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Inversion Distance (Posted on 2006-02-21) Difficulty: 3 of 5
A circle (of radius a), a line, and a point are mapped by inversion into two concentric circles and the center of those concentric circles. If the distance from the given circle's center to the line is b, then what is the distance from the point to the line?

Inversion Defined:

Let O be the center of a circle of radius k. An inversion with respect to circle O is a mapping f:R2 -> R2 such that for all P in R2 (not O), P' = f(P) lies on ray OP and
|OP'||OP| = k2.

See www.geocities.com/bractals/inv.jpg

for graphical description of inversion.

  Submitted by Bractals    
Rating: 2.8000 (5 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
The point cannot be mapped into a circle. Therefore, the point must be mapped into the center of the concentric circles. The center of inversion cannot lie on the circle or the line since either would be mapped into a line. The center of inversion must lie on the line determined by the point and the center of the circle and this line must be perpendicular to the given line. Therefore, let k be the inversion radius and
  Line: x = 0

  Point: (c,0)

  Circle: (x-b)2 + y2 = a2

  Center of inversion: (h,0)
For the circle and the line to be mapped into concentric circles,
                k2          k2
             --------- + ---------
    k2        (b-a)-h     (b+a)-h
 -------- = -----------------------
  2(0-h)               2

      or

 h = +- sqrt(b2 - a2)
For the point to be mapped into the center of the map of the line,
     k2       k2
 -------- = -----
  2(0-h)     c-h

      or

 h = -c
Therefore, the point must be the reflection about the line of the center of inversion that maps the circle and line into concentric circles. With the distance between the point and line
 
           |c| = sqrt(b2 - a2)
See
    www.geocities.com/bractals/l-inv.jpg and
    www.geocities.com/bractals/r-inv.jpg
for the two solutions of mapping a circle C, a line L, and a point P into concentric circles C' and L' and their center P' where the circle of inversion I is tangent to the line L. Note circle PI in determining the center of circle I and point P.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
re(2): Solution: I think I have it right now.Mindrod2006-02-26 12:47:38
re: Solution: I think I have it right now.Eric2006-02-26 04:11:53
SolutionSolution: I think I have it right now.Mindrod2006-02-25 22:40:47
re(3): problem resolvedDej Mar2006-02-25 20:33:31
re(6): Note to BractalsDej Mar2006-02-25 16:20:01
re(5): Note to BractalsEric2006-02-25 14:13:42
re(4): Note to Bractals and EricMindrod2006-02-25 14:12:59
re(3): Note to BractalsBractals2006-02-25 12:08:38
re(4): Note to BractalsDej Mar2006-02-25 05:58:05
re(3): Note to BractalsEric2006-02-25 03:08:26
re(2): Note to BractalsMindrod2006-02-24 20:47:28
re(2): Note to BractalsMindrod2006-02-24 20:31:54
re: Note to BractalsBractals2006-02-24 01:39:21
re: Note to BractalsEric2006-02-23 23:34:25
Some ThoughtsNote to BractalsMindrod2006-02-23 21:09:01
Solutionre(2): Disagreement resolvedMindrod2006-02-23 21:06:39
re: DisagreementEric2006-02-23 16:13:58
SolutionDisagreementMindrod2006-02-23 13:09:58
re: Algebraic solutiongoFish2006-02-23 03:23:40
SolutionAlgebraic solutionTristan2006-02-22 21:58:05
re(3): problem resolved - yepgoFish2006-02-22 17:31:55
re(2): problem resolvedEric2006-02-22 17:08:39
re: problemgoFish2006-02-22 11:05:26
Some ThoughtsproblemCharlie2006-02-22 10:25:11
re: Now I have it. Error?goFish2006-02-22 10:14:05
Clarification requiredgoFish2006-02-22 04:58:51
Now I have it.Eric2006-02-22 02:03:52
re: special case? spoiler, perhapsEric2006-02-22 01:50:11
re: special case? spoiler, perhapsMindrod2006-02-21 23:08:27
Some Thoughtsspecial case? spoiler, perhapsMindrod2006-02-21 22:54:07
SolutionHow do I explain this?Eric2006-02-21 18:25:24
d3.5?Percy2006-02-21 18:23:55
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