A Half-Angle Locus

Problem

In the coordinate plane, let A(1,0)A(-1, 0), B(1,0)B(1, 0), and P(x0,y0)P(x_0, y_0), where triangle PABPAB satisfies

tanPAB2=PBAP+AB.\tan\frac{\angle PAB}{2} = \frac{PB}{AP + AB}.

1. Can (0,1)(0, -1) be the coordinates of PP? 2. Prove that triangle PABPAB is a right triangle. 3. Let Ω\Omega be the locus of PP. A line ll through the point (2,1)(2, 1) meets Ω\Omega, from left to right, at three points M,N,QM, N, Q. If exactly one such line ll satisfies MQNQ=m|MQ| \cdot |NQ| = m, find the range of possible values of mm.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
TopicsLaw of Sines, trigonometry, Parametrization, analytic geometry, Casework

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