S, T , I, IA are concyclic, say by N I · N S = N M 2 = N IA · N T .

4.2. Add the incenter I. Line M N is a tangent.

4.3. Add in point L, the midpoint of arc BC. By Power of a Point, it’s equivalent to
prove AI · IL = 2Rr, which can be done with similar triangles.

4.4. Take a homothety with ratio 2 at I. This sends G to F and D to the A-excenter.

5.1. Construct arc midpoints on the circumcircles of both 4AM J and 4CN K. Use
spiral similarity at R.

5.2. Let the tangency point to Ω be T , let M be the midpoint of arc BC, and let lines
KL and AM meet at I. Show that M , K, T are collinear. Show that ALIT is
cyclic. Prove that M I 2 = M K · M T = M C 2 = M I 2 .