b

Forum Geometricorum
Volume 3 (2003) 1–27. b b

FORUM GEOM
ISSN 1534-1178

Orthocorrespondence and Orthopivotal Cubics

Bernard Gibert

Abstract. We define and study a transformation in the triangle plane called the
orthocorrespondence. This transformation leads to the consideration of a fam-
ily of circular circumcubics containing the Neuberg cubic and several hitherto
unknown ones.

1. The orthocorrespondence
Let P be a point in the plane of triangle ABC with barycentric coordinates
(u : v : w). The perpendicular lines at P to AP , BP , CP intersect BC, CA, AB
respectively at Pa , Pb , Pc , which we call the orthotraces of P . These orthotraces
lie on a line LP , which we call the orthotransversal of P . 1 We denote the trilinear
pole of LP by P ⊥ , and call it the orthocorrespondent of P .
A

P∗
P⊥
B
C
Pa
Pc LP
H/P

Pb

Figure 1. The orthotransversal and orthocorrespondent

In barycentric coordinates, 2
P ⊥ = (u(−uSA + vSB + wSC ) + a2 vw : · · · : · · · ), (1)

Publication Date: January 21, 2003. Communicating Editor: Paul Yiu.

We sincerely thank Edward Brisse, Jean-Pierre Ehrmann, and Paul Yiu for their friendly and
valuable helps.
1The homography on the pencil of lines through P which swaps a line and its perpendicular at P
is an involution. According to a Desargues theorem, the points are collinear.
2
All coordinates in this paper are homogeneous barycentric coordinates. Often for triangle cen-
ters, we list only the first coordinate. The remaining two can be easily obtained by cyclically permut-
ing a, b, c, and corresponding quantities. Thus, for example, in (1), the second and third coordinates
are v(−vSB + wSC + uSA ) + b2 wu and w(−wSC + uSA + vSB ) + c2 uv respectively.
2 B. Gibert

where, a, b, c are respectively the lengths of the sides BC, CA, AB of triangle
ABC, and, in J.H. Conway’s notations,
1 1 1
SA = (b2 + c2 − a2 ), SB = (c2 + a2 − b2 ), SC = (a2 + b2 − c2 ). (2)
2 2 2
The mapping Φ : P → P ⊥ is called the orthocorrespondence (with respect to
triangle ABC).
Here are some examples. We adopt the notations of [5] for triangle centers, ex-
cept for a few commonest ones. Triangle centers without an explicit identification
as Xn are not in the current edition of [5].
(1) I ⊥ = X57 , the isogonal conjugate of the Mittenpunkt X9 .
(2) G⊥ = (b2 + c2 − 5a2 : · · · : · · · ) is the reflection of G about K, and the
orthotransversal is perpendicular to GK.
(3) H ⊥ = G.
(4) O⊥ = (cos 2A : cos 2B : cos 2C) on the line GK.
(5) More generally, the orthocorrespondent of the Euler line is the line GK.
The orthotransversal

envelopes the Kiepert parabola.

(6) K ⊥ = a2 (b4 + c4 − a4 − 4b2 c2 ) : · · · : · · · on the Euler line.
(7) X15⊥ = X and X ⊥ = X .
62 16 61
⊥ = X⊥ = X
(8) X112 .
115 110
See §2.3 for points on the circumcircle and the nine-point circle with orthocorre-
spondents having simple barycentric coordinates.
Remarks. (1) While the geometric definition above of P⊥ is not valid when P is
a vertex of triangle ABC, by (1) we extend the orthocorrespondence Φ to cover
these points. Thus, A⊥ = A, B ⊥ = B, and C ⊥ = C.
(2) The orthocorrespondent of P is not defined if and only if the three coordi-
nates of P ⊥ given in (1) are simultaneously zero. This is the case when P belongs
to the three circles with diameters BC, CA, AB. 3 There are only two such points,
namely, the circular points at infinity.
(3) We denote by P ∗ the isogonal conjugate of P and by H/P the cevian quo-
tient of H and P . 4 It is known that
H/P = (u(−uSA + vSB + wSC ) : · · · : · · · ) .
This shows that P ⊥ lies on the line through P ∗ and H/P . In fact,
(H/P )P ⊥ : (H/P )P ∗ = a2 vw + b2 wu + c2 uv : SA u2 + SB v 2 + SC w2 .
In [6], Jim Parish claimed that this line also contains the isogonal conjugate of P
with respect to its anticevian triangle. We add that this point is in fact the harmonic
conjugate of P ⊥ with respect to P ∗ and H/P . Note also that the line through P
and H/P is perpendicular to the orthotransversal LP .
(4) The orthocorrespondent of any (real) point on the line at infinity L∞ is G.
3See Proposition 2 below.
4H/P is the perspector of the cevian triangle of H (orthic triangle) and the anticevian triangle of
P.
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 3

(5) A straightforward computation shows that the orthocorrespondence Φ has

exactly five fixed points. These are the vertices A, B, C, and the two Fermat points
X13 , X14 . Jim Parish [7] and Aad Goddijn [2] have given nice synthetic proofs
of this in answering a question of Floor van Lamoen [3]. In other words, X13 and
X14 are the only points whose orthotransversal and trilinear polar coincide.
Theorem 1. The orthocorrespondent P ⊥ is a point at infinity if and only if P lies
on the Monge (orthoptic) circle of the inscribed Steiner ellipse.
Proof. From (1), P ⊥ is a point at infinity if and only if

SA x2 − 2a2 yz = 0. (3)
cyclic
This is a circle in the pencil generated by the circumcircle and the nine-point circle,
and is readily identified as the Monge circle of the inscribed Steiner ellipse. 5

It is obvious that P ⊥ is at infinity if and only if LP is tangent to the inscribed
Steiner ellipse. 6
Proposition 2. The orthocorrespondent P ⊥ lies on the sideline BC if and only
if P lies on the circle ΓBC with diameter BC. The perpendicular at P to AP
intersects BC at the harmonic conjugate of P⊥ with respect to B and C.
Proof. P ⊥ lies on BC if and only if its first barycentric coordinate is 0, i.e., if and
only if u(−uSA + vSB + wSC ) + a2 vw = 0 which shows that P must lie on
ΓBC .

2. Orthoassociates and the critical conic

2.1. Orthoassociates and antiorthocorrespondents.
Theorem 3. Let Q be a finite point. There are exactly two points P1 and P2 (not
necessarily real nor distinct) such that Q = P1⊥ = P2⊥ .
Proof. Let Q be a finite point. The trilinear polar Q of Q intersects the sidelines
of triangle ABC at Qa , Qb , Qc . The circles Γa , Γb , Γc with diameters AQa , BQb ,
CQc are in the same pencil of circles since their centers Oa , Ob , Oc are collinear
(on the Newton line of the quadrilateral formed by the sidelines of ABC and Q ),
and since they are all orthogonal to the polar circle. Thus, they have two points P1
and P2 in common. These points, if real, satisfy P1⊥ = Q = P2⊥ . 7

We call P1 and P2 the antiorthocorrespondents of Q and write Q = {P1 , P2 }.
We also say that P1 and P2 are orthoassociates, since they share the same ortho-
correspondent and the same orthotransversal. Note that P1 and P2 are homologous
5The Monge (orthoptic) circle of a conic is the locus of points whose two tangents to the conic
are perpendicular to each other. It√has the same center of the conic. For the inscribed Steiner ellipse,
√
the radius of the Monge circle is 62 a2 + b2 + c2 .
6The trilinear polar of a point at infinity is tangent to the in-Steiner ellipse since it is the in-conic
with perspector G.
7P and P are not always real when ABC is obtuse angled, see §2.2 below.
1 2
4 B. Gibert

Qb

P1
A
Q
Ob
Qc
Oa

Oc

Qa
P2 B C

L
H

polar circle

Figure 2. Antiorthocorrespondents

under the inversion ιH with pole H which swaps the circumcircle and the nine-
point circle.

Proposition 4. The orthoassociate P of P (u : v : w) has coordinates

 
SB v2 + SC w 2 − SA u(v + w) SC w 2 + SA u2 − SB v(w + u) SA u2 + SB v2 − SC w(u + v)
: : .
SA SB SC
(4)

Let S denote twice of the area of triangle ABC. In terms of SA , SB , SC in (2),

we have
S 2 = SA SB + SB SC + SC SA .

Proposition 5. Let

K(u, v, w) = S 2 (u + v + w)2 − 4(a2 SA vw + b2 SB wu + c2 SC uv).

Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 5

The antiorthocorrespondents of Q = (u : v : w) are the points with barycentric

coordinates

K(u, v, w)
((u−w)(u+v −w)SB +(u−v)(u−v +w)SC ± ((u−w)SB +(u−v)SC ) : · · · : · · · ). (5)
S
These are real points if and only if K(u, v, w) ≥ 0.
2.2. The critical conic C. Consider the critical conic C with equation

S 2 (x + y + z)2 − 4 a2 SA yz = 0, (6)
cyclic

which is degenerate, real, imaginary according as triangle ABC is right-, obtuse-,

or acute-angled. It has center the Lemoine point K, and the same infinite points as
the circumconic
a2 SA yz + b2 SB zx + c2 SC xy = 0,
which is the isogonal conjugate of the orthic axis SA x + SB y + SC z = 0, and has
the same center K. This critical conic is a hyperbola when it is real. Clearly, if Q
lies on the critical conic, its two real antiorthocorrespondents coincide.

C
B

H
polar circle

Figure 3. The critical conic

6 B. Gibert

Proposition 6. The antiorthocorrespondents of Q are real if and only if one of the

following conditions holds.
(1) Triangle ABC is acute-angled.
(2) Triangle ABC is obtuse-angled and Q lies in the component of the critical
hyperbola not containing the center K.
Proposition 7. The critical conic is the orthocorrespondent of the polar circle.
When it is real, it intersects each sideline of ABC at two points symmetric about
the corresponding midpoint. These points are the orthocorrespondents of the in-
tersections of the polar circle and the circles ΓBC , ΓCA , ΓAB with diameters BC,
CA, AB.
2.3. Orthocorrespondent of the circumcircle. Let P be a point on the circumcircle.
Its orthotransversal passes through O, and P⊥ lies on the circumconic centered at
K. 8 The orthoassociate P lies on the nine-point circle. The table below shows
several examples of such points. 9

P P∗ P P⊥
X74 X30 X133 a2 SA /((b2 − c2 )2 + a2 (2SA − a2 ))
X98 X511 X132 X287
X99 X512 (b2 − c2 )2 (SA − a2 )/SA SA /(b2 − c2 )
X100 X513 aSA /(b − c)
X101 X514 a2 SA /(b − c)
X105 X518 aSA /(b2 + c2 − ab − ac)
X106 X519 a2 SA /(b + c − 2a)
X107 X520 X125 X648 = X647∗

X108 X521 X11 X651 = X650∗

X109 X522 a2 SA /((b − c)(b + c − a))

X110 X523 X136 a2 SA /(b2 − c2 )
X111 X524 a2 SA /(b2 + c2 − 2a2 ) = X468
∗

X112 X525 X115 X110 = X523∗

X675 X674 SA /(b + c3 − a(b2 + c2 ))

3

X689 X688 SA /(a2 (b4 − c4 ))

X691 X690 a2 SA /((b2 − c2 )(b2 + c2 − 2a2 ))
P1 P1∗ X114 ∗
X230

Remark. The coordinates of P1 can be obtained from those of X230 by making use
∗ is the barycentric product of P and X . Thus,
of the fact that X230 1 69
 
a2
P1 = : · · · : · · · .
SA ((b2 − c2 )2 − a2 (b2 + c2 − 2a2 ))
8If P = (u : v : w) lies on the circumcircle, then P ⊥ = (uS : vS : wS ) is the barycentric
A B C
x y z
product of P and X69 . See [9]. The orthotransversal is the line uSA
+ vSB
+ wSC
= 0 which
contains O.
9The isogonal conjugates are trivially infinite points.
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 7

2.4. The orthocorrespondent of a line. The orthocorrespondent of a sideline, say

BC, is the circumconic through G and its projection on the corresponding altitude.
The orthoassociate is the circle with the segment AH as diameter.
Consider a line  intersecting BC, CA, AB at X, Y , Z respectively. The ortho-
correspondent ⊥ of  is a conic containing the centroid G (the orthocorrespondent
of the infinite point of ) and the points X⊥ , Y ⊥ , Z ⊥ . 10 A fifth point can be
constructed as P ⊥ , where P is the pedal of G on . 11 These five points entirely
determine the conic. According to Proposition 2, ⊥ meets BC at the orthocorre-
spondents of the points where  intersects the circle ΓBC . 12 It is also the orthocor-
respondent of the circle through H which is the orthoassociate of .
If the line  contains H, the conic ⊥ degenerates into a double line containing
G. If  also contains P = (u : v : w) other than H, then this line has equation
(SB v − SC w)x + (SC w − SA u)y + (SA u − SB v)z = 0.
This double line passes through the second intersection of  with the Kiepert hy-
perbola. 13 It also contains the point (uSA : vSB : wSC ). The two lines intersect
at the point
 
SB − SC SC − SA SA − SB
: : .
SB v − SC w SC w − SA u SA u − SB v
The orthotransversals of points on  envelope the inscribed parabola with direc-
trix  and focus the antipode (on the circumcircle) of the isogonal conjugate of the
infinite point of .

2.5. The antiorthocorrespondent of a line. Let  be the line with equation lx +

my + nz = 0.
When ABC is acute angled, the antiorthocorrespondent  of  is the circle cen-
tered at Ω = (m + n : n + l : l + m)14 and orthogonal to the polar circle. It has
square radius
SA (m + n)2 + SB (n + l)2 + SC (l + m)2
4(l + m + n)2
and equation
   
 
(x + y + z)  SA lx − (l + m + n)  a2 yz  = 0.
cyclic cyclic

When ABC is obtuse angled,  is only a part of this circle according to its
position with respect to the critical hyperbola C. This circle clearly degenerates

10These points can be easily constructed. For example, X⊥ is the trilinear pole of the perpendic-
ular at X to BC.
11P ⊥ is the antipode of G on the conic.
12These points can be real or imaginary, distinct or equal.
13In particular, the orthocorrespondent of the tangent at H to the Kiepert hyperbola, i.e., the line
HK, is the Euler line.
14Ω is the complement of the isotomic conjugate of the trilinear pole of .

8 B. Gibert

into the union of L∞ and a line through H when G lies on . This line is the
directrix of the inscribed conic which is now a parabola.
Conversely, any circle centered at Ω (proper or degenerate) orthogonal to the
polar circle is the orthoptic circle of the inscribed conic whose perspector P is the
isotomic conjugate of the anticomplement of the center of the circle. The ortho-
correspondent of this circle is the trilinear polar P of P . The table below shows a
selection of usual lines and inscribed conics. 15

P Ω  inscribed conic
X1 X37 antiorthic axis ellipse, center I
X2 X2 L∞ Steiner in-ellipse
X4 X6 orthic axis ellipse, center K
X6 X39 Lemoine axis Brocard ellipse
X7 X1 Gergonne axis incircle
X8 X9 Mandart ellipse
X13 X396 Simmons conic
X76 X141 de Longchamps axis
X110 X647 Brocard axis
X598 X597 Lemoine ellipse

2.6. Orthocorrespondent and antiorthocorrespondent of a circle. In general, the

orthocorrespondent of a circle is a conic. More precisely, two orthoassociate cir-
cles share the same orthocorrespondent conic, or the part of it outside the critical
conic C when ABC is obtuse-angled. For example, the circumcircle and the nine-
point circle have the same orthocorrespondent which is the circumconic centered
at K. The orthocorrespondent of each circle (and its orthoassociate) of the pencil
generated by circumcircle and the nine-point circle is another conic also centered
at K and homothetic of the previous one. The axis of these conics are the parallels
at K to the asymptotes of the Kiepert hyperbola. The critical conic is one of them
since the polar circle belongs to the pencil.
This conic degenerates into a double line (or part of it) if and only if the circle is
orthogonal to the polar circle. If the radical axis of the circumcircle and this circle
is lx + my + nz = 0, this double line has equation SlA x + SmB y + SnC z = 0. This
is the trilinear polar of the barycentric product X69 and the trilinear pole of the
radical axis.
The antiorthocorrespondent of a circle is in general a bicircular quartic.

15The conics in this table are entirely defined either by their center or their perspector in the table.
See [1]. In fact, there are two Simmons conics (and not ellipses as Brocard and Lemoyne wrote) with
perspectors (and foci) X13 and X14 .
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 9

3. Orthopivotal cubics
For a given a point P with barycentric coordinates (u : v : w), the locus of point
M such that P , M , M ⊥ are collinear is the cubic curve O(P ):


x (c2 u − 2SB w)y 2 − (b2 u − 2SC v)z 2 = 0. (7)
cyclic

Equivalently, O(P ) is the locus of the intersections of a line through P with the
circle which is its antiorthocorrespondent. See §2.5. We shall say that O(P ) is an
orthopivotal cubic, and call P its orthopivot.
Equation (7) can be rewritten as


u x(c2 y 2 − b2 z 2 ) + 2yz(SB y − SC z) = 0. (8)
cyclic

Accordingly, we consider the cubic curves

Σa : x(c2 y 2 − b2 z 2 ) + 2yz(SB y − SC z) = 0,
Σb : y(a2 z 2 − c2 x2 ) + 2zx(SC z − SA x) = 0, (9)
Σc : z(b2 x2 − a2 y 2 ) + 2xy(SA x − SB y) = 0,
and very loosely write (8) in the form
uΣa + vΣb + wΣc = 0. (10)
We study the cubics Σa , Σb , Σc in §6.5 below, where we shall see that they are
strophoids. We list some basic properties of the O(P ).
Proposition 8. (1) The orthopivotal cubic O(P ) is a circular circumcubic 16 pass-
ing through the Fermat points, P , the infinite point of the line GP , and
 2 
b − c2 c2 − a2 a2 − b2
P = : : , (11)
v−w w−u u−v
which is the second intersection of the line GP and the Kiepert hyperbola. 17
(2) The “third” intersection of O(P ) and the Fermat line X13 X14 is on the line
P X110 .
(3) The tangent to O(P ) at P is the line P P ⊥ .
(4) O(P ) intersects the sidelines BC, CA, AB at U , V , W respectively given
by
U =(0 : 2SC u − a2 v : 2SB u − a2 w),
V =(2SC v − b2 u : 0 : 2SA v − b2 w),
W =(2SB w − c2 u : 2SA w − c2 v : 0).
(5) O(P ) also contains the (not always real) antiorthocorrespondents P1 and
P2 of P .
16This means that the cubic passes through the two circular points at infinity common to all
circles, and the three vertices of the reference triangle.
17This is therefore the sixth intersection of O(P ) with the Kiepert hyperbola.
10 B. Gibert

Here is a simple construction of the intersection U in (4) above. If the parallel at

G to BC intersects the altitude AH at Ha , then U is the intersection of P Ha and
BC. 18

4. Construction of O(P ) and other points

Let the trilinear polar of P intersect the sidelines BC, CA, AB at X, Y , Z
respectively. Denote by Γa , Γb , Γc the circles with diameters AX, BY , CZ and
centers Oa , Ob , Oc . They are in the same pencil F whose radical axis is the per-
pendicular at H to the line L passing through Oa , Ob , Oc , and the points P1 and
P2 seen above. 19
For an arbitrary point M on L, let Γ be the circle of F passing through M . The
line P M ⊥ intersects Γ at two points N1 and N2 on O(P ). From these we note the
following.
(1) O(P ) contains the second intersections A2 , B2 , C2 of the lines AP , BP ,
CP with the circles Γa , Γb , Γc .
(2) The point P in (11) lies on the radical axis of F.
(3) The circle of F passing through P meets the line P P⊥ at P , tangential of
P.
(4) The perpendicular bisector of N1 N2 envelopes the parabola with focus FP
(see §5 below) and directrix the line GP . This parabola is tangent to L and
to the two axes of the inscribed Steiner ellipse.
This yields another construction of O(P ): a tangent to the parabola meets L at
ω. The perpendicular at P to this tangent intersects the circle of F centered at ω at
two points on O(P ).

5. Singular focus and an involutive transformation

The singular focus of a circular cubic is the intersection of the two tangents to
the curve at the circular points at infinity. When this singular focus lies on the
curve, the cubic is said to be a focal cubic. The singular focus of O(P ) is the point


FP = a2 (v 2 + w2 − u2 − vw) + b2 u(u + v − 2w) + c2 u(u + w − 2v) : · · · : · · · .
If we denote by F1 and F2 the foci of the inscribed Steiner ellipse, then FP is
the inverse of the reflection of P in the line F1 F2 with respect to the circle with
diameter F1 F2 .
Consider the mapping Ψ : P → FP in the affine plane (without the centroid G)
which transforms a point P into the singular focus FP of O(P ). This is clearly an
involution: FP is the singular focus of O(P ) if and only if P is the singular focus
of O(FP ). It has exactly two fixed points, i.e., F1 and F2 . 20

18H is the “third” intersection of AH with the Napoleon cubic, the isogonal cubic with pivot
a
X5 .
19This line L is the trilinear polar of the isotomic conjugate of the anticomplement of P .
20The two cubics O(F ) and O(F ) are central focals with centers at F and F respectively,
1 2 1 2
with inflexional tangents through K, sharing the same real asymptote F1 F2 .
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 11

X14

Steiner
ellipse
F1

G
F2 X13
O(F1 )

C O(X6 )

O(F2 )

Figure 4. O(F1 ) and O(F2 )

The table below shows a selection of homologous points under Ψ, most of which
we shall meet in the sequel. When P is at infinity, FP = G, i.e., all O(P ) with
orthopivot at infinity have G as singular focus.

P X1 X3 X4 X6 X13 X15 X23 X69

FP X1054 X110 X125 X111 X14 X16 X182 X216
P X100 X184 X187 X352 X616 X617 X621 X622
FP X1083 X186 X353 X574 X619 X618 X624 X623

The involutive transformation Ψ swaps

(1) the Euler line and the line through GX110 , 21
(2) more generally, any line GP and its reflection in F1 F2 ,
(3) the Brocard axis OK and the Parry circle.
(4) more generally, any line OP (which is not the Euler line) and the circle
through G, X110 , and FP ,
(5) the circumcircle and the Brocard circle,
(6) more generally, any circle not through G and another circle not through G.
21The nine-point center is swapped into the anticomplement of X .
110
12 B. Gibert

The involutive transformation Ψ leaves the second Brocard cubic B2 22


(b2 − c2 )x(c2 y 2 + b2 z 2 ) = 0
cyclic

globally invariant. See §6.4 below. More generally, Ψ leaves invariant the pencil of
circular circumcubics through the vertices of the second Brocard triangle (they all
pass through G). 23 There is another cubic from this pencil which is also globally
invariant, namely,

(a2 b2 c2 − 8SA SB SC )xyz + (b2 + c2 − 2a2 )x(c2 SC y 2 + b2 SB z 2 ) = 0.
cyclic

We call this cubic B6 . It passes through X3 , X110 , and X525 .

If O(P ) is nondegenerate, then its real asymptote is the homothetic image of the
line GP under the homothety h(FP , 2).

6. Special orthopivotal cubics

6.1. Degenerate orthopivotal cubics. There are only two situations where we find
a degenerate O(P ). A cubic can only degenerate into the union of a line and a
conic. If the line is L∞ , we find only one such cubic. It is O(G), the union of L∞
and the Kiepert hyperbola. If the line is not L∞ , there are ten different possibilities
depending of the number of vertices of triangle ABC lying on the conic above
which now must be a circle.
(1) O(X110 ) is the union of the circumcircle and the Fermat line. 24
(2) O(P ) is the union of one sideline of triangle ABC and the circle through
the remaining vertex and the two Fermat points when P is the “third” in-
tersection of an altitude of ABC with the Napoleon cubic. 25
(3) O(P ) is the union of a circle through two vertices of ABC and one Fermat
point and a line through the remaining vertex and Fermat point when P is
a vertex of one of the two Napoleon triangles. See [4, §6.31].

6.2. Isocubics O(P ). We denote by pK a pivotal isocubic and by nK a non-pivotal

isocubic. Consider an orthopivotal circumcubic O(P ) intersecting the sidelines of
triangle ABC at U , V , W respectively. The cubic O(P ) is an isocubic in the two
following cases.

22 The second Brocard cubic B is the locus of foci of inscribed conics centered on the line GK.
2
It is also the locus of M for which the line M M ⊥ contains the Lemoine point K.
23The inversive image of a circular cubic with respect to one of its points is another circular cubic
through the same point. Here, Ψ swaps ABC and the second Brocard triangle A2 B2 C2 . Hence,
each circular cubic through A, B, C, A2 , B2 , C2 and G has an inversive image through the same
points.
24X
110 is the focus of the Kiepert parabola.
25The Napoleon cubic is the isogonal cubic with pivot X . These third intersections are the
5
intersections of the altitudes with the parallel through G to the corresponding sidelines.
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 13

6.2.1. Pivotal O(P ).

Proposition 9. An orthopivotal cubic O(P ) is a pivotal circumcubic pK if and
only if the triangles ABC and U V W are perspective, i.e., if and only if P lies on
the Napoleon cubic (isogonal pK with pivot X5 ). In this case,
(1) the pivot Q of O(P ) lies on the cubic Kn : 26 it is the perspector of ABC
and the (−2)-pedal triangle of P , 27 and lies on the line P X5 ;
(2) the pole Ω of the isoconjugation lies on the cubic

2
Co : (4SA − b2 c2 )x2 (b2 z − c2 y) = 0.
cyclic

The Ω-isoconjugate Q∗ of Q lies on the Neuberg cubic and is the inverse in the
circumcircle of the isogonal conjugate of Q. The Ω-isoconjugate P∗ of P lies on
Kn and is the third intersection with the line QX5 .
Here are several examples of such cubics.
(1) O(O) = O(X3 ) is the Neuberg cubic.
(2) O(X5 ) is Kn .
(3) O(I) = O(X1 ) has pivot X80 = ((2SC − ab)(2SB − ac) : · · · : · · · ), pole
(a(2SC − ab)(2SB − ac) : · · · : · · · ), and singular focus
(a(2SA + ab + ac − 3bc) : · · · : · · · ).
(4) O(H) = O(X4 ) has pivot H, pole Mo the intersection of HK and the
orthic axis, with coordinates
 2 2 
a (b + c2 − 2a2 ) + (b2 − c2 )2
: ··· : ··· ,
SA
and singular focus X125 , center of the Jerabek hyperbola.
O(H) is a very remarkable cubic since every point on it has orthocorrespondent
on the Kiepert hyperbola. It is invariant under the inversion with respect to the
conjugated polar circle and is also invariant under the isogonal transformation with
respect to the orthic triangle. It is an isogonal pK with pivot X30 with respect to
this triangle.
6.2.2. Non-pivotal O(P ).
Proposition 10. An orthopivotal cubic O(P ) is a non-pivotal circumcubic nK if
and only if its “third” intersections with the sidelines 28 are collinear, i.e., if and
only if P lies on the isogonal nK with root X30 : 29


(b2 − c2 )2 + a2 (b2 + c2 − 2a2 ) x(c2 y 2 +b2 z 2 )+2(8SASB SC −a2 b2 c2 )xyz = 0.
cyclic

We give two examples of such cubics.

26K is the 2-cevian cubic associated with the Neuberg and the Napoleon cubics. See [8].
n
27For any non-zero real number t, the t-pedal triangle of P is the image of its pedal triangle under
the homothety h(P, t).
28These are the points U , V , W in Proposition 8(4).
29This passes through G, K, X , and X .
110 523
14 B. Gibert

Lester circle

Le

X265

X14
X13
X5 Euler line
H
B C

asymptote

Figure 5. Kn

(1) O(K) = O(X6 ) is the second Brocard cubic B2 .

(2) O(X523 ) is a nK with pole and root both at the isogonal conjugate of X323 ,
and singular focus G: 30

2
(4SA − b2 c2 )x2 (y + z) = 0
cyclic

6.3. Isogonal O(P ). There are only two )O(P ) which are isogonal cubics, one
pivotal and one non-pivotal:
(i) O(X3 ) is the Neuberg cubic (pivotal),
(ii) O(X6 ) is B2 (nonpivotal).

30O(X
523 ) meets the circumcircle at the Tixier point X476 .
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 15

A Kiepert
X14 hyperbola

Hc

G X13
H
Hb

Ha
B C
X113

asymptote

Figure 6. O(X4 )

6.4. Orthopivotal focals. Recall that a focal is a circular cubic containing its own
singular focus. 31
Proposition 11. An orthopivotal cubic O(P ) is a focal if and only if P lies on B2 .
This is the case of B2 itself, which is an isogonal focal cubic passing through the
following points: A, B, C, G, K, X13 , X14 , X15 , X16 , X111 (the singular focus),
X368 , X524 , the vertices of the second Brocard triangle and their isogonal conju-
gates. All those points are orthopivots of orthopivotal focals. When the orthopivot
is a fixed point of the orthocorrespondence, we shall see in §6.5 below that O(P )
is a strophoid.
We have seen in §5 that F1 and F2 are invariant under Ψ. These two points lie
on B2 (and also on the Thomson cubic). The singular focus of an orthopivotal focal
O(P ) always lies on B2 ; it is the “third” point of B2 and the line KP .

31
Typically, a focal is the locus of foci of conics inscribed in a quadrilateral. The only focals
having double points (nodes) are the strophoids.
16 B. Gibert

X16
O(X3 )

O(X6 )
X399

X13 X111
Kiepert
K hyperbola

X15 X14
O
C
B

X74

Figure 7. O(X3 ) and O(X6 )

One remarkable cubic is O(X524 ): it is another central cubic with center and
singular focus at G and the line GK as real asymptote. This cubic passes through
X67 and obviously the symmetrics of A, B, C, X13 , X14 , X67 about G. Its equa-
tion is



 
x b2 + c4 − a4 − c2 (a2 + 2b2 − 2c2 ) y 2 − b4 + c4 − a4 − b2 (a2 − 2b2 + 2c2 ) z 2 = 0.
cyclic

Another interesting cubic is O(X111 ) with K as singular focus. Its equation is



(b2 +c2 −2a2 )x2 c2 (a4 − b2 c2 + 3b4 − c4 − 2a2 b2 )y − b2 (a4 − b2 c2 + 3c4 − b4 − 2a2 c2 )z = 0.
cyclic

The sixth intersection with the Kiepert hyperbola is X671 , a point on the Steiner
circumellipse and on the line through X99 and X111 .

6.5. Orthopivotal strophoids. It is easy to see that O(P ) is a strophoid if and only
if P is one of the five real fixed points of the orthocorrespondence, namely, A, B,
C, X13 , X14 , the fixed point being the double point of the curve. This means that
the mesh of orthopivotal cubics contains five strophoids denoted by O(A), O(B),
O(C), O(X13 ), O(X14 ).
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 17

R
A

F3 O(X524 )
X110

X13

G X14

B C

X67

Figure 8. O(X524 )

6.5.1. The strophoids O(A), O(B), O(C). These are the cubics Σa , Σb , Σc with
equations given in (9). It is enough to consider O(A) = Σa . The bisectors of angle
A are the tangents at the double point A. The singular focus is the corresponding
vertex of the second Brocard triangle, namely, the point A2 = (2SA : b2 : c2 ). 32
The real asymptote is parallel to the median AG, being the homothetic image of
AG under h(A2 , 2).
Here are some interesting properties of O(A) = Σa .
(1) Σa is the isogonal conjugate of the Apollonian A-circle
CA : a2 (b2 z 2 − c2 y 2 ) + 2x(b2 SB z − c2 SC y) = 0, (12)
which passes through A and the two isodynamic points X15 and X16 .
(2) The isogonal conjugate of A2 is the point A4 = (a2 : 2SA : 2SA ) on the
Apollonian circle CA , which is the projection of H on AG. The isogonal
conjugate of the antipode of A4 on CA is the intersection of Σa with its real
asymptote. 33
(3) O(A) = Σa is the pedal curve with respect to A of the parabola with focus
at the second intersection of CA and the circumcircle and with directrix the
median AG.

32This is the projection of O on the symmedian AK, the tangent at A being the reflection about
2
OA2 of the parallel at A2 to AG.
33This isogonal conjugate is on the perpendicular at A to AK, and on the tangent at A to Σ .
2 a
18 B. Gibert

O(A)

A2

B
C

asymptote Apollonian circle

Figure 9. The strophoid O(A)

6.5.2. The strophoids O(X13 ) and O(X14 ). The strophoid O(X13 ) has singular
focus X14 , real asymptote the parallel at X99 to the line GX13 , 34 The circle cen-
tered at X14 passing through X13 intersects the parallel at X14 to GX13 at D1 and
D2 which lie on the nodal tangents. The perpendicular at X14 to the Fermat line
meets the bisectors of the nodal tangents at E1 and E2 which are the points where
the tangents are parallel to the asymptote and therefore the centers of anallagmaty
of the curve. 35
O(X13 ) is the pedal curve with respect to X13 of the parabola with directrix the
line GX13 and focus X13 , the symmetric of X13 about X14 .

34The “third intersection” of this asymptote with the cubic lies on the perpendicular at X
13 to the
Fermat line. The intersection of the perpendicular at X13 to GX13 and the parallel at X14 to GX13
is another point on the curve.
35This means that E and E are the centers of two circles through X and the two inversions
1 2 13
with respect to those circles leave O(X13 ) unchanged.
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 19

O(X13 )

O(X14 )
X13

C
B

X14

Figure 10. O(X13 ) and O(X14 )

The construction of O(X13 ) is easy to realize. Draw the parallel  at X14 to

GX13 and take a variable point M on it. The perpendicular at M to M X13 and the
parallel at X13 to M X13 intersect at a point on the strophoid.
We can easily adapt all these to O(X14 ).

6.6. Other remarkable O(P ). The following table gives a list triangle centers P
with O(P ) passing through the Fermat points X13 , X14 , and at least four more
triangle centers of [5]. Some of them are already known and some others will be
detailed in the next section. The very frequent appearance of X15 , X16 is explained
in §7.3 below.
20 B. Gibert

P centers P centers
X1 X10,80,484,519,759 X182 X15,16,98,542
X3 Neuberg cubic X187 X15,16,598,843
X5 X4,30,79,80,265,621,622 X354 X1,105,484,518
X6 X2,15,16,111,368,524 X386 X10,15,16,519
X32 X15,16,83,729,754 X511 X15,16,262,842
X39 X15,16,76,538,755 X569 X15,16,96,539
X51 X61,62,250,262,511 X574 X15,16,543,671
X54 X3,96,265,539 X579 X15,16,226,527
X57 X1,226,484,527 X627 X17,532,617,618,622
X58 X15,16,106,540 X628 X18,533,616,619,621
X61 X15,16,18,533,618 X633 X18,533,617,623
X62 X15,16,17,532,619 X634 X17,532,616,624

7. Pencils of O(P )
7.1. Generalities. The orthopivotal cubics with orthopivots on a given line  form
a pencil F generated by any two of them. Apart from the vertices, the Fermat
points, and two circular points at infinity, all the cubics in the pencil pass through
two fixed points depending on the line . Consequently, all the orthopivotal cubics
passing through a given point Q have their orthopivots on the tangent at Q to O(Q),
namely, the line QQ⊥ . They all pass through another point Q on this line which
is its second intersection with the circle which is its antiorthocorrespondent. For
example, O(Q) passes through G, O, or H if and only if Q lies on GK, OX54 , or
the Euler line respectively.

7.2. Pencils with orthopivot on a line passing through G. If  contains the centroid
G, every orthopivotal cubic in the pencil F passes through its infinite point and
second intersection with the Kiepert hyperbola. As P traverses , the singular
focus of O(P ) traverses its reflection about F1 F2 (see §5).
The most remarkable pencil is the one with  the Euler line. In this case, the
two fixed points are the infinite point X30 and the orthocenter H. In other words,
all the cubics in this pencil have their asymptote parallel to the Euler line. In this
pencil, we find the Neuberg cubic and Kn . The singular focus traverses the line
GX98 , X98 being the Tarry point.
Another worth noticing pencil is obtained when  is the line GX98 . In this
case, the two fixed points are the infinite point X542 and X98 . The singular focus
traverses the Euler line. This pencil contains the two degenerate cubics O(G) and
O(X110 ) seen in §6.1.
When  is the line GK, the two fixed points are the infinite point X524 and the
centroid G. The singular focus lies on the line GX99 , X99 being the Steiner point.
This pencil contains B2 and the central cubic seen in §6.4.
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 21

O(X30 )
O(X4 )
Neuberg cubic

H
Kiepert
X13 hyperbola
X14

B
C Kn

Figure 11. The Euler pencil

7.3. Pencils with orthopivots on a line not passing through G. If  is a line not
through G, the orthopivotal cubics in the pencil F pass through the two (not nec-
essarily real nor distinct) intersections of  with the circle which is its antiortho-
correspondent of. See §2.5 and §3. The singular focus lies on a circle through G,
and the real asymptote envelopes a deltoid tangent to the line F1 F2 and tritangent
to the reflection of this circle about G.
According to §6.2.1, §6.2.2, §6.4, this pencil contains at least one, at most three
pK, nK, focal(s) depending of the number of intersections of  with the cubics met
in those paragraphs respectively.
Consider, for example, the Brocard axis OK. We have seen in §6.3 that there
are two and only two isogonal O(P ), the Neuberg cubic and the second Brocard
cubic B2 obtained when the orthopivots are O and K respectively. The two fixed
points of the pencil are the isodynamic points. 36
The singular focus lies on the Parry circle (see §5) and the asymptote envelopes
a deltoid tritangent to the reflection of the Parry circle about G.
The pencil FOK is invariant under isogonal conjugation, the isogonal conjugate
of O(P ) being O(Q), where Q is the harmonic conjugate of P with respect to
36The antiorthocorrespondent of the Brocard axis is a circle centered at X , the isogonal con-
647
jugate of the trilinear pole of the Euler line.
22 B. Gibert

O and K. It is obvious that the Neuberg cubic and B2 are the only cubic which
are “self-isogonal” and all the others correspond two by two. Since OK intersects
the Napoleon cubic at O, X61 and X62 , there are only three pK in this pencil, the
Neuberg cubic and O(X61 ), O(X62 ). 37
O(X61 ) passes though X18 , X533 , X618 , and the isogonal conjugates of X532
and X619 .
O(X62 ) passes though X17 , X532 , X619 , and the isogonal conjugates of X533
and X618 . There are only three focals in the pencil FOK , namely, B2 and O(X15 ),
O(X16 ) (with singular foci X16 , X15 respectively).

O(X61 )

X14

A
O

X15

X13
C
B O(X62 )

X16
O(X6 )
O(X511 )

Neuberg cubic

Figure 12. The Brocard pencil

An interesting situation is found when P = X182 , the midpoint of OK. Its

harmonic conjugate with respect to OK is the infinite point Q = X511 . O(X511 )
passes through X262 which is its intersection with its real asymptote parallel at G
37O(X ) and O(X ) are isogonal conjugates of each other. Their pivots are X and X
61 62 14 13
respectively and their poles are quite complicated and unknown in [5].
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 23

to OK. Its singular focus is G. The third intersection with the Fermat line is U1 on
X23 X110 and the last intersection with the circumcircle is X842 = X542∗ . 38

O(X182 ) is the isogonal conjugate of O(X511 ) and passes through X98 , X182 .
Its singular focus is X23 , inverse of G in the circumcircle. Its real asymptote is
parallel to the Fermat line at X323 and the intersection is the isogonal conjugate of
U1 .
The following table gives several pairs of harmonic conjugates P and Q on
OK. Each column gives two cubics O(P ) and O(Q), each one being the isogonal
conjugate of the other.

P X32 X50 X52 X58 X187 X216 X284 X371 X389 X500
Q X39 X566 X569 X386 X574 X577 X579 X372 X578 X582

8. A quintic and a quartic

We present a pair of interesting higher degree curves associated with the ortho-
correspondence.
Theorem 12. The locus of point P whose orthotransversal LP and trilinear polar
P are parallel is the circular quintic

Q1 : a2 y 2 z 2 (SB y − SC z) = 0.
cyclic
Equivalently, Q1 is the locus of point P for which
(1) the lines P P ∗ and P (or LP ) are perpendicular,
(2) P lies on the Euler line of the pedal triangle of P∗ ,
(3) P , P ∗ , H/P (and P ⊥ ) are collinear,
(4) P lies on O(P ∗ ).
Note that LP and P coincide when P is one of the Fermat points. 39
Theorem 13. The isogonal transform of the quintic Q1 is the circular quartic

Q2 : a4 SA yz(c2 y 2 − b2 z 2 ) = 0,
cyclic
which is also the locus of point P such that
(1) the lines P P ∗ and P ∗ (or LP ∗ ) are perpendicular,
(2) P lies on the Euler line of its pedal triangle,
(3) P , P ∗ , H/P ∗ are collinear,
(4) P ∗ lies on O(P ).
These two curves Q1 and Q2 contain a large number of interesting points, which
we enumerate below.
Proposition 14. The quintic Q1 contains the 58 following points:
38This is on X X
23 110 too. It is the reflection of the Tarry point X98 about the Euler line and the
reflection of X74 about the Brocard line.
39See §1, Remark (5).
24 B. Gibert

Ic

A
Hc

H Hb Ib

G
I

B Ha
C

Thomson
cubic

Euler line

Ia

Figure 13. The quintic Q1

(1) the vertices A, B, C, which are singular points with the bisectors as tan-
gents,
(2) the circular points at infinity and the singular focus G, 40
(3) the three infinite points of the Thomson cubic, 41
(4) the in/excenters I, Ia , Ib , Ic , with tangents passing through O, and the
isogonal conjugates of the intersections of these tangents with the trilinear
polars of the corrresponding in/excenters,
(5) H, with tangent the Euler line,

40The tangent at G passes through the isotomic conjugate of G⊥ , the point with coordinates
( b2 +c21−5a2 : · · · : · · · ).
41
In other words, Q1 has three real asymptotes parallel to those of the Thomson cubic.
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 25

(6) the six points where a circle with diameter a side of ABC intersects the
corresponding median, 42
(7) the feet of the altitudes, the tangents being the altitudes,
(8) the Fermat points X13 and X14 ,
(9) the points X1113 and X1114 where the Euler line meets the circumcircle,
(10) the perspectors of the 27 Morley triangles and ABC. 43
Proposition 15. The quartic Q2 contains the 61 following points:
(1) the vertices A, B, C, 44
(2) the circular points at infinity, 45
(3) the three points where the Thomson cubic meets the circumcircle again,
(4) the in/excenters I, Ia , Ib , Ic , with tangents all passing through O, and the
intersections of these tangents OIx with the trilinear polars of the corre-
sponding in/excenters,
(5) O and K, 46
(6) the six points where a symmedian intersects a circle centered at the corre-
sponding vertex of the tangential triangle passing through the remaining
two vertices of ABC, 47
(7) the six feet of bisectors,
(8) the isodynamic points X15 and X16 , with tangents passing through X23 ,
(9) the two infinite points of the Jerabek hyperbola, 48
(10) the isogonal conjugates of the perspectors of the 27 Morley triangles and
ABC. 49
We give a proof of (10). Let k1 , k2 , k3 = 0, ±1, and consider
A + 2k1 π B + 2k2 π C + 2k3 π
ϕ1 = , ϕ2 = , ϕ3 = .
3 3 3
Denote by M one of the 27 points with barycentric coordinates
(a cos ϕ1 : b cos ϕ2 : c cos ϕ3 ).
42The two points on the median AG have coordinates
 
(2a : −a ± 2b2 + 2c2 − a2 : −a ± 2b2 + 2c2 − a2 ).

43The existence of the these points was brought to my attention by Edward Brisse. In particular,
X357 , the perspector of ABC and first Morley triangle.
44These are inflection points, with tangents passing through O.
45
The singular focus is the inverse X23 of G in the circumcircle. This point is not on the curve
Q2 .
46 Both tangents at O and K pass through the point Z = (a2 S (b2 + c2 − 2a2 ) : · · · : · · · ),
A
the intersection of the trilinear polar of O with the orthotransversal of X110 . The tangent at O is also
tangent to the Jerabek hyperbola and the orthocubic.
47The two points on the symmedian AK have coordinates (−a2 ± a√2b2 + 2c2 − a2 : 2b2 :
2c2 ).
48The two real asymptotes of Q are parallel to those of the Jerabek hyperbola and meet at Z in
2
footnote 46 above.
49In particular, the Morley-Yff center X .
358
26 B. Gibert

X16

Ic A

Ib
I
K

X15

O
B C
Thomson
cubic

Brocard axis

Ia

Figure 14. The quartic Q2

The isogonal conjugate of M is the perspector of ABC and one of the 27 Morley
triangles. 50 We show that M lies on the quartic Q2 . 51 Since cos A = cos 3ϕ1 =
4 cos3 ϕ1 −3 cos ϕ1 , we have cos3 ϕ1 = 14 (cos A + 3 cos ϕ1 ) and similar identities
for cos3 ϕ2 and cos3 ϕ3 . From this and the equation of Q2 , we obtain


a4 SA b cos ϕ2 c cos ϕ3 (c2 b2 cos2 ϕ2 − b2 c2 cos2 ϕ3 )
cyclic

50For example, with k = k = k = 0, M ∗ = X

1 2 3 357 and M = X358 .
51Consequently, M ∗ lies on the quintic Q . See Proposition 14(10).
1
Orthocorrespondence and orthopivotal cubics 27

= a4 b3 c3 SA (cos ϕ3 cos3 ϕ2 − cos ϕ2 cos3 ϕ3 )
cyclic
 1
= a4 b3 c3 SA (cos ϕ3 cos B − cos ϕ2 cos C)
4
cyclic
 1  
4 3 3 SB SC
= a b c SA cos ϕ3 − cos ϕ2
4 ac ab
cyclic
1 3 3 3   cos ϕ3 cos ϕ2 
= a b c SA SB SC −
4 c SC b SB
cyclic
= 0.
This completes the proof of (10).
Remark. Q1 and Q2 are strong curves in the sense that they are invariant under
extraversions: any point lying on one of them has its three extraversions also on
the curve. 52

References
[1] H. Brocard and T. Lemoyne, Courbes Géométriques Remarquables, Librairie Albert Blanchard,
Paris, third edition, 1967.
[2] A. Goddijn, Hyacinthos message 6226, December 29, 2002.
[3] F. M. van Lamoen, Hyacinthos message 6158, December 13, 2002.
[4] C. Kimberling, Triangle Centers and Central Triangles,Congressus Numerantium, 129 (1998)
1–295.
[5] C. Kimberling, Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers, August 22, 2002 edition, available at
http://www2.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/; January 14, 2003 edition available at
http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETC.html.
[6] J. Parish, Hyacinthos message 1434, September 15, 2000.
[7] J. Parish, Hyacinthos messages 6161, 6162, December 13, 2002.
[8] G. M. Pinkernell, Cubic curves in the triangle plane, Journal of Geometry, 55 (1996) 142–161.
[9] P. Yiu, The uses of homogeneous barycentric coordinates in plane euclidean geometry, Int. J.
Math. Educ. Sci. Technol., 31 (2000) 569 – 578.

Bernard Gibert: 10 rue Cussinel, 42100 - St Etienne, France

E-mail address: b.gibert@free.fr

52The extraversions of a point are obtained by replacing one of a, b, c by its opposite. For
example, the extraversions of the incenter I are the three excenters and I is said to be a weak point.
On the contrary, K is said to be a ”strong” point.