I faced the following problem when fooling around with quadrilaterals.
Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral. On the edge AB, CD, pick E, F such that $\dfrac{EB}{EA} =\dfrac{FC}{FD}$. Let $M, P, N$ be the midpoint of AD, EF, BC respectively. Prove that M, P, N are collinear.
Here is my attempt:
It's not hard to check that $\vec{MN}=\vec{AN}-\vec{AM}= \dfrac{1}{2}(\vec{AB}+\vec{AC}-\vec{AD})=\dfrac{1}{2}(\vec{AB}+\vec{DC})$.
Similarly $\vec{PN}=\dfrac{1}{2}(\vec{EB}+\vec{FC})$.Now, let $\dfrac{EB}{EA} =\dfrac{FC}{FD} = k$, then $\dfrac{EB}{AB} =\dfrac{FC}{DC}=\dfrac{k}{k+1}=l$.
Then $\vec{PN}=\dfrac{1}{2}(\dfrac{EB}{AB} \vec{AB}+\dfrac{FC}{DC}\vec{DC})=l\dfrac{1}{2}(\vec{AB}+\vec{DC}) = l\vec{MN}$.
Hence, $\vec{MN}\uparrow \uparrow \vec{PN}$, therefore M, P, N are collinear.
Problem solved, however, I wonder if there are any other Euclidean solutions for this. I found no direction to solve this via any elementary technique. If you found one, please give me a hint or share here. Thanks.


