{
  "index": "1947-B-6",
  "type": "GEO",
  "tag": [
    "GEO",
    "ALG"
  ],
  "difficulty": "",
  "question": "12. \\( C \\) is a fixed point on \\( O Z \\) and \\( U, V \\) are variable points on \\( O X, O Y \\) respectively, where \\( O X, O Y, O Z \\) are mutually orthogonal lines. Find the locus of a point \\( P \\) such that \\( P U, P V, P C \\) are mutually orthogonal.",
  "solution": "First Solution. Take \\( O X, O Y, O Z \\) as coordinate axes and let \\( U=(u, 0,0) \\), \\( V=(0, v, 0), C=(0,0, c) \\). Suppose \\( P(x, y, z) \\) is a point of the locus. Then \\( (x-u, y, z),(x, y-v, z) \\), and \\( (x, y, z-c) \\) must be perpendicular vectors. Therefore\n\\[\n\\begin{array}{l}\nx^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}=x u+y v \\\\\nx^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}=x u+z c \\\\\nx^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}=y v+z c\n\\end{array}\n\\]\n\nAdding the last two equations and subtracting the first, we get\n\\[\nx^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}=2 z c\n\\]\nand therefore \\( P \\) lies on the sphere \\( x^{2}+y^{2}+(z-c)^{2}=c^{2} \\), with center \\( C \\) and radius \\( |C O| \\). Note that, if \\( c=0 \\), i.e., \\( C=0 \\), then \\( P \\) must be 0 . But in that case \\( P C \\) is not a line, so there is no locus. We assume henceforth, therefore, that \\( c \\neq 0 \\).\n\nFrom (1) we also see that \\( x u=y v=z c \\), so if \\( z \\neq 0 \\) neither \\( x \\) nor \\( y \\) is 0 . If \\( z=0 \\), then \\( x=y=0 \\) from (2).\n\nConversely, if \\( P=(x, y, z) \\) is any point on the sphere (2) with \\( x y \\neq 0 \\), then \\( z \\neq 0 \\) and\n\\[\nu=z c / x, \\quad v=z c / y\n\\]\ngives a solution to (1), so the vectors \\( P U, P V \\), and \\( P C \\) are pairwise orthogonal, while if \\( P=0 \\), then for any non-zero choice of \\( u \\) and \\( v, P U, P V \\), and \\( P C \\) are pairwise orthogonal. The locus therefore consists of the sphere less two great circles but including the point 0 .\n\nSecond Solution. An elementary synthetic argument can be given based on the fact that the length of the median to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is half the length of the hypotenuse. Let \\( M \\) be the midpoint of \\( U V \\). If \\( P \\) is on the locus, \\( C P \\) is perpendicular to the plane \\( P U V \\) and \\( \\angle U P V \\) is a right angle. By the result cited above, \\( P M=\\frac{1}{2} U V=O M \\), since \\( P M \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle P U V \\) and \\( O M \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle O U V \\). The right triangles \\( C P M \\) and \\( C O M \\) have a common hypotenuse, \\( C M \\), and a pair of congruent legs: hence these triangles are congruent. Thus \\( C P=C O \\), and \\( P \\) is on the sphere centered at \\( C \\) with radius \\( C O . P U \\) and \\( P V \\) are tangent to this sphere.\n\nConversely, let \\( P \\) be any point on the sphere, and suppose the tangent plane at \\( P \\) intersects \\( O X \\) and \\( O Y \\) respectively in \\( U \\) and \\( V \\). Now \\( \\overline{P M}= \\) \\( \\overline{M O} \\) since both lines are tangents to the sphere from the external point \\( M \\). But \\( \\overline{O M}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{U V} \\), and thus \\( \\overline{P M}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{U V} \\). From the converse of the cited plane geometry theorem, \\( \\angle U P V \\) is a right angle. Also, \\( \\angle C P V \\) and \\( \\angle C P U \\) are clearly right angles since \\( P U \\) and \\( P V \\) are in the tangent plane to the sphere.\n\nRemark. If points at infinity on \\( O X \\) and \\( O Y \\) are admitted, then all points of the sphere with center at \\( C \\) and radius \\( \\overline{O C} \\) can be considered as points of the locus.",
  "vars": [
    "x",
    "y",
    "z",
    "u",
    "v",
    "P",
    "U",
    "V"
  ],
  "params": [
    "c",
    "C",
    "O",
    "X",
    "Y",
    "Z",
    "M"
  ],
  "sci_consts": [],
  "variants": {
    "descriptive_long": {
      "map": {
        "x": "coordx",
        "y": "coordy",
        "z": "coordz",
        "u": "varuval",
        "v": "varvval",
        "P": "pointp",
        "U": "pointu",
        "V": "pointv",
        "c": "paramc",
        "C": "pointc",
        "O": "origen",
        "X": "axisxln",
        "Y": "axisyln",
        "Z": "axiszln",
        "M": "midpoint"
      },
      "question": "pointc is a fixed point on origen axiszln and pointu, pointv are variable points on origen axisxln, origen axisyln respectively, where origen axisxln, origen axisyln, origen axiszln are mutually orthogonal lines. Find the locus of a point pointp such that pointp pointu, pointp pointv, pointp pointc are mutually orthogonal.",
      "solution": "First Solution. Take origen axisxln, origen axisyln, origen axiszln as coordinate axes and let pointu=(varuval, 0,0), pointv=(0, varvval, 0), pointc=(0,0, paramc). Suppose pointp(coordx, coordy, coordz) is a point of the locus. Then (coordx-varuval, coordy, coordz),(coordx, coordy-varvval, coordz), and (coordx, coordy, coordz-paramc) must be perpendicular vectors. Therefore\n\\[\n\\begin{array}{l}\ncoordx^{2}+coordy^{2}+coordz^{2}=coordx\\,varuval+coordy\\,varvval \\\\\ncoordx^{2}+coordy^{2}+coordz^{2}=coordx\\,varuval+coordz\\,paramc \\\\\ncoordx^{2}+coordy^{2}+coordz^{2}=coordy\\,varvval+coordz\\,paramc\n\\end{array}\n\\]\n\nAdding the last two equations and subtracting the first, we get\n\\[\ncoordx^{2}+coordy^{2}+coordz^{2}=2\\,coordz\\,paramc\n\\]\nand therefore pointp lies on the sphere \\( coordx^{2}+coordy^{2}+(coordz-paramc)^{2}=paramc^{2} \\), with center pointc and radius \\( |pointc\\,origen| \\). Note that, if \\( paramc=0 \\), i.e., \\( pointc=0 \\), then pointp must be 0 . But in that case pointp pointc is not a line, so there is no locus. We assume henceforth, therefore, that \\( paramc \\neq 0 \\).\n\nFrom (1) we also see that \\( coordx\\,varuval=coordy\\,varvval=coordz\\,paramc \\), so if \\( coordz \\neq 0 \\) neither \\( coordx \\) nor \\( coordy \\) is 0 . If \\( coordz=0 \\), then \\( coordx=coordy=0 \\) from (2).\n\nConversely, if pointp=(coordx, coordy, coordz) is any point on the sphere (2) with \\( coordx\\,coordy \\neq 0 \\), then \\( coordz \\neq 0 \\) and\n\\[\nvaruval=coordz\\,paramc / coordx, \\quad varvval=coordz\\,paramc / coordy\n\\]\ngives a solution to (1), so the vectors pointp pointu, pointp pointv, and pointp pointc are pairwise orthogonal, while if pointp=0, then for any non-zero choice of varuval and varvval, pointp pointu, pointp pointv, and pointp pointc are pairwise orthogonal. The locus therefore consists of the sphere less two great circles but including the point 0 .\n\nSecond Solution. An elementary synthetic argument can be given based on the fact that the length of the median to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is half the length of the hypotenuse. Let midpoint be the midpoint of pointu pointv. If pointp is on the locus, pointc pointp is perpendicular to the plane pointp pointu pointv and \\( \\angle pointu pointp pointv \\) is a right angle. By the result cited above, \\( pointp midpoint=\\frac{1}{2} pointu pointv=origen midpoint \\), since pointp midpoint is a median of \\( \\triangle pointp pointu pointv \\) and origen midpoint is a median of \\( \\triangle origen pointu pointv \\). The right triangles pointc pointp midpoint and pointc origen midpoint have a common hypotenuse, pointc midpoint, and a pair of congruent legs: hence these triangles are congruent. Thus pointc pointp=pointc origen, and pointp is on the sphere centered at pointc with radius pointc origen. pointp pointu and pointp pointv are tangent to this sphere.\n\nConversely, let pointp be any point on the sphere, and suppose the tangent plane at pointp intersects origen axisxln and origen axisyln respectively in pointu and pointv. Now \\( \\overline{pointp midpoint}= \\) \\( \\overline{midpoint origen} \\) since both lines are tangents to the sphere from the external point midpoint. But \\( \\overline{origen midpoint}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{pointu pointv} \\), and thus \\( \\overline{pointp midpoint}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{pointu pointv} \\). From the converse of the cited plane geometry theorem, \\( \\angle pointu pointp pointv \\) is a right angle. Also, \\( \\angle pointc pointp pointv \\) and \\( \\angle pointc pointp pointu \\) are clearly right angles since pointp pointu and pointp pointv are in the tangent plane to the sphere.\n\nRemark. If points at infinity on origen axisxln and origen axisyln are admitted, then all points of the sphere with center at pointc and radius \\( \\overline{origen pointc} \\) can be considered as points of the locus."
    },
    "descriptive_long_confusing": {
      "map": {
        "x": "panorama",
        "y": "squirrel",
        "z": "cardinal",
        "u": "galaxycat",
        "v": "butterfly",
        "P": "pineapple",
        "U": "elephant",
        "V": "kangaroo",
        "c": "moonlight",
        "C": "honeycomb",
        "O": "riverbank",
        "X": "telescope",
        "Y": "rainstorm",
        "Z": "mountains",
        "M": "chocolate"
      },
      "question": "12. \\( honeycomb \\) is a fixed point on \\( riverbank mountains \\) and \\( elephant, kangaroo \\) are variable points on \\( riverbank telescope, riverbank rainstorm \\) respectively, where \\( riverbank telescope, riverbank rainstorm, riverbank mountains \\) are mutually orthogonal lines. Find the locus of a point \\( pineapple \\) such that \\( pineapple elephant, pineapple kangaroo, pineapple honeycomb \\) are mutually orthogonal.",
      "solution": "First Solution. Take \\( riverbank telescope, riverbank rainstorm, riverbank mountains \\) as coordinate axes and let \\( elephant=(galaxycat, 0,0) \\), \\( kangaroo=(0, butterfly, 0), honeycomb=(0,0, moonlight) \\). Suppose \\( pineapple(panorama, squirrel, cardinal) \\) is a point of the locus. Then \\( (panorama-galaxycat, squirrel, cardinal),(panorama, squirrel-butterfly, cardinal) \\), and \\( (panorama, squirrel, cardinal-moonlight) \\) must be perpendicular vectors. Therefore\n\\[\n\\begin{array}{l}\npanorama^{2}+squirrel^{2}+cardinal^{2}=panorama \\, galaxycat+squirrel \\, butterfly \\\\\npanorama^{2}+squirrel^{2}+cardinal^{2}=panorama \\, galaxycat+cardinal \\, moonlight \\\\\npanorama^{2}+squirrel^{2}+cardinal^{2}=squirrel \\, butterfly+cardinal \\, moonlight\n\\end{array}\n\\]\n\nAdding the last two equations and subtracting the first, we get\n\\[\npanorama^{2}+squirrel^{2}+cardinal^{2}=2 \\, cardinal \\, moonlight\n\\]\nand therefore \\( pineapple \\) lies on the sphere \\( panorama^{2}+squirrel^{2}+(cardinal-moonlight)^{2}=moonlight^{2} \\), with center \\( honeycomb \\) and radius \\( |honeycomb \\, riverbank| \\). Note that, if \\( moonlight=0 \\), i.e., \\( honeycomb=0 \\), then \\( pineapple \\) must be 0 . But in that case \\( pineapple honeycomb \\) is not a line, so there is no locus. We assume henceforth, therefore, that \\( moonlight \\neq 0 \\).\n\nFrom (1) we also see that \\( panorama \\, galaxycat=squirrel \\, butterfly=cardinal \\, moonlight \\), so if \\( cardinal \\neq 0 \\) neither \\( panorama \\) nor \\( squirrel \\) is 0 . If \\( cardinal=0 \\), then \\( panorama=squirrel=0 \\) from (2).\n\nConversely, if \\( pineapple=(panorama, squirrel, cardinal) \\) is any point on the sphere (2) with \\( panorama \\, squirrel \\neq 0 \\), then \\( cardinal \\neq 0 \\) and\n\\[\ngalaxycat=cardinal \\, moonlight / panorama, \\quad butterfly=cardinal \\, moonlight / squirrel\n\\]\ngives a solution to (1), so the vectors \\( pineapple elephant, pineapple kangaroo \\), and \\( pineapple honeycomb \\) are pairwise orthogonal, while if \\( pineapple=0 \\), then for any non-zero choice of \\( galaxycat \\) and \\( butterfly, pineapple elephant, pineapple kangaroo \\), and \\( pineapple honeycomb \\) are pairwise orthogonal. The locus therefore consists of the sphere less two great circles but including the point 0 .\n\nSecond Solution. An elementary synthetic argument can be given based on the fact that the length of the median to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is half the length of the hypotenuse. Let \\( chocolate \\) be the midpoint of \\( elephant kangaroo \\). If \\( pineapple \\) is on the locus, \\( honeycomb pineapple \\) is perpendicular to the plane \\( pineapple elephant kangaroo \\) and \\( \\angle elephant pineapple kangaroo \\) is a right angle. By the result cited above, \\( pineapple chocolate=\\frac{1}{2} elephant kangaroo=riverbank chocolate \\), since \\( pineapple chocolate \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle pineapple elephant kangaroo \\) and \\( riverbank chocolate \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle riverbank elephant kangaroo \\). The right triangles \\( honeycomb pineapple chocolate \\) and \\( honeycomb riverbank chocolate \\) have a common hypotenuse, \\( honeycomb chocolate \\), and a pair of congruent legs: hence these triangles are congruent. Thus \\( honeycomb pineapple=honeycomb riverbank \\), and \\( pineapple \\) is on the sphere centered at \\( honeycomb \\) with radius \\( honeycomb riverbank . pineapple elephant \\) and \\( pineapple kangaroo \\) are tangent to this sphere.\n\nConversely, let \\( pineapple \\) be any point on the sphere, and suppose the tangent plane at \\( pineapple \\) intersects \\( riverbank telescope \\) and \\( riverbank rainstorm \\) respectively in \\( elephant \\) and \\( kangaroo \\). Now \\( \\overline{pineapple chocolate}= \\) \\( \\overline{chocolate riverbank} \\) since both lines are tangents to the sphere from the external point \\( chocolate \\). But \\( \\overline{riverbank chocolate}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{elephant kangaroo} \\), and thus \\( \\overline{pineapple chocolate}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{elephant kangaroo} \\). From the converse of the cited plane geometry theorem, \\( \\angle elephant pineapple kangaroo \\) is a right angle. Also, \\( \\angle honeycomb pineapple kangaroo \\) and \\( \\angle honeycomb pineapple elephant \\) are clearly right angles since \\( pineapple elephant \\) and \\( pineapple kangaroo \\) are in the tangent plane to the sphere.\n\nRemark. If points at infinity on \\( riverbank telescope \\) and \\( riverbank rainstorm \\) are admitted, then all points of the sphere with center at \\( honeycomb \\) and radius \\( \\overline{riverbank honeycomb} \\) can be considered as points of the locus."
    },
    "descriptive_long_misleading": {
      "map": {
        "x": "verticalvalue",
        "y": "horizontalvalue",
        "z": "planarvalue",
        "u": "fixedoffset",
        "v": "steadyshift",
        "P": "frozenpoint",
        "U": "steadypoint",
        "V": "constantpoint",
        "c": "variablemeasure",
        "C": "movingpoint",
        "O": "infinityplace",
        "X": "antiline",
        "Y": "reversepath",
        "Z": "flatline",
        "M": "extremepoint"
      },
      "question": "12. \\( movingpoint \\) is a fixed point on \\( infinityplace flatline \\) and \\( steadypoint, constantpoint \\) are variable points on \\( infinityplace antiline, infinityplace reversepath \\) respectively, where \\( infinityplace antiline, infinityplace reversepath, infinityplace flatline \\) are mutually orthogonal lines. Find the locus of a point \\( frozenpoint \\) such that \\( frozenpoint steadypoint, frozenpoint constantpoint, frozenpoint movingpoint \\) are mutually orthogonal.",
      "solution": "First Solution. Take \\( infinityplace antiline, infinityplace reversepath, infinityplace flatline \\) as coordinate axes and let \\( steadypoint=(fixedoffset, 0,0) \\), \\( constantpoint=(0, steadyshift, 0), movingpoint=(0,0, variablemeasure) \\). Suppose \\( frozenpoint(verticalvalue, horizontalvalue, planarvalue) \\) is a point of the locus. Then \\( (verticalvalue-fixedoffset, horizontalvalue, planarvalue),(verticalvalue, horizontalvalue-steadyshift, planarvalue) \\), and \\( (verticalvalue, horizontalvalue, planarvalue-variablemeasure) \\) must be perpendicular vectors. Therefore\n\\[\n\\begin{array}{l}\nverticalvalue^{2}+horizontalvalue^{2}+planarvalue^{2}=verticalvalue\\,fixedoffset+horizontalvalue\\,steadyshift \\\\\nverticalvalue^{2}+horizontalvalue^{2}+planarvalue^{2}=verticalvalue\\,fixedoffset+planarvalue\\,variablemeasure \\\\\nverticalvalue^{2}+horizontalvalue^{2}+planarvalue^{2}=horizontalvalue\\,steadyshift+planarvalue\\,variablemeasure\n\\end{array}\n\\]\n\nAdding the last two equations and subtracting the first, we get\n\\[\nverticalvalue^{2}+horizontalvalue^{2}+planarvalue^{2}=2\\,planarvalue\\,variablemeasure\n\\]\nand therefore \\( frozenpoint \\) lies on the sphere \\( verticalvalue^{2}+horizontalvalue^{2}+(planarvalue-variablemeasure)^{2}=variablemeasure^{2} \\), with center \\( movingpoint \\) and radius \\( |movingpoint\\,infinityplace| \\). Note that, if \\( variablemeasure=0 \\), i.e., \\( movingpoint=0 \\), then \\( frozenpoint \\) must be 0. But in that case \\( frozenpoint movingpoint \\) is not a line, so there is no locus. We assume henceforth, therefore, that \\( variablemeasure \\neq 0 \\).\n\nFrom (1) we also see that \\( verticalvalue\\,fixedoffset=horizontalvalue\\,steadyshift=planarvalue\\,variablemeasure \\), so if \\( planarvalue \\neq 0 \\) neither \\( verticalvalue \\) nor \\( horizontalvalue \\) is 0. If \\( planarvalue=0 \\), then \\( verticalvalue=horizontalvalue=0 \\) from (2).\n\nConversely, if \\( frozenpoint=(verticalvalue, horizontalvalue, planarvalue) \\) is any point on the sphere (2) with \\( verticalvalue\\,horizontalvalue \\neq 0 \\), then \\( planarvalue \\neq 0 \\) and\n\\[\nfixedoffset=planarvalue\\,variablemeasure / verticalvalue, \\quad steadyshift=planarvalue\\,variablemeasure / horizontalvalue\n\\]\ngives a solution to (1), so the vectors \\( frozenpoint\\,steadypoint, frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\), and \\( frozenpoint\\,movingpoint \\) are pairwise orthogonal, while if \\( frozenpoint=0 \\), then for any non-zero choice of \\( fixedoffset \\) and \\( steadyshift, frozenpoint\\,steadypoint, frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\), and \\( frozenpoint\\,movingpoint \\) are pairwise orthogonal. The locus therefore consists of the sphere less two great circles but including the point 0 .\n\nSecond Solution. An elementary synthetic argument can be given based on the fact that the length of the median to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is half the length of the hypotenuse. Let \\( extremepoint \\) be the midpoint of \\( steadypoint\\,constantpoint \\). If \\( frozenpoint \\) is on the locus, \\( movingpoint\\,frozenpoint \\) is perpendicular to the plane \\( frozenpoint\\,steadypoint\\,constantpoint \\) and \\( \\angle steadypoint\\,frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\) is a right angle. By the result cited above, \\( frozenpoint\\,extremepoint=\\frac{1}{2}\\,steadypoint\\,constantpoint=infinityplace\\,extremepoint \\), since \\( frozenpoint\\,extremepoint \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle frozenpoint\\,steadypoint\\,constantpoint \\) and \\( infinityplace\\,extremepoint \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle infinityplace\\,steadypoint\\,constantpoint \\). The right triangles \\( movingpoint\\,frozenpoint\\,extremepoint \\) and \\( movingpoint\\,infinityplace\\,extremepoint \\) have a common hypotenuse, \\( movingpoint\\,extremepoint \\), and a pair of congruent legs: hence these triangles are congruent. Thus \\( movingpoint\\,frozenpoint=movingpoint\\,infinityplace \\), and \\( frozenpoint \\) is on the sphere centered at \\( movingpoint \\) with radius \\( movingpoint\\,infinityplace \\). \\( frozenpoint\\,steadypoint \\) and \\( frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\) are tangent to this sphere.\n\nConversely, let \\( frozenpoint \\) be any point on the sphere, and suppose the tangent plane at \\( frozenpoint \\) intersects \\( infinityplace\\,antiline \\) and \\( infinityplace\\,reversepath \\) respectively in \\( steadypoint \\) and \\( constantpoint \\). Now \\( \\overline{frozenpoint\\,extremepoint}= \\) \\( \\overline{extremepoint\\,infinityplace} \\) since both lines are tangents to the sphere from the external point \\( extremepoint \\). But \\( \\overline{infinityplace\\,extremepoint}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{steadypoint\\,constantpoint} \\), and thus \\( \\overline{frozenpoint\\,extremepoint}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{steadypoint\\,constantpoint} \\). From the converse of the cited plane geometry theorem, \\( \\angle steadypoint\\,frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\) is a right angle. Also, \\( \\angle movingpoint\\,frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\) and \\( \\angle movingpoint\\,frozenpoint\\,steadypoint \\) are clearly right angles since \\( frozenpoint\\,steadypoint \\) and \\( frozenpoint\\,constantpoint \\) are in the tangent plane to the sphere.\n\nRemark. If points at infinity on \\( infinityplace\\,antiline \\) and \\( infinityplace\\,reversepath \\) are admitted, then all points of the sphere with center at \\( movingpoint \\) and radius \\( \\overline{infinityplace\\,movingpoint} \\) can be considered as points of the locus."
    },
    "garbled_string": {
      "map": {
        "x": "qzxwvtnp",
        "y": "hjgrksla",
        "z": "mfldpeqt",
        "u": "kspqjdnw",
        "v": "rncvtyhg",
        "P": "spoqtmri",
        "U": "ljwzckha",
        "V": "dnxuelgo",
        "c": "imztorva",
        "C": "wqbrnlyc",
        "O": "pbtekjzi",
        "X": "csuomadz",
        "Y": "ivpezrbk",
        "Z": "yxrflegn",
        "M": "zojhdvqi"
      },
      "question": "12. \\( wqbrnlyc \\) is a fixed point on \\( pbtekjzi yxrflegn \\) and \\( ljwzckha, dnxuelgo \\) are variable points on \\( pbtekjzi csuomadz, pbtekjzi ivpezrbk \\) respectively, where \\( pbtekjzi csuomadz, pbtekjzi ivpezrbk, pbtekjzi yxrflegn \\) are mutually orthogonal lines. Find the locus of a point \\( spoqtmri \\) such that \\( spoqtmri ljwzckha, spoqtmri dnxuelgo, spoqtmri wqbrnlyc \\) are mutually orthogonal.",
      "solution": "First Solution. Take \\( pbtekjzi csuomadz, pbtekjzi ivpezrbk, pbtekjzi yxrflegn \\) as coordinate axes and let \\( ljwzckha=(kspqjdnw, 0,0) \\), \\( dnxuelgo=(0, rncvtyhg, 0), wqbrnlyc=(0,0, imztorva) \\). Suppose \\( spoqtmri(qzxwvtnp, hjgrksla, mfldpeqt) \\) is a point of the locus. Then \\( (qzxwvtnp-kspqjdnw, hjgrksla, mfldpeqt),(qzxwvtnp, hjgrksla-rncvtyhg, mfldpeqt) \\), and \\( (qzxwvtnp, hjgrksla, mfldpeqt-imztorva) \\) must be perpendicular vectors. Therefore\n\\[\n\\begin{array}{l}\nqzxwvtnp^{2}+hjgrksla^{2}+mfldpeqt^{2}=qzxwvtnp kspqjdnw+hjgrksla rncvtyhg \\\\\nqzxwvtnp^{2}+hjgrksla^{2}+mfldpeqt^{2}=qzxwvtnp kspqjdnw+mfldpeqt imztorva \\\\\nqzxwvtnp^{2}+hjgrksla^{2}+mfldpeqt^{2}=hjgrksla rncvtyhg+mfldpeqt imztorva\n\\end{array}\n\\]\n\nAdding the last two equations and subtracting the first, we get\n\\[\nqzxwvtnp^{2}+hjgrksla^{2}+mfldpeqt^{2}=2 mfldpeqt imztorva\n\\]\nand therefore \\( spoqtmri \\) lies on the sphere \\( qzxwvtnp^{2}+hjgrksla^{2}+(mfldpeqt-imztorva)^{2}=imztorva^{2} \\), with center \\( wqbrnlyc \\) and radius \\( |wqbrnlyc pbtekjzi| \\). Note that, if \\( imztorva=0 \\), i.e., \\( wqbrnlyc=0 \\), then \\( spoqtmri \\) must be 0 . But in that case \\( spoqtmri wqbrnlyc \\) is not a line, so there is no locus. We assume henceforth, therefore, that \\( imztorva \\neq 0 \\).\n\nFrom (1) we also see that \\( qzxwvtnp kspqjdnw=hjgrksla rncvtyhg=mfldpeqt imztorva \\), so if \\( mfldpeqt \\neq 0 \\) neither \\( qzxwvtnp \\) nor \\( hjgrksla \\) is 0 . If \\( mfldpeqt=0 \\), then \\( qzxwvtnp=hjgrksla=0 \\) from (2).\n\nConversely, if \\( spoqtmri=(qzxwvtnp, hjgrksla, mfldpeqt) \\) is any point on the sphere (2) with \\( qzxwvtnp hjgrksla \\neq 0 \\), then \\( mfldpeqt \\neq 0 \\) and\n\\[\nkspqjdnw=mfldpeqt imztorva / qzxwvtnp, \\quad rncvtyhg=mfldpeqt imztorva / hjgrksla\n\\]\ngives a solution to (1), so the vectors \\( spoqtmri ljwzckha, spoqtmri dnxuelgo \\), and \\( spoqtmri wqbrnlyc \\) are pairwise orthogonal, while if \\( spoqtmri=0 \\), then for any non-zero choice of \\( kspqjdnw \\) and \\( rncvtyhg, spoqtmri ljwzckha, spoqtmri dnxuelgo \\), and \\( spoqtmri wqbrnlyc \\) are pairwise orthogonal. The locus therefore consists of the sphere less two great circles but including the point 0 .\n\nSecond Solution. An elementary synthetic argument can be given based on the fact that the length of the median to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is half the length of the hypotenuse. Let \\( zojhdvqi \\) be the midpoint of \\( ljwzckha dnxuelgo \\). If \\( spoqtmri \\) is on the locus, \\( wqbrnlyc spoqtmri \\) is perpendicular to the plane \\( spoqtmri ljwzckha dnxuelgo \\) and \\( \\angle ljwzckha spoqtmri dnxuelgo \\) is a right angle. By the result cited above, \\( spoqtmri zojhdvqi=\\frac{1}{2} ljwzckha dnxuelgo=pbtekjzi zojhdvqi \\), since \\( spoqtmri zojhdvqi \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle spoqtmri ljwzckha dnxuelgo \\) and \\( pbtekjzi zojhdvqi \\) is a median of \\( \\triangle pbtekjzi ljwzckha dnxuelgo \\). The right triangles \\( wqbrnlyc spoqtmri zojhdvqi \\) and \\( wqbrnlyc pbtekjzi zojhdvqi \\) have a common hypotenuse, \\( wqbrnlyc zojhdvqi \\), and a pair of congruent legs: hence these triangles are congruent. Thus \\( wqbrnlyc spoqtmri=wqbrnlyc pbtekjzi \\), and \\( spoqtmri \\) is on the sphere centered at \\( wqbrnlyc \\) with radius \\( wqbrnlyc pbtekjzi \\). spoqtmri ljwzckha and spoqtmri dnxuelgo are tangent to this sphere.\n\nConversely, let \\( spoqtmri \\) be any point on the sphere, and suppose the tangent plane at \\( spoqtmri \\) intersects \\( pbtekjzi csuomadz \\) and \\( pbtekjzi ivpezrbk \\) respectively in \\( ljwzckha \\) and \\( dnxuelgo \\). Now \\( \\overline{spoqtmri zojhdvqi}= \\) \\( \\overline{zojhdvqi pbtekjzi} \\) since both lines are tangents to the sphere from the external point \\( zojhdvqi \\). But \\( \\overline{pbtekjzi zojhdvqi}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{ljwzckha dnxuelgo} \\), and thus \\( \\overline{spoqtmri zojhdvqi}=\\frac{1}{2} \\overline{ljwzckha dnxuelgo} \\). From the converse of the cited plane geometry theorem, \\( \\angle ljwzckha spoqtmri dnxuelgo \\) is a right angle. Also, \\( \\angle wqbrnlyc spoqtmri dnxuelgo \\) and \\( \\angle wqbrnlyc spoqtmri ljwzckha \\) are clearly right angles since \\( spoqtmri ljwzckha \\) and \\( spoqtmri dnxuelgo \\) are in the tangent plane to the sphere.\n\nRemark. If points at infinity on \\( pbtekjzi csuomadz \\) and \\( pbtekjzi ivpezrbk \\) are admitted, then all points of the sphere with center at \\( wqbrnlyc \\) and radius \\( \\overline{pbtekjzi wqbrnlyc} \\) can be considered as points of the locus."
    },
    "kernel_variant": {
      "question": "In ordinary Euclidean 3-space let the mutually perpendicular lines OX, OY and OZ be taken as the x-, y- and z-axes with common origin O.  A fixed point C is chosen on the x-axis so that OC = a with a ≠ 0.  \nA point U is free to move on OY and a point V is free to move on OZ.\n\nDetermine the locus of all points P for which the three segments PU, PV and PC are pairwise perpendicular (i.e. the three vectors \\(\\overrightarrow{PU},\\,\\overrightarrow{PV},\\,\\overrightarrow{PC}\\) are mutually orthogonal).",
      "solution": "1.  Setting up coordinates\n   ------------------------------------------------\n   Place O at the origin and take the three given lines as the coordinate axes.\n\n        C  = ( a , 0 , 0)     (fixed, a ≠ 0)\n        U  = ( 0 , u , 0)     (u is any real number)\n        V  = ( 0 , 0 , v)     (v is any real number)\n        P  = ( x , y , z)     (point whose locus we seek).\n\n   The vectors of interest are\n        \\(\\overrightarrow{PU}  = (x ,\\, y-u ,\\, z)\\),\n        \\(\\overrightarrow{PV}  = (x ,\\, y ,\\, z-v)\\),\n        \\(\\overrightarrow{PC}  = (x-a ,\\, y ,\\, z).\\)\n\n   The orthogonality conditions are\n        (i)  \\(\\overrightarrow{PU}\\!\\cdot\\!\\overrightarrow{PV} = 0\\),\n        (ii) \\(\\overrightarrow{PU}\\!\\cdot\\!\\overrightarrow{PC} = 0\\),\n        (iii)\\(\\overrightarrow{PV}\\!\\cdot\\!\\overrightarrow{PC} = 0\\).\n\n2.  Eliminating u and v – the necessary equation for P\n   ----------------------------------------------------\n   Let S = x² + y² + z².  Straightforward computation gives\n      (i)   S  –  u y –  v z = 0,                         (1)\n      (ii)  S  –  a x –  u y  = 0,                        (2)\n      (iii) S  –  a x –  v z  = 0.                        (3)\n\n   Equating the right–hand sides of (1) and (2) yields v z = a x.       (A)\n   Equating the right–hand sides of (1) and (3) yields u y = a x.       (B)\n\n   Substituting (B) in (2) gives S = a x + a x = 2 a x, i.e.\n        x² + y² + z² = 2 a x.\n   Re-writing,\n        (x – a)² + y² + z² = a².                           (4)\n\n   Thus every admissible P must lie on the sphere of centre C(a,0,0) and radius |a|.\n\n3.  Which points of the sphere actually work?\n   -----------------------------------------\n   •  Suppose first that y ≠ 0 and z ≠ 0.\n      From (A)–(B) we can define\n              u = a x / y,       v = a x / z,\n      and these real numbers place\n              U = (0, u, 0) ∈ OY,   V = (0, 0, v) ∈ OZ.\n      With this choice all three scalar products (1)–(3) vanish, so every point P on the sphere (4) having y z ≠ 0 belongs to the locus.\n\n   •  Next, take a point on the sphere with y = 0.\n      Equation (B) forces a x = 0 ⇒ x = 0 (since a ≠ 0).\n      Substituting x = 0 and y = 0 in (4) gives z = 0, so the only such point is O itself.\n      The same reasoning with z = 0 shows again that the sole candidate is O.\n\n      At P = O we may pick any non–zero u and v; then\n            \\(\\overrightarrow{PU} = (0, -u, 0),\n              \\overrightarrow{PV} = (0, 0, -v),\n              \\overrightarrow{PC} = (-a, 0, 0)\\),\n      whose pairwise dot products are all zero.  Hence O indeed satisfies the requirement.\n\n   •  No other point of the sphere with y = 0 or z = 0 satisfies all three dot–product equations, so such points are excluded.\n\n4.  Final description of the locus\n   -------------------------------\n   The locus is the sphere\n        (x – a)² + y² + z² = a²\n   with its two great circles lying in the coordinate planes y = 0 and z = 0 removed, but with their common point O re-inserted.\n\n   Geometrically: take the sphere centred at C with radius OC; remove the two great circles cut out by the planes OXZ (y = 0) and OXY (z = 0); then add the single point O.  Every point of this set and only those points admit points U ∈ OY and V ∈ OZ such that PU, PV and PC are mutually perpendicular.\n\n∎",
      "_meta": {
        "core_steps": [
          "Place the configuration in an orthonormal frame: C=(0,0,c), U=(u,0,0), V=(0,v,0), P=(x,y,z).",
          "Translate pairwise orthogonality of PU, PV, PC into dot-product equations: x²+y²+z² = xu = yv = zc.",
          "Eliminate u and v to obtain x²+y²+z² = 2zc, i.e. (x)²+(y)²+(z−c)² = c² → P lies on the sphere with center C and radius |OC|.",
          "From xu = yv = zc deduce that x or y ≠ 0 ⇔ z ≠ 0, pinpointing the two excluded great circles (x=0 or y=0) and verifying the converse by setting u=zc/x, v=zc/y.",
          "Hence the locus is that sphere minus the two great circles (plus the origin)."
        ],
        "mutable_slots": {
          "slot1": {
            "description": "Which axis the fixed point C is placed on (any one of the three mutually perpendicular lines).",
            "original": "OZ"
          },
          "slot2": {
            "description": "The two axes chosen for the variable points U and V (any pair perpendicular to each other and to the ‘C-axis’).",
            "original": "OX for U, OY for V"
          },
          "slot3": {
            "description": "The letter/value used for the signed distance OC (must be non-zero).",
            "original": "c"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "checked": true,
  "problem_type": "proof",
  "iteratively_fixed": true
}