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Bisector of Foci Angle (Posted on 2015-08-05) Difficulty: 3 of 5

  
Let A and B be points on an ellipse Γ such that
the line AB does not pass through the center of Γ.
Let C be the intersection of the tangent line to Γ
at point A with the tangent line to Γ at point B.

Prove that line CF bisects ∠AFB ( where F is
either one of the foci of Γ ).
  

  Submitted by Bractals    
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Solution: (Hide)

  
Let F and F' be the foci of Γ. We will add the following
line segments to our drawing : FA, AF', FB, and BF'.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Construct A1 and B1 as the reflections of F about lines
AC and BC respectively, Join F to A1 and B1 and B1 to
A1 and B. Let A2 and B2 be the midpoints of FA1 and FB1
respectively. Join A to A1 and A2 and B to B2.

Clearly, ΔA1A2A ≅ ΔFA2A and ΔB1B2B ≅ ΔFB2B.

Therefore, AA1 = AF and ∠A1AA2 = ∠FAA2,
                   BB1 = BF and ∠B1BB2 = ∠FBB2.

The equality of the angles and the reflective property of
ellipses imply that F', A, and A1 are collinear; likewise
for F', B, and B1.

     F'A1 = F'A + AA1
              = F'A + AF
              = F'B + BF   ( from def. of ellipse )
              = F'B + BB1
              = F'B1

Thus, A1F'B1 is an isosceles triangle.

Point C is the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors
of FA1 and FB1. Therefore, It is the circumcenter of ΔFA1B1.

The perpendicular bisector of A1B1 passes through C and F'.
It also bisects ∠A1F'B1 = ∠AF'B.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have proved the proposition for focus F'. To prove it for
focus F, repeat everything between the lines swapping F for F'
and F' for F.

QED
  

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