The following problem, by Le Viet An (Vietnam), was posted on the Facebook group Perú Geométrico asking to prove that the smallest circles shown on the image are Archimedean circles. Here I give a proof for one of these circles.
I will give my own description of the problem and change the notation.
Consider an arbelos configuration with D, E, O and P being the centers of semicircles with diameters AC, BC, AB and DE, respectively. Let G be the intersection of semicircles BC and DE. Denote by H the midpoint of segment BG=2a. Call I the intersection of a perpendicular line from H to AB and let J be the intersection of HI with the circle with radius DE. Denote by K the intersection of EJ with semicircle BC. Let L be the intersection of OK with semicircle AB. The circle with radius KL is Archimedean (Le Viet An).
Notation:
AD=CD=r_1
BE=CE=EK=r_2
DP=EP=GP=\frac{r_1+r_2}{2}
DE=EJ=r_1+r_2
BH=GH=a
KL=x
Proof. First, let's find an expression for a. Focus on triangle BGP and cevian GO. By the Stewart's theorem we have
(\frac{r_1+r_2}{2})^2r_2+4a^2(\frac{r_1+r_2}{2})=r_2^2(r_2+\frac{r_1+r_2}{2})+r_2(\frac{r_1+r_2}{2})(r_2+\frac{r_1+r_2}{2})
Solving for a and simplyfing we get
a=\frac{r_2\sqrt{r_1+2r_2}}{\sqrt{2r_1+2r_2}}
Let G' be on AB such that GG' is perpendicular to AB. Notice that \triangle{BCG}\sim\triangle{BGG'}, therefore,
\frac{BG'}{2a}=\frac{a}{r_2}
BG'=\frac{2a^2}{r_2}
As H is the midpoint of BG and IH is parallel to GG', then, I is the midpoint of BG'. It follows
BI=\frac{a^2}{r_2}
HI=\sqrt{a^2-\frac{a^4}{r_2^2}}
EH=\sqrt{r_2^2-a^2}
By the Pythagorean theorem,
EI^2+IH^2=EH^2
EI=\sqrt{r_2^2-2a^2+\frac{a^4}{r_2^2}}
Replacing a by its expression in terms of r_1 and r_2, we get
EI=\frac{r_1r_2}{2(r_1+r_2)}
Remark. notice that the circle with radius 2EI is also Archimedean.
Let K' be the orthogonal projection of K on AB.
\frac{EK'}{EI}=\frac{r_2}{r_1+r_2}
EK'=\frac{r_1r_2^2}{2(r_1+r_2)^2}
Focus on triangle OKK'. By the Pythagorean theorem,
KK'=\sqrt{(r_1+r_2-x)^2-[r_1+\frac{r_1r_2^2}{2(r_1+r_2)^2}]^2}
Now, focus on triangle EKK', again, by the Pythagorean theorem,
(r_1+r_2-x)^2-[r_1+\frac{r_1r_2^2}{2(r_1+r_2)^2}]^2+\frac{r_1^2r_2^4}{4(r_1+r_2)^4}=r_2^2
Solving for x and simplyfing we get two solutions for x,
x_1=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
x_2=\frac{2r_1^2+3r_1r_2+2r_2^2}{r_1+r_2}
x_2>r_1+r_2, which is absurd from our configuration. Then,
x=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
The following are some other problems by Le Viet An.
In an arbelos, from E, draw a tangent line to semicircle AC, at F. Construct G similarly. Let H be the intersection of tangent lines EF and DG. Let circle (H, HC) cut semicircles AC and BC at I and J, respectively. Call I' the orthogonal projection of I onto AB. Construct J' similarly. Let S be the center of circle bounded by circle with center at A, radius AJ', circle with center at B, radius BI', and semicircle AC. Construct circle centred at T similarly. Then, circles centred at S and T are Archimedean twins (Le Viet An).
Proof. Let CI cut DH at M. Let CJ cut EH at N. Notice that CDIH is a kite, then, CI is perpendicular to DH and, as a consequence, CM is parallel to EG=r_2. As \triangle{CDM}\sim\triangle{EDG}, we have
\frac{r_2}{\frac{CI}{2}}=\frac{r_1+r_2}{r_1}
CI=\frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
Remark. Notice that circle with radius \frac{CI}{2} is Archimedean.
Notice also that \triangle{CII'}\sim\triangle{EDG}, then,
\frac{CI'}{r_2}=\frac{CI}{r_1+r_2}=\frac{\frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}}{r_1+r_2}=\frac{2r_1r_2}{(r_1+r_2)^2}
CI'=\frac{2r_1r_2^2}{(r_1+r_2)^2}
Similarly, notice that \triangle{CEN}\sim\triangle{DEF}, then,
\frac{r_1}{CN}=\frac{r_1+r_2}{r_2}
CN=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
Notice that \triangle{CEN}\sim\triangle{CJJ'}, then,
\frac{CJ'}{\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}}=\frac{\frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}}{r_2}=\frac{2r_1}{r_1+r_2}
CJ'=\frac{2r_1^2r_2}{(r_1+r_2)^2}
Focus on \triangle{ASB} and cevian DS, if we call x the radius of circle centred at S, from the Stewart's theorem we have
[2r_1+\frac{2r_1^2r_2}{(r_1+r_2)^2}-x]^2(r_1+2r_2)+[2r_2+\frac{2r_1r_2^2}{(r_1+r_2)^2}+x]^2r_1=
(2r_1+2r_2)[(r_1+x)^2+r_1(r_1+2r_2)]
Expanding, solving for x and simplifying we get
x=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
A similar reasoning goes for circle centred at T.
In an arbelos, let circle (A, AC) cut semircircle AB at F. Similarly, construct G. Call D' the orthogonal projection of D onto BF. Similarly, construct E'. Circles with centers at D' and E' and tagential to semicircles AC and BC, respectively, are Archimedean (Le Viet An).
Proof. Notice that because of the Thales's theorem AF is perpendicular to BF, therefore, \triangle{ABF}\sim\triangle{BDD'}. As a consequence,
\frac{2r_1}{r_1+x}=\frac{2r_1+2r_2}{r_1+2r_2}
Where x is the radius of circle centred at D'.
Isolating x and simplifying,
x=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
A similar reasoning goes for circle centred at E'.
In an arbelos, let semicircle DE cut semicircles AC and BC in F and G, respectively. Let H be on chord DF such that \angle{CHF}=90^\circ. Similarly, construct I. Then, circles with radii HF and IG are Archimedean (Le Viet An).
Proof. Because of Thales's theorem, DF=r_1 is perpendicular to EF. As a consequence, \triangle{CDH}\sim\triangle{EDF}. It follows
\frac{r_1}{DH}=\frac{r_1+r_2}{r_1}
DH=\frac{r_1^2}{r_1+r_2}
FH=r_1-\frac{r_1^2}{r_1+r_2}=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
A similar reasoning must show the congruency for circle with radius GI.
In an arbelos, let the circle (B, BC) meet semicircle AB in F. Similarly, construct I, on semicircle AB. Let AF intersect semicircle AC in G. Let G' be the orthogonal projection of G onto AB. The circle centred at R is bounded by semicircle AB, circle A(C) and the line GG'. Similarly, construct the circle centred at S. Then, the circles centred at R and S are Archimedean (Le Viet An).
Proof. Notice that because of Thales's theorem \angle{AGC}=\angle{AFB}=90^\circ. Therefore, \triangle{AGC}\sim\triangle{AFB}. Thus, we have
\frac{GC}{2r_2}=\frac{2r_1}{2r_1+2r_2}
GC=\frac{2r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
Remark. Notice that the circle with radius \frac{GC}{2} is Archimedean.
AF=\sqrt{(2r_1+2r_2)^2-4r_2^2}=2\sqrt{r_1^2+2r_1r_2}
\frac{AF}{AG}=\frac{2r_1+2r_2}{2r_1}
AG=\frac{2r_1\sqrt{r_1^2+2r_1r_2}}{r_1+r_2}
GC=\sqrt{4r_1^2-AG^2}=\sqrt{4r_1^2-\frac{4r_1^2(r_1^2+2r_1r_2)}{(r_1+r_2)^2}}
GC=\frac{2r_1\sqrt{4r_1r_2+r_2^2}}{r_1+r_2}
As \triangle{AGG'}\sim\triangle{AGC}, it follows
\frac{AG'}{AG}=\frac{AG}{AC}
AG'=\frac{2r_1(r_1^2+2r_1r_2)}{(r_1+r_2)^2}
Let R' be the orthogonal projection of R onto AB. If we call x the radius of circle centred at R, by the Pythagorean theorem,
RR'=\sqrt{(2r_1+x)^2-(AG'-x)^2}
Focus on triangle \triangle{ORR'}. By the Pythagorean theorem
[AO-(AG'-x)]^2+RR'^2=OR^2
If we replace the segments by their expressions in terms of r_1 and r_2, we have the following equation
[(r_1+r_2)-\frac{2r_1(r_1^2+2r_1r_2)}{(r_1+r_2)^2}+x]^2+(2r_1+x)^2-[\frac{2r_1(r_1^2+2r_1r_2)}{(r_1+r_2)^2}-x]^2=(r_1+r_2+x)^2
Expanding, solving for x and simplifying you get
x=\frac{r_1r_2}{r_1+r_2}
A similar reasoning goes for circle centred at S.