On Triangles Having a Common Mean Author(s): O. J. Ramler Reviewed work(s): Source: The American Mathematical Monthly, Vol.

47, No. 3 (Mar., 1940), pp. 140-145 Published by: Mathematical Association of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2304214 . Accessed: 05/01/2013 01:43
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140

ON TRIANGLES HAVING A COMMON MEAN

[March,

ON TRIANGLES HAVING A COMMON MEAN*

0. J. RAMLER, The Catholic Universityof America

Introduction.The term "mean" is used here in the sense definedby P. Delens [1]. C. E. Van Horn [2] has considered the same triangle and called it "the equilateral derivative" of a triangle. Van Horn gives the followingconstructionforthe mean triangle,or the equilateral derivative of a given triangle: Let ABC be any triangle and let 0 be its circumcenter.Let D, E, F, be the midpoints of the sides BC, CA, AB, respectively.Draw the side bisector DH containingthe opposite of the side BC to cut the arc BA C of the circumcircle vertex A at the point H. The side bisectorsEJ, FK are similarlydrawn to cut the arcs ABC and BCA at the points J and K, respectively.Choose the point L on arc HA so that HL is one-thirdof the arc HA. Select the points M and N in a similar manner on the arcs JB and KC, respectively. Employing conjugate coordinates we take the circumcircleof the fundamental triangle AiA2A3 to be the unit or base circle and let the co6rdinates of the verticesA, be the turnsai, (i= 1, 2, 3). We considerao to be roots of the equation t3- o1t2+?2t- 03=0. Then as Delens shows, the vertices of the mean 0.31/32, where 1+ +X2 = 0. It is the purpose triangleof A1A2A3 are 0-31/3,0y31/i3, of this paper to discuss the relation of two triangleshaving a common mean triangle,and to apply some of the results to theoremsdiscussed by Musselman in his article in this MONTHLY, On the line of images [3]. func1. Mutually orthopolartriangles. Let si be the elementarysymmetry of tions of the vectors /3i the vertices Bi of a second triangle inscribed in the it base circle. From the definition followsat once that the two trianglesAi and have a common mean when 03 = S3. The vectors to the orthocentersof triBi angles Ai and Bi are oi and si, respectively.The midpoint m of the segment is joining the orthocenters given by
yi + Si
(l . l) 1M+=

Oi

(01

02 +

0_30i10:21)

when the triangleshave a common mean. The rightmemberof equation (1.1) of m identifies as the orthopoleof side B,B2 as to triangleA . The symmetry the expression (o;?+sl)/2, however, leads to results given by Murnaghan [4] and

Godeau [51:

inscribedin thesame circlehave thesame mean, THEOREM I. If twotriangles is of themidpointof thesegment joining theirorthocenters theorthopole any side of are withrespect theother. other to In the one triangle words, twotriangles mutually orthopolar. We have at once the following:
* Presented at the meeting of the Maryland-District of Columbia-Virginia Section of the Association at Washington, December 9, 1939.

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1940]

ON TRIANGLES

HAVING

A COMMON

MEAN

141

COROLLARY. The center thenine-point of circleof a triangle theorthopole is of any side of its mean.

2. The line of images. If we take any point T on the circumcircleof a triangle A1A2A3and reflectthis point in the sides of the triangle we obtain three points lying on a line, the line of images of the point T. This followsat once fromthe propertyof the pedal line of T as to the triangle A1A2A3,and since the pedal line bisects the segment joining the orthocenterto the pole T, it follows that the line of images passes through the orthocenter.Moreover, the line of images is the directrixof the parabola having T for focus and inscribed in the triangleA1A2A3.Musselman [3] has given the equation of the line of images of T as to A1A2A3to be

(2.1)

Tx-03-t=

To1-,

Now considera second triangleB1B2B3inscribedin the base circle,and let /3 be and the equation of the line of images of its vertices. Then si is its orthocenter the same point T as to this triangleis (2.2) Tx
-S33C

= Ts -s2.

Lines (2.1) and (2.2) are coincident when 03=s3 and To1-02=Ts1-s2, T=(0f2-s2)/(0f1-s1). Hence the following:

i.e.,

inscribedin thesame circlehave a commonline THEOREM II. If twotriangles mean and a ofimagesfor thesame pointon theircircumcircle, theyhavea common common inscribedparabola whose focus is thegivenpoint. Theorems I and II are equivalent to a theoremstated by Cwojdzinsky [6]: to When two trianglesare inscribedin a circle and circumscribed a parabola, is themidpoint thedistanceoftheir of orthocenters theorthopole any side ofone of of thetriangles theother. for The result stated in Theorem II may be verifiedotherwise. lines are drawn It is well known that if, froma point t of the circumcircle, to the three sides of an inscribed triangle making equal angles 0 with those sides, the feet of these lines lie on a line which may be considereda generalized pedal line of t under the chosen angle 0. We shall call it a skew pedal line. As the angle 0 varies the pedal line envelopes a parabola inscribed in the fundamental triangleand having t as its focus. Letting e2i0= l/k we obtain the equation of the skew pedal line of t under angle 0 with respect to triangleA1A2A3 to be k (2.3) (k-1)tx + (+ --02-)+ kt k As k varies we obtain the map equation of the envelope to be

(2.4)

x = t- (t-a1l)(t-ae2)(t-ae3)
t2(k 1)2

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142

ON TRIANGLES

HAVING

A COMMON

MEAN

[March,

which identifies the envelope to be a parabola. If k =ai/t, the equation (2.3) of the corresponding pedal line becomes (i = j = k = 1, 2, 3), x + aoak - j -a?k = O, jCX showingthat the parabola is inscribedin the triangleA1A2A3. Its vertextangent is the pedal line fork =-1, namely
(2.5)

2tx-23C
-0j -Ok

+ 03t-' +

-2-t2 _-1t = O.

and 03=s3, equation (2.3) becomes (02-S2)/(01-si), =0 which is the equation of side B1Bk of triangleB1B2B3.The = trianglesAi and Bi have a common mean by virtue of the assumption o-3 s3. Theorem II is thus verifiedby direct substitutions.From the results obtained above, we are led to the observation that if two trianglesinscribedin the same circle have a common line of images for the same point of their circumcircle they are mutually orthopolar,which also implies that they have a common mean. The line of images common to two triangleshaving the same mean is also the locus of points R mentioned in Musselman's generalization of Canon's theorem [7]. The generalized Canon theoremmay be stated as follows: If, for every point R on theline HP, whereH is theorthocenter A1A2A3and P is any of point in theplane, we determine images C1C2C3 R in thesides A2A3,A3A1, the of and A1A2,the fourcirclesC1C2A3, meetin a fixedpoint M. C2C3A1, C3CIA2, A1A2A3 Now if Ai and Bi are two triangleshaving the same mean, and if we choose P to be the orthocenter of B,, the point M has the coordinate (0f2-s2)/(0-1 -sI). s, The symmetry this resultenables us to state the following of modification the of generalization of Canon's theorem:
X+Ij3kX

If k=/3i/t, where t=

THEOREM III. If Ha and Hb are theorthocenters twotriangles of A1A2A3and B1B2B3havingthesame mean, and if for any point R on HaHb we determine the images A,' and B,' in the sides of trianglesAi and B, respectively, circles the A1'A2'A3,A2'A3'A1,A 3'A1'A2,B1'B2'B3,B2'B?'B1, B 'B'B2 meeton thebase circle at a pointwhichis the focus oftheparabola inscribed thetwotriangles and B,. in A

It can be readily shown, too, that A, and B,' are images in the common line of images HaHb. 3. Co-mean triangles and a theorem of Blanc. If any transversalbe drawn of through0, the circumcenter A1A2A3, cutting the sides A2A3,A3A1,A1A2 in Cl, C2, C3, respectively,the three circles with AiCi as diameters meet in two and the otheron the nine-pointcircleof AjA2A2. points,one on the circumcircle Their common chord passes throughH, the orthocenterof triangleAi [8]. If the transversalis taken as the diameter throughT on the circumcircle, Musselman [7] has shown that the three circles A,C, meet at 1 0f3\ 0-3 ? oXT2 j T-~ 2 and- XN=xc = \ T2 ~2 0-2+ T

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1940]

ON TRIANGLES

HAVING

A COMMON

MEAN

143

and nine-pointcircle respectively,and that the equation of on the circumcircle the commonchord of the threecirclesis (3.1)
T2(o2 + T2)X
03(03

LTT2)x +023

01T.4=

Again we consider a second triangleB1B2B3having a common mean with triand we findthat we can identifyline (3.1) with the common line angle A1A2A3,

ofimagesofpoint(0f2-S2)/(0i--Sl), (3.2) T2(o-2+ T2)

02 S2

providing
+ o-1T2
S1

0:3

-0-20f3 o-1T4
02S1 of1S2

01 -

These equations are consistentwhen T is a root of (3.3) A and B is

(3.4)
(f1 -

si)T4

(0-2S1 -

o1s2)T2

-0-3(0-2

S2)

Now theequationofthelineofimagesofpoint(0f2-S2)/(01-si)
X(0f2 S2) 0-3X(0l Si) S10-2 + 0-1S2 =

as to triangles

0.

xl This intersectsthe circumcircle = 1 in two points xl,X2, rootsof the quadratic (3.5)
x2(02 S2) (S1(J2 01S2) X0-3 (0-1 -

Si)

0.

Let x --3/T2; then equation (3.5) becomes identical with equation (3.3), enabling us to devise a means to constructthe fourpoints which representthe the points x, T, and roots of equation (3.3). The equation x = -3/T2 identifies - T as vertices of a right triangle having the same mean as the fundamental triangle A1A2A3.There are thereforetwo distinct diametral transversals OT which yield the same common chord of the system of circles mentioned in Blanc's theorem when applied to two triangles having a common mean. We have, then, the followingconstructionforthe points T: If L is a vertex of the mean triangle,and X1 is an intersectionof the common line of images with the so circumcircle,locate a point K on the circumcircle that arc LX1=2 arc KL and point L lies between X1 and K. Then one of the diametral transversalswill be the diameter perpendicular to OK. The other diameter is found by using the second intersectionX2 of the common line of images with the base circle. a Fromequation(3.2) wehave T2 = Xc a, where = (0f2-S2)/(of1-Si), thepoint whose line of images is (3.4). Then we may write,since thereis a point Xc correspondingto a point T2,X 'a = T12and Xc" a= T22.From these relationswe find X' + X
/1
- '~"2 = (T 2+

T2?)/a

2~'

02S1

-+X2, 0-2 - S2

0-1S2

X=

Xc'X"

T22/a2 =

0-3(0-1 -Si) 0-2 -S2

XiX2

wherex1and X2are the roots of the equation (3.5). These resultsinvolve only a point on the circumcircleand its common line of images as to two triangles

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144

ON TRIANGLES

HAVING

A COMMON

MEAN

[March,

having a common mean, and since, as we have seen, the point and line are respectively, a parabola common to the two triangles,we of focus and directrix, may state the following: in inscribed a circle of in THEOREM IV. All triangles a poristicsystem triangles of mean. Each ofthetwodiameters to and circumscribed a parabola havea common cutsthe the focus tothepointswhere directrix thecirclebisecting arcsjoining the the in circle,cuts thesides of any triangleof theporisticsystem points such thatthe as joining thesepoints to the opposite vertices diameters circles on the segments meetat a pointcommon thecircleand thedirectrix. to The isogonal conjugates of thecommon 4. Isogonal conjugates. THEOREM. orthopoleof two mutually orthopolartrianglesin those trianglesare symmetric withrespect thecircumcenter. to Let the mutually orthopolartrianglesbe A1A2A3and B1B2B3.Let ai and /3 be their vertices, respectively. Then if P(p) is their common orthopole, its 2P =o?+si and =S3. If P does not lie on the circumcircle, isogonal conjugate x is given by P+x+o3 f=o [9] for the triangleA1A2A3. Similarly,the isogonal conjugate y of p in triangleB1B2B3is given by P+y+o8039 =s1. Adding =0, which is not true unwe get,remembering that 2p= o+sl, x+y+03p(x+y) with respect to the less x+y=O, i.e., x= -y, and the points are symmetric circumcenter. 5. Perspective triangles. Suppose triangles A 1A2A3 and B1B2B3 are mutually orthopolarand perspective froma point P(p). Then
= i

ai-p
aip

, (i = 1, 2, 3), and I1I2I83

3=

(al- P)(a2 - P)(ax3- p) (alp

1Q2 1)(a2fi-

)(a3-i

as hence, regardingtriangleA1A2A3 fixed,and B1B2B3as variable,

2p p3 - -01p2 + 2?0_2P +

C3po0.3i

2fi2 0-020-3P

+ a1o3 f= ? 1fP=23

20-3

is the equation of the locus of the centers of perspective. The locus is a cubic cutting the base circle zs= 1 at the vertices of the fundamental triangle and at the verticesoftheircommonmean. The cubic cuts the sides A jAk A1A2A3, wherepi =ai(30-3-aioJ2)/(0J3- a,3), i.e., where the Lemoine axis crosses the sides of A1A2A3.The clinant at any point is given by dz dt
3of22 3Z2
-

20-20y3z+

0-10-3

2of1z +?02

which shows that the cubic cuts McCay's cubic [10] orthogonally [11]. The is asymptotes are z = -COi32I3z+13(0-1+C0ir20-3 1/3), wherecow any one of the cube roots of unity. The asymptotesintersectat the centroidof A1A2A3, Z =0-i/3. It may be remarked here that if the pair of perspective trianglesA1A2A3 and B1B2B3 have opposite means in the sense defined by Delens [1], i.e., if a1a2a3 = -0313203, the locus of the centersof perspectiveis McCay's cubic [11].

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1940]

ON EXTREMA

OF FUNCTIONS

145

References
1. P. Delens, Mathesis, vol. 51, 1937, p. 264. 2. C. E. Van Horn, this MONTHLY, vol. 45, 1938, p. 435. 3. J. R. Musselman, this MONTHLY, vol. 45, 1938, p. 421. 4. F. D. Murnaghan, Mathesis, vol. 41, 1927, p. 27. 5. R. Godeau, Mathesis, vol. 41, 1927, p. 72. 6. Cwojdzinsky, Archiv der Mathematik und Physik, 1902, p. 316. 7. J. R. Musselman, this MONTHLY, vol. 45, 1938, p. 424. 8. C. Blanc, Nouvelles Annales de Math6matique, Third Series, vol. 19, 1900, p. 573. 9. F. V. and F. Morley, Inversive Geometry,p. 196. 10. W. S. McCay, Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. 29, 1889, p. 313. 11. J. H. Weaver, this MCNTHLY, vol. 42, 1935, p. 497.

ON EXTREMA OF FUNCTIONS WHICH SATISFY CERTAIN SYMMETRY CONDITIONS

R. F. RINEHART, Case School of Applied Science

1. Introduction.The followingtheorems on maxima and minima are well known. I. The function Xl X2 . . . subjectto thecondition xl+x2+ ... = x=c/n. atX1=X2=
Xn,

are x,x where the real variables xi, X2, maximum +x, =c>O, has a properrelative

, ?+xn, wherethe real variables xi, x2, * II. The functionXl+X2+ minimumat x.. x,=c>O, has a properrelative are subjectto the conditionXlX2

R. H. Garver*has pointed out that most of the elementaryproblemson the applications of the theory of maxima and minima which are customarilyenof countered in textbooks on the calculus, can, by appropriate transformation the variables, be put into formsto which Theorems I or II may be applied. One infersthat Theorems I and II are ratherfundamentalresultsin the theory of maxima and minima. Theorems I and II are, however, susceptible of a sweeping generalization. t It is the purpose of this paper to call attentionto this generalization. A mild study of Theorems I and II leads one rathernaturallyto suspect that the essence of those theoremsmay lie, not in the use of the particularfunctions of ?x+ and XlX2 xn, but in the symmetry the conditional relax1+x2+ , xn. This tion and the functionto be extremized,in the variables xl, X2, by suspicion may be strengthened the constructionof examples which can not be made to fallunder the jurisdictionof Theorems I or II by any transformation ofthe variables.
* This MONTHLY, vol. 42, 1935, pp. 435-437. t I have been informedby Professor Tibor Rado that some form of this generalization is knownto Fejer, who remarkedabout it several years ago in the course of a conversationwith him. However, the resultdoes not seem to be generallyknown,and I have not been able to findit in the literature.

Xl =X2

*.**

= Xn = -c.

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