All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Shapes > Geometry
More Concyclic Points (Posted on 2014-01-26) Difficulty: 4 of 5

  
Prove the following:

If  Γ1, Γ2, Γ3, and Γ4 are circles or straight lines ( see Note below )
such that

     Γ1∩Γ2 = {A,K},   Γ2∩Γ3 = {B,L},   Γ3∩Γ4 = {C,M}, and
     Γ4∩Γ1 = {D,N}

then

     the points A, B, C, and D are concyclic if and only if
     the points K, L, M, and N are concyclic.

Note: At most only one of the points in {A,B,C,D} is the intersection
          of two straight lines. In that case the corresponding point in
          {K,L,M,N} is the point at infinity ( ∞ ).

For extra credit, use this theorem to prove the theorem in
On the same line.
  

  Submitted by Bractals    
Rating: 5.0000 (1 votes)
Solution: (Hide)

  
Let A, B, C, and D be distinct points in the extended complex plane
C∪{∞} and define the cross-ratio:
                             (A-C)(B-D)
                [A,B;C,D] = ------------
                             (A-D)(B-C) 
where if one of the points is the symbol ∞ , the corresponding
two differences are removed from the formula.

If the four points are finite, then there are six different values which
the cross ratio may take, depending on the order in which the points are
chosen. Let λ = [A,B;C,D]. Possible values of the cross-ratio are then

     λ, 1/λ, 1-λ, 1/(1-λ), (λ-1)/λ, and λ/(λ-1).

If one of the six values is real ( ∈ℜ ), then all six are real and likewise
if one is not real ( ∉ℜ ), then all six are not real.

THEOREM: The four points are concyclic or collinear if and only if
                      the cross-ratio [A,B;C,D] is real.

                      ( Without proof. It is referenced all over the web,
                       but I cannot find a nice proof. )

PROOF OF OUR THEOREM:

From

     Γ1∩Γ2 = {A,K},   Γ2∩Γ3 = {B,L},   Γ3∩Γ4 = {C,M}, and
     Γ4∩Γ1 = {D,N}

we have

     {A,D,K,N} ⊂ Γ1,
     {B,A,L,K} ⊂ Γ2,
     {C,B,M,L} ⊂ Γ3, and
     {D,C,N,M} ⊂ Γ4,

Therefore,

     [A,L;B,K], [B,M;C,L], [C,N;D,M], and [D,K;A,N] are real.

But,
                        [A,L;B,K][C,N;D,M]
  [A,C;B,D][K,M;L,N] = --------------------
                        [B,M;C,L][D,K;A,N]
     ∴ [A,C;B,D][K,M;L,N] is real.
     ∴ [A,C;B,D] is real if and only if [K,M;L,N] is real.
     ∴ A, B, C, and D are concyclic or collinear if and only if
         K, L, M, and N are concyclic or collinear.

QED

EXTRA CREDIT: ON THE SAME LINE.

Since ∠PYA = ∠PZA = 90°, points P, A, Y, and Z lie on a circle;
let Γ1 be that circle. Let lines AB and BC be Γ2 and Γ3 respectively.
Since ∠PXC = ∠PYC = 90°, points P, C, X, and Y lie on a circle;
let Γ4 be that circle.

     Γ1∩Γ2 = {A,Z},   Γ2∩Γ3 = {B,∞},   Γ3∩Γ4 = {C,X}, and
     Γ4∩Γ1 = {P,Y}

Therefore,

         P lies on the circumcircle of ΔABC
   ⇔  A, B, C, and P are concyclic
   ⇔  X, Y, Z, and ∞ are concyclic
   ⇔  X, Y, and Z are collinear.

QED
  

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
There are no comments yet.
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (1)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (17)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information