Caseys Theorem and its Applications

Luis Gonzlez a
Maracaibo. Venezuela

July 2011

Abstract. We present a proof of the generalized Ptolemys theorem, also known as Caseys theorem and its applications in the resolution of dicult geometry problems.

Caseys Theorem.

Theorem 1. Two circles 1 (r1 ) and 2 (r2 ) are internally/externally tangent to a circle (R) through A, B, respetively. The length 12 of the common external tangent of 1 , 2 is given by: 12 = AB (R r1 )(R r2 ) R

Proof. Without loss of generality assume that r1 r2 and we suppose that 1 and 2 are internally tangent to . The remaining case will be treated analogously. A common external tangent between 1 and 2 touches 1 , 2 at A1 , B1 and A2 is the orthogonal projection of O2 onto O1 A1 . (See Figure 1). By Pythagorean theorem for O1 O2 A2 , we obtain 12 2 = (A1 B1 )2 = (O1 O2 )2 (r1 r2 )2 Let O1 OO2 = . By cosine law for OO1 O2 , we get

(O1 O2 )2 = (R r1 )2 + (R r2 )2 2(R r1 )(R r2 ) cos By cosine law for the isosceles triangle OAB, we get AB 2 = 2R2 (1 cos )

Figure 1: Theorem 1

Eliminating cos and O1 O2 from the three previous expressions yields 12 2 = (R r1 )2 + (R r2 )2 (r1 r2 )2 2(R r1 )(R r2 ) 1 AB 2 2R2

Subsequent simplications give 12 = AB (R r1 )(R r2 ) (1) R

Analogously, if 1 , 2 are externally tangent to , then we will get 12 = AB (R + r1 )(R + r2 ) (2) R

If 1 is externally tangent to and 2 is internally tangent to , then a similar reasoning gives that the length of the common internal tangent between 1 and 2 is given by 12 = AB (R + r1 )(R r2 ) (3) R

Theorem 2 (Casey). Given four circles i , i = 1, 2, 3, 4, let ij denote the length of a common tangent (either internal or external) between i and j . The four circles are tangent to a th circle (or line) if and only if for appropriate choice of signs, 12 34 13 42 14 23 = 0 The proof of the direct theorem is straightforward using Ptolemys theorem for the quadrilateral ABCD whose vertices are the tangency points of 1 (r1 ), 2 (r2 ), 3 (r3 ), 4 (r4 ) with (R). We susbtitute the lengths of its sides and digonals in terms of the lenghts of the tangents ij , by using the formulas (1), (2) and (3). For instance, assuming that all tangencies are external, then using (1), we get 12 34 + 14 23 = 12 34 + 14 23 =
ABCD+ADBC R2 ACBD R2

(R r1 )(R r2 )(R r3 )(R r4 ) (R r2 )(R r4 )

(R r1 )(R r3 )

12 34 + 14 23 = 13 42 . Casey established that this latter relation is sucient condition for the existence of a th circle (R) tangent to 1 (r1 ), 2 (r2 ), 3 (r3 ), 4 (r4 ). Interestingly, the proof of this converse is a much tougher exercise. For a proof you may see [1].

Some Applications.

I) ABC is isosceles with legs AB = AC = L. A circle is tangent to BC and the arc BC of the circumcircle of ABC. A tangent line from A to touches at P. Describe the locus of P as varies. Solution. We use Caseys theorem for the circles (A), (B), (C) (with zero radii) and , all internally tangent to the circumcircle of ABC. Thus, if touches BC at Q, we have: L CQ + L BQ = AP BC = AP = L(BQ + CQ) =L BC

The length AP is constant, i.e. Locus of P is the circle with center A and radius AB = AC = L.

II) (O) is a circle with diameter AB and P, Q are two points on (O) lying on dierent sides of AB. T is the orthogonal projection of Q onto AB. Let (O1 ), (O2 ) be the circles with diameters T A, T B and P C, P D are the tangent segments from P to (O1 ), (O2 ), respectively. Show that P C + P D = P Q. [2].

Figure 2: Application II

Solution. Let 12 denote the length of the common external tangent of (O1 ), (O2 ). We use Caseys theorem for the circles (O1 ), (O2 ), (P ), (Q), all internally tangent to (O). TA TB 12 = PQ = P Q. P C QT + P D QT = P Q 12 = P C + P D = P Q QT TQ

III) In ABC, let A , B , C be the circles tangent to BC, CA, AB through their midpoints and the arcs BC, CA, AB of its circumcircle (not containing A, B, C). If BC , CA , AB denote the lengths of the common external tangents between (B , C ), (C , A ) and (A , B ), respectively, then prove that BC = CA = AB = a+b+c 4

Solution. Let A , B , C denote the lengths of the tangents from A, B, C to A , B , C , respectively. By Caseys theorem for the circles (A), (B), (C), B , all tangent to the circumcircle of ABC, we get B b = a AE + c CE = B = 2 (a + c)
1 Similarly, by Caseys theorem for (A), (B), (C), C well get C = 2 (a + b) 1

Now, by Caseys theorem for (B), (C), B , C , we get B C = BC a + BF BE = BC = (a + c)(a + b) bc a+b+c B C BF BE = = a 4a 4

By similar reasoning, well have CA = AB = 1 (a + b + c). 4 IV) A circle K passes through the vertices B, C of ABC and another circle touches AB, AC, K at P, Q, T, respectively. If M is the midpoint of the arc BT C of K, show that BC, P Q, M T concur. [3] Solution. Let R, be the radii of K and , respectively. Using formula (1) of Theorem 1 for , (B) and , (C). Both (B), (C) with zero radii and tangent to K through B, C, we obtain: T C2 = BP 2 R2 CQ2 R2 CQ2 R BP 2 R TB BP = , T B2 = = = = (R )(R 0) R (R )(R 0) R TC CQ ABC cut by U P Q we have

Let P Q cut BC at U. By Menelaus theorem for

BP AQ BP TB UB = = = UC AP CQ CQ TC Thus, by angle bisector theorem, U is the foot of the T-external bisector T M of BT C.

V) If D, E, F denote the midpoints of the sides BC, CA, AB of (I) of ABC is tangent to (DEF ). (Feuerbach theorem).

ABC. Show that the incircle

Solution. We consider the circles (D), (E), (F ) with zero radii and (I). The notation XY stands for the length of the external tangent between the circles (X), (Y ), then DE = a b c bc ac ba , EF = , F D = , DI = , EI = , F I = 2 2 2 2 2 2

For the sake of applying the converse of Caseys theorem, we shall verify if, for some combination of signs + and , we get c(b a) a(b c) b(a c) = 0, which is trivial. Therefore, there exists a circle tangent to (D), (E), (F ) and (I), i.e. (I) is internally tangent to (DEF ). We use the same reasoning to show that (DEF ) is tangent to the three excircles of ABC.

VI) ABC is scalene and D, E, F are the midpoints of BC, CA, AB. The incircle (I) and 9 point circle (DEF ) of ABC are internally tangent through the Feuerbach point Fe . Show that one of the segments Fe D, Fe E, Fe F equals the sum of the other two. [4] 5

Solution. WLOG assume that b a c. Incircle (I, r) touches BC at M. Using formula (1) of Theorem 1 for (I) and (D) (with zero radius) tangent to the 9-point circle (N, R ), we have: 2 DM 2 ( R )2 2 Fe D = R = Fe D = R ( 2 r)( 2 0)
2

R (b c) R 2r 2

By similar reasoning, we have the expressions Fe E = (a c) R , Fe F = R 2r 2 (b a) R R 2r 2

Therefore, the addition of the latter expressions gives Fe E + Fe F = R bc = Fe D R 2r 2

VII) ABC is a triangle with AC > AB. A circle A is internally tangent to its circumcircle and AB, AC. S is the midpoint of the arc BC of , which does not contain A and ST is the tangent segment from S to A . Prove that AC AB ST = SA AC + AB [5]

Solution. Let M, N be the tangency points of A with AC, AB. By Caseys theorem for A , (B), (C), (S), all tangent to the circumcircle , we get ST BC + CS BN = CM BS = ST BC = CS(CM BN ) If U is the reection of B across AS, then CM BN = U C = AC AB. Hence ST BC = CS(AC AB) ( ) By Ptolemys theorem for ABSC, we get SA BC = CS(AB + AC). Together with ( ), we obtain ST AC AB = SA AC + AB

VIII) Two congruent circles (S1 ), (S2 ) meet at two points. A line cuts (S2 ) at A, C and (S1 ) at B, D (A, B, C, D are collinear in this order). Two distinct circles 1 , 2 touch the line and the circles (S1 ), (S2 ) externally and internally respectively. If 1 , 2 are externally tangent, show that AB = CD. [6] Solution. Let P 1 2 and M, N be the tangency points of 1 and 2 with an external tangent. Inversion with center P and power P B P D takes (S1 ) and the line into themselves. The circles 1 and 2 go to two parallel lines k1 and k2 tangent to (S1 ) and the circle (S2 ) goes to another circle (S2 ) tangent to k1 , k2 . Hence, (S2 ) is congruent to its inverse (S2 ). Further, (S2 ), (S2 ) are symmetrical about P = P C P A = P B P D. By Caseys theorem for 1 , 2 , (D), (B), (S1 ) and 1 , 2 , (A), (C), (S2 ) we get: DB = 2P A P C 2P B P D , AC = MN MN

Since P C P A = P B P D = AC = BD = AB = CD.

IX) ABC is equilateral with side length L. Let (O, r) and (O, R) be the incircle and circumcircle of ABC. P is a point on (O, r) and P1 , P2 , P3 are the projections of P onto BC, CA, AB. Circles T1 , T2 and T3 touch BC, CA, AB through P1 , P2 , P2 and (O, R) (internally), their centers lie on dierent sides of BC, CA, AB with respect to A, B, C. Prove that the sum of the lengths of the common external tangents of T1 , T2 and T3 is a constant value. Solution. Let 1 denote the tangent segment from A to T1 . By Caseys theorem for (A), (B), (C), T1 , all tangent to (O, R), we have L BP1 + L CP1 = 1 L = 1 = L. Similarly, we have 2 = 3 = L. By Eulers theorem for the pedal triangle P1 P2 P3 of P, we get: [P1 P2 P3 ] = R2 r 2 3 p(P, (O)) [ABC] = [ABC] = [ABC] 2 2 4R 4R 16

Therefore, we obtain AP2 AP3 + BP3 BP1 + CP1 CP2 = 2 ([ABC] [P1 P2 P3 ]) = sin 60
13 2 L. 16

( )

By Caseys theorem for (B), (C), T2 , T3 , all tangent to (O, R), we get 2 3 = L2 = BC 23 + CP2 BP3 = L 23 + (L AP1 )(L AP2 ) By cyclic exchange, we have the expressions: L2 = L 31 + (L BP3 )(L BP1 ) , L2 = L 12 + (L CP1 )(L CP2 ) 7

Figure 3: Application VII

Adding the three latter equations yields 3L2 = L(23 + 31 + 12 ) + 3L2 3L2 + AP3 AP2 + BP3 BP1 + CP1 CP2 Hence, combining with ( ) gives 23 + 31 + 12 = 3L
13 L 16

35 L 16

Proposed Problems.

1) Pursers theorem: ABC is a triangle with circumcircle (O) and is a circle in its plane. AX, BY, CZ are the tangent segments from A, B, C to . Show that is tangent to (O), if and only if AX BC BY CA CZ AB = 0

2) Circle touches the sides AB, AC of ABC at P, Q and its circumcircle (O). Show that the midpoint of P Q is either the incenter of ABC or the A-excenter of ABC, according to whether (O), are internally tangent or externally tangent. 3) ABC is A-right with circumcircle (O). Circle B is tangent to the segments OB, OA and the arc AB of (O). Circle C is tangent to the segments OC, OA and the arc AC of (O). B , C touch OA at P, Q, respectively. Show that: AB AP = AC AQ 4) Gumma, 1874. We are given a cirle (O, r) in the interior of a square ABCD with side length L. Let (Oi , ri ) i = 1, 2, 3, 4 be the circles tangent to two sides of the square and (O, r) (externally). Find L as a fuction of r1 , r2 , r3 , r4 . 5) Two parallel lines 1 , 2 touch a circle (R). Circle k1 (r1 ) touches , 1 and a third circle k2 (r2 ) touches , 2 , k1 . We assume that all tangencies are external. Prove that R = 2 r1 r2 . 6)Victor Thbault. 1938. ABC has incircle (I, r) and circumcircle (O). D is a point on AB. Circle e 1 (r1 ) touches the segments DA, DC and the arc CA of (O). Circle 2 (r2 ) touches the segments DB, DC and the arc CB of (O). If ADC = , show that: r1 cos2 + r2 sin2 = r 2 2

References
[1] I. Shariguin, Problemas de Geometri (Planimetri), Ed. Mir, Moscu, 1989. e e [2] Vittasko, Sum of two tangents, equal to the distance of two points, AoPS, 2011. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=404640. [3] My name is math, Tangent circles concurrent lines, AoPs, 2011. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=399496. [4] Mathquark, Point [Feuerbach point of a triangle; FY + FZ = FX], AoPS, 2005. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=24959. [5] Virgil Nicula, ABC and circle tangent to AB, AC and circumcircle , AoPS, 2011. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=357957. [6] Shoki, Iran(3rd round)2009, AoPS, 2009. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=300809.