The points \(B\) and \(C\) have position vectors \(\mathbf{b}\) and \(\mathbf{c}\), respectively, relative to the origin \(A\), and \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\) are not collinear.
The point \(X\) has position vector
\(s \mathbf{b}+t\mathbf{c}\). Describe the locus of \(X\) when \(s+t=1\).
The point \(P\) has position vector \(\beta \mathbf{b}+\gamma\mathbf{c}\), where \(\beta\) and \(\gamma\) are non-zero, and \(\beta+\gamma\ne1\).
The line \(AP\) cuts the line \(BC\) at \(D\). Show that \(BD:DC=\gamma:\beta\).
The line \(BP\) cuts the line \(CA\) at \(E\), and the line \(CP\) cuts the line \(AB\) at \(F\). Show that
\[
\frac{AF}{FB} \times \frac{BD}{DC} \times \frac{CE}{EA}=1\,.
\]
Solution:
\(X\) lies on the line including \(B\) and \(C\).
points on the line \(AP\) have the form \(\lambda(\beta \mathbf{b}+\gamma\mathbf{c})\), and the point \(D\) will be the point where \(\lambda\beta + \lambda \gamma = 1\).
\begin{align*}
&& \frac{|BD|}{|DC|} &= \frac{|\mathbf{b} -\lambda(\beta \mathbf{b}+\gamma\mathbf{c})| }{|\lambda(\beta \mathbf{b}+\gamma\mathbf{c})- \mathbf{c}|} \\
&&&= \frac{|(1-\lambda \beta)\mathbf{b} - \lambda \gamma \mathbf{c}|}{|\lambda \beta \mathbf{b}+(\lambda \gamma -1)\mathbf{c}|}\\
&&&= \frac{|\lambda \gamma\mathbf{b} - \lambda \gamma \mathbf{c}|}{|\lambda \beta \mathbf{b}-(\lambda \beta)\mathbf{c}|} \\
&&&= \frac{\gamma}{\beta}
\end{align*}
The line \(BP\) is \(\mathbf{b} + \mu(\beta \mathbf{b}+\gamma\mathbf{c})\) and will meet \(CA\) when \(1+\mu\beta = 0\), ie \(\mu = -\frac{1}{\beta}\), therefore \(E\) is \(-\frac{\gamma}{\beta}\mathbf{c}\), and so \(\frac{|CE|}{|EA|} = \frac{1+\gamma/\beta}{\gamma/\beta} = \frac{\beta+\gamma}{\gamma}\).
Similarly, \(F\) is \(-\frac{\beta}{\gamma}\mathbf{b}\) and \(\frac{|AF|}{|FB|} = \frac{\beta/\gamma}{1+\frac{\beta}{\gamma}} = \frac{\beta}{\gamma+\beta}\), and so
\[\frac{AF}{FB} \times \frac{BD}{DC} \times \frac{CE}{EA} = \frac{\beta}{\gamma+\beta} \frac{\gamma}{\beta} \frac{\beta+\gamma}{\gamma} = 1 \]