Can AC Be Less Than Twice FG in a Square Geometry Setup?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a geometric problem involving a square ABCD and an internal point E on side AD. It establishes that if F is the foot of the perpendicular from B to line CE, and G is defined such that BG equals FG, then it can be proven that the length of diagonal AC is less than twice the length of segment FG. This conclusion is derived from the properties of perpendiculars and midpoints in square geometry.

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anemone
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Let $ABCD$ be a square, and let $E$ be an internal point on side $AD$. Let $F$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $B$ to $CE$. Suppose $G$ is a point such that $BG = FG$, and the line through $G$ parallel to $BC$ passes through the midpoint of $EF$. Prove that $AC<2\cdot FG$.

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No one answered last week's problem, (Sadface) but you can find the suggested solution as shown below:

View attachment 8747

Note that for given $E$ and $F$, there is only one point $G$ with the required properties.

Since $BG=FG$, $G$ must lie on the perpendicular bisector of $BF$, and by the second condition, $G$ lies on the line through the midpoint of $EF$ parallel to $BC$.

$G$ must thus be the unique intersection of these two lines. We now give an alternative construction for $G$ from which the result will follow.

Since $BA$ and $CD$ are parallel and equal, we may translate $\triangle CDE$ to give a triangle $\triangle BAE'$. Then $E',\,A,\,E$ are collinear, with $E'E=E'A+AE=ED+AE=AD=BC$ and $E'E,\,BC$ are parallel, so we may also translate $\triangle BCF$ to give $\triangle E'EF'$. Then $F,\,E,\,F'$ are collinear. Now, $E'F'=BF$, and $\angle E'F'E=\angle BFC=90^\circ=\angle BFE$. Hence, $BE'F'F$ is a rectangle.

Let $G'$ be its center. Certainly $BG'=FG'$. Let the line through $G'$ parallel to $BC$ hit $BE',\,FF'$ at $M,\,N$ respectively, then symmetry gives $E'M=FN$. However, by translation, $EN=E'M$, so $EN=FN$, and the parallel to $BC$ through $G'$ bisects $EF$. Thus, by the uniqueness of $G$ already proven, $G=G'$, the center of $BE'F'F$.Now, by AM-GM (strict because $BF<BC=CD<CE=BE'$,

$\begin{align*}2\cdot FG&=FE'\\&=\sqrt{BF^2+BE^2}\\&>\sqrt{2\cdot BF\cdot BE'}\\&=\sqrt{2[BFF'E']}\\&=\sqrt{2([BAE']+[E'EF']+[ABFE])}\,\,\,\text{here brackets denote areas}\\&=\sqrt{2([CDE]+[BCF]+[ABFE])}\\&=\sqrt{2[ABCD]}\\&=\sqrt{2}\cdot AB\\&=AC\,\,\,\text{(Q.E.D.)}\end{align*}$
 

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