Distances between two orthocenters Let  a Triangle $\triangle ABC$ be inscribed in a circle, along the arc $\overset{\frown}{BC}$ lies a point $P$ such as, $BP=4\sqrt{2}$.

Compute the distance between the two orthocenters of the triangles $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle APC $.


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*As you can see form the picture above the segment $BP$ seems to be parallel with "$H_1H_2$". But I don't know how to prove it. I believe something about the nine point circle might be useful.

 A: Let 


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*$D=AC\cap BH_1$ be the foot of the altitude from $B$

*$E$ - the other intersection of of the altitude $BH_1$ with the circle


and similarly


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*$Q=AC\cap PH_2$ be the foot of the altitude from $P$

*$R$ - the other intersection of of the altitude $PH_2$ with the circle


Then $BPRE$ is a symmetric (since it is inscribed) trapezoid (since $BE\perp AC \perp PR \implies BE\parallel PR$) and thus angles $ERP$ and $DPR$ are the same.
Also, $H_1H_2RE$ is a symmetric trapezoid (its axis of symmetry is $AC$) therefore $H_1H_2 \parallel BP$, $BPH_1H_2$ is a parallelogram and $H_1H_2=BP$.
PS. Please tell me if any steps are unclear.
A: It's not difficult to show that, in $\triangle XYZ$ with orthocenter $W$ and circumdiameter $d$, we have this nice counterpart to the Law of Sines:
$$\frac{|\overline{WX}|}{|\cos X|} = \frac{|\overline{WY}|}{|\cos Y|} = \frac{|\overline{WZ}|}{|\cos Z|} = d$$

In your $\triangle ABC$ and $\triangle APC$, the angles at $B$ and $P$ subtend the same chord, $\overline{AC}$, and are therefore congruent (by the Inscribed Angle Theorem). Writing $d$ for the common circumdiameter, we have
$$|\overline{BH_1}| = d\;|\cos B| = d\;|\cos P| = |\overline{PH_2}| \qquad\qquad(\star)$$
Since $\overline{BH_1}$ and $\overline{PH_2}$ are clearly parallel, and now also congruent, it follows that $\square BH_1H_2P$ is a parallelogram. Thus, $\overline{BP}\cong\overline{H_1H_2}$.

Note that $(\star)$ says, for fixed $A$ and $C$ on a circle, the distance from a moving $B$ on that circle to the orthocenter of the corresponding $\triangle ABC$ is constant; the locus of those orthocenters, then, is a translate of the circle. This is especially-easy to see when $\overline{AC}$ is a diameter of the circle.
