b

Forum Geometricorum
Volume 17 (2017) 177–183. b b

FORUM GEOM
ISSN 1534-1178

Projective Geometry in Relation to the Excircles

Prasanna Ramakrishnan

Abstract. In this article, we explore a small collection of results in relation to

the polars of a triangle’s vertices with respect to its excircles.

1. Introduction
In triangle ABC, let ℓa be the polar of A with respect to the excircle opposite
A. Similarly define ℓb and ℓc . Let the triangle defined by ℓa , ℓb and ℓc be A′ B ′ C ′ .

A′

Ib
A
Ic
H
X10
B C

C′

B′

Ia

Figure 1

We will explore a small number of interesting results associated with the triangle
A′ B ′ C ′ motivated by the following three statements:
• The circumcenter of A′ B ′ C ′ is the orthocenter of ABC (Theorem 3).
• The six intersection points of the triangles A′ B ′ C ′ and Ia Ib Ic lie on a circle
centered at the Spieker center (Theorem 7).
• This circle is the radical circle of the excircles (Theorem 12).

2. Common Triangle Centers

Lemma 1. AA′ ⊥ BC.

Proof. We know that Xc Zc ⊥ Ic B. Since both Ic B and A′ C ′ intersect BC at an

angle of π2 − β2 , we know that Ic B k A′ C ′ and so Xc Zc ⊥ A′ C ′ . Analogously,
Xb Yb ⊥ A′ B ′ . Therefore S = Xc Zc ∩ Xb Yb is the orthocenter of A′ Xc Xb . Hence
it suffices to show that A, A′ , and S are collinear (see Figure 2).

Publication Date: May 21, 2017. Communicating Editor: Paul Yiu.

178 P. Ramakrishnan

A′

Zb

Yc
Ib

A
Ic P
Q

S
Zc Yb

Xc C Xb
R B

Figure 2

Consider the points P = Xc Zc ∩ AC, Q = Xb Yb ∩ AB and, R = P Q ∩ BC.

By Menelaus’ theorem (in undirected form) applied on line Xc Zc P and triangle
ABC,

Xc C Zc B P A s s − a PA PA s−c
= 1 =⇒ = 1 =⇒ = .
Xc B Zc A P C s − a s − c PC PC s
QA s−b
Analogously, using and line Xb Yb Q and triangle ABC, we get that QB = s .
Using Menelaus again, but with line P QR and triangle ABC, we get that

RC QB P A RC s−c
= 1 =⇒ = .
RB QA P C RB s−b
However, this means that

RC Zb B Yc A s−c s s−b
= = 1.
RB Zb A Yc C s−bs−c s
Thus, by Menelaus’ theorem again with triangle ABC, we have that R, Zb , Yc
are collinear.
Therefore, the triangles Yc AZb and Xc SXb are perspective about line P QR.
By Desargues’ theorem, this means that they are perspective about a point. Hence,
Xc Yc , Zb Xb , and AS must concur, namely at A′ . Thus, A, A′ , S must be collinear.

Lemma 2. A′ Xa k AIa .

Proof. Using the law of sines on triangle A′ Yc A (see Figure 3), we have that

AA′ s−b ′ s−b

γ = γ =⇒ AA = .
π
sin ( 2 + 2 ) sin 2 tan γ2
Because triangle Ia Xa C is right angled, we know that tan γ2 = Is−b
a Xa
. It follows
′
that AA = Ia Xa .
By Lemma 1 , both AA′ and Ia Xa are perpendicular to BC, AA′ k Ia Xa .
Hence, we can conclude that A′ Xa Ia A is a parallelogram. Lemma 2 follows. 
Projective geometry in relation to the excircles 179

A′

Zb
Yc
Ib

Ic

Zc Yb

C Xb
Xc B Xa

Ya
Za

Ia

Figure 3

Theorem 3. The circumcenter of A′ B ′ C ′ is the orthocenter of ABC.

Proof. Since ∠BXb A′ = π2 − β2 , and AA′ ⊥ BC (see Figure 3), it follows that
∠Xb A′ A = β2 . Since ∠(Xc Xb , Ia A) = α2 + β and ∠(Xc Xb , Xc A′ ) = π2 − γ2 , we
have that ∠(Ia A, Xc A′ ) = α2 + β − ( π2 − γ2 ) = β2 .
However, due to Lemma 2 , A′ Xa k AIa and so, this implies that ∠(A′ Xa , A′ Xb ) =
∠(Ia A, A′ Xb ) = β2 . Hence, A′ A and A′ Xa are are reflections about the angle bi-
sector of ∠B ′ A′ C ′ .
It also follows that ∠B ′ A′ Xa = ∠Xb A′ A = β2 . However, checking the angles
in quadrilateral BXc B ′ Za ,
∠A′ B ′ C ′ = 2π − (∠Xc BZa + ∠BXc B ′ + ∠BZa B)
 π γ π α
= 2π − β + + + +
2 2 2 2
π β
= − .
2 2
′
It follows that A Xa ⊥ B C .′ ′

This means that A′ Xa , B ′ Yb and C ′ Zc concur at the orthocenter of A′ B ′ C ′ .

Hence, AA′ , BB ′ , CC ′ must concur at the circumcenter of A′ B ′ C ′ (the isogonal
conjugate of the orthocenter). By Lemma 1 , these lines also concur at the orthocen-
ter of ABC. Hence, the orthocenter of ABC is the circumcenter of A′ B ′ C ′ . 

3. Six Concyclic Points

Let the intersections of BIb and CIc with ℓa be A1 and A2 . Similarly define
B1 , B2 , C1 , and C2 so that the points A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 , C1 , and C2 have the same
clockwise/anticlockwise orientation as A, B, and C.
180 P. Ramakrishnan

Lemma 4. The points B, C, A1 , and A2 lie on the circle with diameter BC.

Ib

B C
M

Ya

A2
Za
A1

Ia

Figure 4

Proof. The triangles BZa A1 and BIa C are clearly similar by a spiral similarity
centered at B. This implies that the triangles BZa Ia and BA1 C are also similar
by a spiral similarity centered at B. Hence, BA1 C has a right angle at A1 .
Similarly, using the spiral similarity between triangles CYa A2 and CIa B, we
find that CA2 B has a right angle at A2 . Hence as,
π
∠BA1 C = ∠CA2 B = ,
2
we know that B, C, A1 , and A2 lie on a circle with diameter BC. 
Lemma 5. The line A1 B2 bisects BC and AC (and so A1 B2 k AB).
Proof. Let M and N and P be the midpoints of BC, AC, and AB respectively.
Note that by Lemma 4 ,
π β
∠A1 M B = π − 2 · ∠CBA1 = π − 2( − ) = β = ∠ABM .
2 2
Hence, A1 M k AB. Similarly, B2 N k AB. However, we also know that M N k
AB, and so A1 , M, N, and B2 all lie on a line parallel to AB. 
Corollary 6. A1 B2 and BIb intersect on the circle with diameter BC.
Proof. Let D be the intersection of A1 B2 and BIb . By Lemma 5 ,
∠M DB = ∠DBA = ∠DBM
Hence, M DB is isosceles. This means that M B = M D, and so the result follows.

Projective geometry in relation to the excircles 181

Theorem 7. The six intersection points of the triangles A′ B ′ C ′ and Ia Ib Ic lie on

a circle centered at the Spieker center.

A′

Ib
B2
A
C1
Ic

B1
C2 X10

B
C
M
C′

A2
B′
A1
I

Figure 5

Proof. Consider the circles with diameters AB and AC. Since these circles inter-
sect at A and the projection of A onto BC, their radical axis is the altitude from A
to BC.
By Lemma 1 , this implies that A′ is on the radical axis of these two circles.
By Lemma 4 , it follows that A′ B1 · A′ B2 = A′ C1 · A′ C2 . Hence, B1 B2 C1 C2 is
cyclic.
By Lemma 4 , ABC1 C2 is cyclic, so combining this with Lemma 5 , we have,
∠B2 C1 C2 = ∠AC1 C2 = π − ∠ABC2 = π − ∠B2 A1 C2 .
Hence B2 C1 C2 A1 is cyclic. Since we showed that B1 B2 C1 C2 is cyclic, which
also means that A1 A2 B1 B2 is cyclic, we can conclude that A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 is
cyclic as desired.
The center of the circle is the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors of
A1 A2 , B1 B2 , and C1 C2 . By Lemma 4 , the triangle M A1 A2 is isosceles, so
the perpendicular bisector of A1 A2 is the angle bisector of ∠A1 M A2 .
By Lemma 5 , A1 , M, and N are collinear as are A2 , M , and P . Hence the
perpendicular bisector of A1 A2 is actually the angle bisector of ∠N M P . Analo-
gously, it follows that perpendicular bisectors of A1 A2 , B1 B2 , and C1 C2 concur
at the incenter of triangle M N P . 

4. Radical circle
Lemma 8. A2 and B1 are inverses about the A-excircle of ABC.
Proof. Let U be the inverse of A with respect to the A-excircle of ABC. Because
Za Ya is the polar of A with respect to the A-excircle, we have that ∠Ia U A2 = π2 .
182 P. Ramakrishnan

Hence, if V is the inverse of A2 with respect to the A-excircle, then it must hold
that ∠Ia V A = ∠Ia U A2 = π2 and that V lies on Ia A2 . Since these conditions
uniquely determine some point, by Lemma 4 (A, C, B1 , B2 lie on a circle with
diameter AC), we have that V = B1 . 
Corollary 9. Za , Xa , and B1 lie on a line perpendicular to A′ C ′ .

Zb

Ib
A

B1
N

M C
B
Xa

Ya
A2
A1
Za

Ia

Figure 6

Proof. By Lemmas 3 and 5, B lies on the polar of B1 with respect to the A-excircle.
Hence, B1 lies on the polar of B with respect to the A-excircle, which is the line
Za Xa . Perpendicularity follows because A′ C ′ k Ia Ic . 
Corollary 10. Za , Zb , A2 , and B1 lie on a circle centered at the midpoint of AB.
Proof. Because of Corollary 9 ,
π
∠Za A2 Zb = ∠Za B1 Zb = .
2
Hence the four points lie on a circle centered at the midpoint of Za Zb . Since AZb =
BZa = s − c, Za Ab and AB have the same midpoint. The result follows. 
Corollary 11. A1 B2 , BIb , A2 Zb concur on the circle with diameter BC.
Proof. By Lemma 6 , the concurrency is sufficient to prove. Let D be the intersec-
tion point of A1 B2 and BIb . Clearly ∠DA2 A1 = π2 because BDA1 A2 is cyclic.
Hence, the result follows because of Corollary 9 . 
Theorem 12. A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 , C1 , and C2 lie on the radical circle of the excircles
of ABC.
Proof. By Lemma 8 , A2 and B1 are inverses about the A-excircle of ABC, as
are A1 and C2 . Hence the given circle, which is the circumcircle of A1 A2 B1 C2 ,
is invariant with respect to inversion about the A-excircle. Hence, the circle is
orthogonal to the A-excircle. Similarly, the circle is orthogonal to the excircles
opposite B and C. The result follows. 
Projective geometry in relation to the excircles 183

References
[1] P. Ramakrishnan, All about excircles!, Mathematical Reflections, 2014, Issue 6.
[2] E. W. Weisstein, Excircles radical circle, MathWorld: A Wolfram Web Resource,
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ExcirclesRadicalCircle.html.
[3] E. W. Weisstein, Spieker center, MathWorld: A Wolfram Web Resource,
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SpiekerCenter.html.
[4] K. L. Nguyen and J. C. Salazar, On mixtilinear incircles and excircles, Forum Geom., 6 (2006)
1–16.

Prasanna Ramakrishnan: P.O. Box 14190, 531 Lausen Mall, Stanford, California 94309, USA
E-mail address: pras1712@stanford.edu