Difference between revisions of "Nine point circle"
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The center of the nine point circle is the [[nine-point center]] and is usually denoted <math>N</math>. | The center of the nine point circle is the [[nine-point center]] and is usually denoted <math>N</math>. | ||
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| + | It's also denoted Kimberling center <math>X_5</math>. | ||
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==First Proof of Existence== | ==First Proof of Existence== | ||
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We know that the reflection of the orthocenter about the sides and about the midpoints of the triangle's sides lie on the circumcircle. Thus, consider the homothety centered at <math>H</math> with ratio <math>-\frac{1}{2}</math>. It maps the circumcircle of <math>\triangle ABC</math> to the nine point circle, and the vertices of the triangle to its [[Euler point]]s. | We know that the reflection of the orthocenter about the sides and about the midpoints of the triangle's sides lie on the circumcircle. Thus, consider the homothety centered at <math>H</math> with ratio <math>-\frac{1}{2}</math>. It maps the circumcircle of <math>\triangle ABC</math> to the nine point circle, and the vertices of the triangle to its [[Euler point]]s. | ||
Hence proved. | Hence proved. | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Kimberling center]] | ||
| + | *[[Center line]] | ||
| + | *[[Evans point]] | ||
| + | *[[Euler line]] | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
[[Category:Definition]] | [[Category:Definition]] | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 5 August 2017
The nine point circle (also known as Euler's circle or Feuerbach's circle) of a given triangle is a circle which passes through 9 "significant" points:
- The three feet of the altitudes of the triangle.
- The three midpoints of the edges of the triangle.
- The three midpoints of the segments joining the vertices of the triangle to its orthocenter. (These points are sometimes known as the Euler points of the triangle.)
That such a circle exists is a non-trivial theorem of Euclidean geometry.
The center of the nine point circle is the nine-point center and is usually denoted 
.
It's also denoted Kimberling center 
.
First Proof of Existence
Since 
is the midpoint of 
and 
is the midpoint of 
, 
is parallel to 
. Using similar logic, we see that 
is also parallel to . Since is the midpoint of 
and 
is the midpoint of 
, 
is parallel to , which is perpendicular to . Similar logic gives us that 
is perpendicular to as well. Therefore 
is a rectangle, which is a cyclic figure. The diagonals 
and 
are diagonals of the circumcircle. Similar logic to the above gives us that 
is a rectangle with a common diagonal to . Therefore the circumcircles of the two rectangles are identical. We can also gain that rectangle 
is also on the circle.
We now have a circle with the points 
, 
, , 
, , and on it, with diameters 
, , and . We now note that 
. Therefore 
, 
, and 
are also on the circle. We now have a circle with the midpoints of the sides on it, the three midpoints of the segments joining the vertices of the triangle to its orthocenter on it, and the three feet of the altitudes of the triangle on it. Therefore the nine points are on the circle, and the nine-point circle exists.
Second Proof of Existence
We know that the reflection of the orthocenter about the sides and about the midpoints of the triangle's sides lie on the circumcircle. Thus, consider the homothety centered at 
with ratio 
. It maps the circumcircle of 
to the nine point circle, and the vertices of the triangle to its Euler points.
Hence proved.
See also
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