Geometry – Proving a Point Inside a Triangular Pyramid

geometryinequality

The drawing

Let $VABC$ be a triangular pyramid with $VA<VB<VC$. Prove that there is a point $P$ inside the triangle $ABC$ such that $VP= \frac{VA+VB+VC}{3}$.

The idea

enter image description here

Let $VO \perp (ABC)$

The first thought I got is clearly that $AO<BO<CO$ because $VA<VB<VC$ and using the Phytaghora Theorem we get this inequality

I tried imaging P being in different posts such as the midpoint of $AB,BC,AC$ or as the center of the circumscribed circle or inscribed circle of the triangle, in some of them I got that P doesn't satisfy the equality or got to nothing useful to demonstrate.

Hope one of you can help me! Thank you!

Best Answer

Let $D$ be a point on the line segment $AB$ such that $VD=\frac{VA+VB}{2}$.

(Such a point $D$ exists. The reason is as follows : Let $A'$ be a point on the half line $VA$ such that $VA'=\frac{VA+VB}{2}$. Let $B'$ be a point on the half line $VB$ such that $VB'=\frac{VA+VB}{2}$. Then, we have $VA'\gt VA$ since $$2VA\lt VA+VB\implies VA\lt \frac{VA+VB}{2}=VA'$$ Similarly, $VB'\lt VB$ since $$2VB\gt VA+VB\implies VB\gt\frac{VA+VB}{2}=VB'$$ Now on the plane $VAB$, let us consider a circle whose center is $V$ with radius $\frac{VA+VB}{2}$. We see that $A',B'$ are on the circle. Since $VA'\gt VA$ and $VB'\lt VB$, there is a point $D$ on the line segment $AB$ such that $D$ is on the circle. For such a point $D$, we have $VD=\frac{VA+VB}{2}$.)

Let $E$ be a point on the line segment $VD$ such that $VE=\frac 23VD$.

Let $F$ be a point on the line segment $VC$ such that $VF=\frac 13VC$.

Let $G$ be a point on the half line $VD$ such that $VG=VE+VF$.

Let $H$ be a point on the half line $VC$ such that $VH=VE+VF$.

Now, since $VD=\frac{VA+VB}{2}$, we have $$\frac{VA+VB+VC}{3}=\frac{2VD+VC}{3}=VE+VF$$

We have $VG\gt VD$ since $$\begin{align}&VC-VA+VC-VB\gt 0 \\&\implies VC\gt \frac{VA+VB}{2} \\&\implies VC\gt VD \\&\implies \frac 13VC\gt \frac 13VD \\&\implies VF\gt ED \\&\implies VF+VE\gt ED+VE \\&\implies VG\gt VD\end{align}$$

Also, we have $VC\gt VH$ since $$\begin{align}\frac 23VC\gt\frac 23VD&\implies FC\gt VE \\&\implies FC+VF\gt VE+VF \\&\implies VC\gt VH\end{align}$$

Now, on the plane $VCD$, let us consider a circle whose center is $V$ with radius $VE+VF$.

$G,H$ are on the circle with $VG\gt VD$ and $VH\lt VC$.

So, there is a point $P$ on the line segment $CD$ such that $P$ is on the circle.

For such a point $P$, we have $$VP=VE+VF=\frac{VA+VB+VC}{3}. \blacksquare$$