MathDB
Putnam 1949 B6

Source: Putnam 1949

March 20, 2022
Putnamgeometrytangent

Problem Statement

Let CC be a closed convex curve with a continuously turning tangent and let OO be a point inside C.C. For each point PP on CC we define T(P)T(P) as follows: Draw the tangent to CC at PP and from OO drop the perpendicular to that tangent. Then T(P)T(P) is the point at which CC intersects this perpendicular. Starting now with a point P0P_{0} on CC, define points PnP_n by Pn=T(Pn1).P_n =T(P_{n-1}). Prove that the points PnP_{n} approach a limit and characterize all possible limit points. (You may assume that TT is continuous.)