Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / Prelims / Mathematics IV / 1

Write $\mathbf{u}=\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{a}$. Since the triangle is nondegenerate, $\mathbf{u}\ne 0$. Every point on the line $AB$ has a unique position vector $\mathbf{p}=\mathbf{a}+t\mathbf{u}$. The condition that $CP$ is orthogonal to $AB$ is the dot product equationIts coefficient of $t$ is $-\Vert \mathbf{u}{\Vert }^2\ne 0$, so it has exactly one solution. The foot of a perpendicular is thereforeThis is the orthogonal projection of $C$ onto the line $AB$, expressed using the Euclidean norm.

With $t$ as in i, the foot of a perpendicular lies strictly between the endpoints precisely when $0<t<1$. Since the denominator is positive, this givesEquivalently, both dot productsare positive: the angles of the triangle at $A$ and $B$ are both less than $\pi /2$. If “between” includes the endpoints, replace both strict inequalities by non-strict ones; equality gives $P=A$ or $P=B$.

The altitude of a triangle through $A$ has equation $(\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{d})\cdot (\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{c})=0$, and the altitude of a triangle through $B$ has equation $(\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{d})\cdot (\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{c})=0$. Their normal vectors $\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{c}$ and $\mathbf{a}-\mathbf{c}$ are linearly independent because the triangle is nondegenerate. Consequently these two lines meet in exactly one point $D$.

Substitute its position vector $\mathbf{d}$ in the supplied identity. Its first term vanishes by the first altitude of a triangle equation, and its second term vanishes by the second altitude of a triangle equation. HenceThis is exactly the condition that $D$ lies on the altitude of a triangle through $C$. The three lines therefore meet in a unique point, the orthocenter. This argument includes right triangles and triangles whose orthocenter lies outside them.

Let $A=(Y+Z)/2$, $B=(Z+X)/2$, and $C=(X+Y)/2$, interpreting these expressions as position vectors. The resulting medial triangle is nondegenerate: for example,Thus $BC$ is parallel to $YZ$, and the same calculation holds cyclically. The altitude of a triangle through $A$ is consequently the line through the midpoint of $YZ$ that is orthogonal to $YZ$, namely its perpendicular bisector. Each remaining altitude of a triangle similarly gives one of the other two perpendicular bisectors.

By iii, the medial triangle has a unique orthocenter, so the three perpendicular bisectors meet in one point. Every point on the perpendicular bisector of $YZ$ is equally far from $Y$ and $Z$: expanding the squares of the two Euclidean distances gives $2\mathbf{q}\cdot (\mathbf{z}-\mathbf{y})=\Vert \mathbf{z}{\Vert }^2-\Vert \mathbf{y}{\Vert }^2$. Applying this to the three sides shows that the common point is equally far from $X,Y,Z$. It is the circumcenter.

Write $z=x+iy$, with $y\ne 0$ because the triangle is nondegenerate. Let $w=u+iv$ be its circumcenter. Equality of the complex modulus values $|w|=|w-1|$ gives $u=1/2$. Equality of $|w|=|w-z|$, after expanding the squares, givesThus the real part and imaginary part determineUsing the complex conjugate $\bar{z}=x-iy$, we also haveThereforeThe nonzero denominator is exactly the nondegeneracy condition. If $z$ is real, the three distinct collinear points do not have a finite circumcenter.