Hagge circles revisited

Nguyen Van Linh

24/12/2011

Abstract
In 1907, Karl Hagge wrote an article on the construction of circles that always pass through the
orthocenter of a given triangle. The purpose of his work is to find an extension of the Wallace-Simson
theorem when the generating point is not on the circumcircle. Then they was named Hagge circles.
In this paper, we present the new insight into Hagge circles with many corollaries. Furthermore, we
also introduce three problems which are similar to Hagge circles.

Hagge circles and their corollaries

Problem 1 (The construction of Hagge circles). Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle
(O) and orthocenter H. Choose P an arbitrary point in the plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP
meets (O) again at A1 , B1 , C1 . Denote A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 with respect to
BC, CA, AB, respectively. Then H, A1 , B1 , C1 are concyclic. The circle (H, A1 , B1 , C1 ) is called
P-Hagge circle.
Here we give two proofs for problem 1. Both of them start from the problem which appeared in
China Team Selection Test 2006.
Problem 2 (China TST 2006). Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O) and orthocenter
H. Let P be an arbitrary point in the plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP meets (O) again at
A1 , B1 , C1 . Denote A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB,
respectively. Then H, A1 , B1 , C1 are concyclic.
Proof.
We introduce a lemma:
Lemma 1. (B2 C2 , B2 A2 ) (P C, P A)(mod)
Proof.

C2
B1

O
B2

C1

A2

A'

B'

P
C'
X
C
B

A1

Denote M, N the reflections of A2 , C2 across the midpoint of AC then M B1 N is the reflection

of A2 B2 C2 across the midpoint of AC.
Since AM k CA2 , AM = CA2 and BA1 k CA2 , BA1 = CA2 we get AM A1 B is a parallelogram.
Similarly, BC1 N C is a parallelogram too.
Let A0 , B 0 , C 0 be the midpoints of AA1 , BB1 , CC1 then A0 , C 0 are the midpoints of BM, BN ,
1
respectively. The homothety HB2 : M 7 A0 , B1 7 B 0 , N 7 C 0 therefore M B1 N 7 A0 B 0 C 0 .
This means (B1 M, B1 N ) (B 0 A0 , B 0 C 0 )(mod).
On the other side, OA0 , OB 0 , OC 0 are perpendicular to AA1 , BB1 , CC1 hence O, A0 , B 0 , C 0 , P
are concyclic, which follows that:
(B2 A2 , B2 C2 ) (B1 M, B1 N ) (B 0 A0 , B 0 C 0 ) (P A0 , P C 0 ) (P A, P C)(mod). We are done.
Back to problem 2.
A3

C4

B1

C2

B4

Z
C1
H
O

A2

B2

B3
A1

A4

C3

Construct three lines through A1 , B1 , C1 and perpendicular to AA1 , BB1 , CC1 , respectively.
They intersect each other and form triangle A3 B3 C3 , intersect (O) again at A4 , B4 , C4 , respectively.
Note that AA4 , BB4 , CC4 are diameters of (O) therefore A4 , C4 are the reflections of H across
the midpoints of BC, AB. We get HA2 A4 A1 , HC2 C4 C1 are parallelograms, which follows that
HA2 k A1 A4 , HC2 k C1 C4 .
But P C1 B3 A1 is a cyclic quadrilateral and applying lemma 1 we have (HC2 , HA2 ) (B3 C1 , B3 A1 )
(P C1 , P A1 ) (P C, P A) (B2 C2 , B2 A2 )(mod) or H, A2 , B2 , C2 are concyclic. Our proof is
completed.
Remark 1: Now come back to problem 1. Let A3 , B3 , C3 be the reflections of A2 , B2 , C2 across
the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively. Since (BA2 C) is the reflections of (ABC) wrt BC then
A3 (ABC). It is easy to see that BC is the midline of the triangle A1 A2 A3 hence A1 A3 k BC. We
claim that AA3 , BB3 , CC3 concur at the isogonal conjugate Q of P wrt ABC. Then according
to problem 2 we obtain H, A2 , B2 , C2 are concyclic.
Another proof (Nsato) [9]
We introduce a lemma.
Lemma 2. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O). Let D be an arbitrary point on (O).
A line d through D and d BC.d (O) = {G} then AG is parallel to the Simson line of point D.
Proof.
G
A

F
E
B

Denote d BC = {E}, F the projection of D on AC then EF is the Simson line of D.

Since DEF C is a cyclic quadrilateral we get GAC = GDC = EF A. Therefore AG k EF .
Back to problem 1.

Y
Z

B4

Q
C4

A2
H

P
X
C

A4

A3

A1

Let Q be the isogonal conjugate of P wrt ABC; X, Y, Z be the reflections of A, B, C wrt Q;

A3 B3 C3 be the circumcevian triangle of Q; A4 B4 C4 be the median triangle of ABC.
The symmetry with center Q takes A to X, B to Y, C to Z then ABC 7 XY Z. But A4 B4 C4
is the median triangle of ABC hence there exist a point K which is the center of the homothety
1
with ratio . This transformation maps XY Z to A4 B4 C4 .
2
On the other hand, let L be the second intersection of A1 A2 and (O). Applying lemma 2,
AL k HA2 .
Moreover, LA1 is perpendicular to BC and A3 A1 is parallel to BC therefore A3 A1 LA1 ,
which follows that AA3 AL or AA3 HA2 .
From remark 1, A4 is the midpoint of A2 A3 hence XA2 KA3 is a parallelogram. This means
KA2 k AA3 .
So KA2 HA2 or A2 lies on the circle with diamenter KH. Similarly we are done.
Problem 3. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O) and orthocenter H. Let P be
an arbitrary point in the plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP meets (O) again at A1 , B1 , C1 .
Denote A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 with respect to BC, CA, AB, respectively. Then
A2 B2 C2 A1 B1 C1 .
Proof.
Firstly we introduce a lemma:
Lemma 3. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O). Let E, F be two arbitrary points on
(O). Then the angle between the Simson lines of two points E and F is half the measure of the arc
EF .
Proof.

E
I

L
B

See on the figure, IJ, HG are the Simson lines of two points E and F , respectively. IJ HG =
{K}
Denote L the projection of K on BC. We have KL k F G and F HGC is a cyclic quadrilateral
thus (KG, KL) (GK, GF ) (CA, CF )(mod)(1)
Similarly, (KL, KJ) (BE, BA)(mod)(2)
From (1) and (2) we are done.
Back to problem 3.
A

B1

A2

C1
H
O
P
C2

B2

A1

According to Hagge circle, we have H, A2 , B2 , C2 are concyclic.

Since A2 is the reflections of A1 wrt BC we get HA2 is the Steiner line of A1 , which is parallel
to its Simson line.
Analogously, HB2 is the Steiner line of B1 . Then applying lemma 3, (C2 A2 , C2 B2 ) (HA2 , HB2 )
(C1 A1 , C1 B1 )(mod). Do similarly with other direct angles we refer to the similarity of two triangles A1 B1 C1 and A2 B2 C2 .
Problem 4. Using the same notations as problem 1, let A3 , B3 , C3 be the second intersections
of AH, BH, CH and (A2 B2 C2 ), respectively. Then A2 A3 , B2 B3 , C2 C3 concur at P .
Proof.

A2
H
B1

B3

C1

C3

P
C2

B2

A3

A1

(A2 C2 , A2 A3 ) (HC2 , HA3 ) (HC2 , BC)+(BC, HA) /2+(HC2 , BC)(mod). Let L, Z be

the projections of C1 on BC, AB, respectively then LZ is the Simson line of C1 . We get HC2 k LZ
Therefore (HC2 , BC) (LZ, LC) (C1 Z, C1 B)(mod)
Hence (A2 C2 , A2 A3 ) /2 + (C1 Z, C1 B) (BA, BC1 ) (CA, CC1 )(mod)
Since H, A3 , B3 , C3 are concyclic then (C3 B3 , C3 A3 ) (HB3 , HA3 ) (CA, CB)(mod) . Similarly we get A3 B3 C3 ABC. But from problem 3, A2 B2 C2 A1 B1 C1 .
Thus there exist a similarity transformation which takes A3 C2 B3 A2 C3 to AC1 BA1 CB1 and it
AP
A3 P 0
follows that A2 A3 , B2 B3 , C2 C3 concur at P 0 . Moreover,
=
hence P P 0 k AH. Similarly,
A1 P
A2 P 0
P P 0 k BH, CH. This means P P 0 . Our proof is completed then.
Problem 5. Let I be the circumcenter of triangle A2 B2 C2 . K is the reflection of H across I.
AK, BK, CK cut (I) again at A4 , B4 , C4 . Then A3 A4 , B3 B4 , C3 C4 are concurrent.
Proof.
A

A4
H
O
B3

C3
I

C
B4
A3

K
C4

Since KA3 AH we have (C3 C4 , C3 A3 ) (KC4 , KA3 ) (CK, CB)(mod).

Similarly, (C3 C4 , C3 B3 ) (CK, CA)(mod). Do the same with other angles then applying
Ceva-sine theorem for triangle A3 B3 C3 we are done.
Problem 6. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O). Let P and Q be two isogonal
conjugate points, O1 , O2 be the circumcenters of P-Hagge and Q-Hagge circles, respectively. Then
P Q k O1 O2 and P Q = O1 O2 .
Proof.
Lemma 4. Given triangle ABC with its orthocenter H, circumcenter O and let P be an
arbitrary point in the plane. AP, BP, CP intersect (O) again at A1 , B1 , C1 , respectively. Denote
A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively, O2 the
center of (A2 B2 C2 ). Then OO2 HP is a parallelogram.
Proof.

B1

O'2

C'

C1

H'
A'

Y
U

A2
H
X

C2
B

B2

O2

A1

Denote A0 , C 0 the reflections of A2 , C2 across the midpoint of AC, respectively. Then A0 B1 C 0

is the reflections of A2 B2 C2 across the midpoint of AC.
Since AA0 k A2 C, AA0 = A2 C, A2 C k BA1 , A2 C = BA1 we get AA0 A1 B is a parallelogram. (1)
Similarly, BCC 0 C1 is a parallelogram. (2)
Let X, Y, Z be the midpoints of AA1 , BB1 , CC1 , respectively then X, Y, Z lies on (OP ).
But from (1) and (2), X, Z are the midpoints of BA0 , BC 0 .
1

A homothety HB2 : A0 7 X, B1 7 Y, C 0 7 Z therefore A0 B1 C 0 7 XY Z

A symmetry with center is the midpoint of BC:
S : B 7 B 0 , H 7 H 0 the orthocenter of triangle AB 0 C, O2 O20
O2 H O20 H 0
1

It is easy to show that B, O, H 0 are collinear. Hence the homothety HB2 : H 0 7 O, O20 7 U the
circumcenter of triangle XY Z.
We conclude that OP k= O20 H k= O2 H. Therefore HP OO2 is a parallelogram. We are done.
Back to our problem.
From the lemma above, OO1 k= QH, OO2 k= P H thus P Q k= O1 O2

Our proof is completed.

Remark 2. The radius of P-Hagge circle is equal to the distance of Q and O.
Problem 7. Given triangle ABC, its Nine-point circle (E) and an arbitrary point P on (E).
Let Q be the isogonal conjugate point of P wrt ABC. Then the center I of Q-Hagge circle lies
on (E) too. Moreover, I is the reflection of P across point E.
Proof.
The conclusion follows immediately from remark 2. Note that the center of Q-Hagge circle is
always the reflection of P wrt E.
Problem 8. Given triangle ABC and its circumcenter O. P and Q are isogonal conjugate wrt
triangle ABC such that O, P, Q are collinear. Then P-Hagge circle and Q-Hagge circle are tangent.
Proof.
This problem is also a corollary of remark 2. We will leave the proof for the readers.
Problem 9. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O, R). A circle which has center O and
radius r < R meets BC, CA, AB at A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 , C1 , C2 , respectively. Let E, F be the Miquel
points of triangle ABC wrt (A1 , B1 , C1 ) and (A2 , B2 , C2 ) respectively. Then E-Hagge circle and
F-Hagge circle are congruent.
Proof.
We will introduce a lemma.
Lemma 5. Given triangle ABC. A circle (O) intersects BC, CA, AB at 6 points A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 , C1 ,
C2 , respectively. Let P, Q be the Miquel points of ABC wrt (A1 , B1 , C1 ) and (A2 , B2 , C2 ). Then
P and Q are isogonal conjugate and OP = OQ.
Proof.
A

B2
X
C1

Q
B1
Y
P
O

C2

A1

A2

Let X, Y, Z be the second intersections of A1 P, B1 P, C1 P and (O), respectively.

We have (ZY, ZX) (A1 Y, A1 X) (A1 Y, P Y ) + (P Y, A1 X) (A2 C, A2 B1 ) + (CA2 , CB1 )
(B1 B2 , B1 A2 )(mod)
This means XY = A2 B2 . Similarly, Y Z = B2 C2 , XZ = A2 C2 . Therefore XY Z = A2 B2 C2 .
On the other side, (P X, P Y ) (QA2 , QB2 )(mod), (P Y, P Z) (QB2 , QC2 )(mod) then there
exist a rotation with center O which takes XY Z to A2 B2 C2 and P to Q. We conclude that
OP = OQ.
Moreover, (AP, AB) (B1 P, B1 C1 ) (ZY, ZP ) (C2 B2 , C2 Q) (AB2 , AQ)(mod).
Similarly we get P and Q are isogonal conjugate wrt ABC.
Back to our problem.
According to lemma 5, P and Q are isogonal conjugate wrt ABC and OP = OQ. Then
applying remark 2 the conclusion follows.

Problem 10. Given triangle ABC with its orthocenter H. Let P, Q be two isogonal conjugate
points wrt ABC. Construct the diameter HK of P-Hagge circle. Let G be the centroid of the
1
triangle ABC. Then Q, G, K are collinear and QG = GK.
2
Proof.
A

B1

C1

A2

C2
G
H
P

K
B

Ma

B2

A1

Let X be the reflection of A wrt Q, Ma be the midpoint of BC then from proof 2 of problem 1,
we obtain Ma is the midpoint of XK.
Then applying Menelaus theorem for the triangle AXMa with the line (Q, G, K) we have Q, G, K
are collinear. Applying Menelaus theorem again for the triangle QXK with the line (A, G, Ma ) then
1
QG = .
2
Problem 11. The centroid G lies on L-Hagge circle where L is the Symmedian point.
Proof.
B2

A
B1

C1
C3

C2

A3
G

B3
C

A1
A2

Let A1 B1 C1 , A2 B2 C2 be the circumcevian triangles of G and L, respectively; A3 , B3 , C3 be the

reflections of A2 , B2 , C2 wrt BC, CA, AB, respectively.
It is easy to see that A3 , B3 , C3 lie on AG, BG, CG, respectively.
From problem 3, A3 B3 C3 A2 B2 C2 . Then (A2 B2 , A2 C2 ) (A3 C3 , A3 B3 )(mod)
_
_
1 _
1 _
On the other side, (GC3 , GB3 ) (CB1 + C1 B) (B2 A + AC2 )
2
2
(A2 B2 , A2 C2 ) (A3 C3 , A3 B3 )(mod).

This means G, A3 , B3 , C3 are concyclic. We are done.

More results.
1. When P I the incenter of triangle ABC, P-Hagge circle is called Fuhrmann circle of
ABC, after the 19th-century German geometer Wilhelm Fuhrmann. The line segment connecting the orthocenter H and the Nagel point N is the diameter of Fuhrmann circle. The solution
for this result can be found in [8]. Moreover, denote O, I the circumcenter and the incenter of
triangle ABC then HN = 2OI.
2. When P lies on the circumcircle of triangle ABC, P-Hagge circle becomes the Steiner line of P .
3. When Q lies on the circumcircle of triangle ABC, we have a problem:
Given triangle ABC and an arbitrary point P on its circumcircle (O). Denote A0 , B 0 , C 0 the
reflections of P across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB. Then H, A0 , B 0 , C 0 are concyclic.
4. When P lies at the infinity, problem 1 can be re-written as below:
Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O), orthocenter H. Denote A1 , B1 , C1 points on (O)
such that AA1 k BB1 k CC1 , A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 across the lines BC, CA, AB,
respectively. Then H, A2 , B2 , C2 are concylic.
5. When P H the orthocenter of ABC, P-Hagge circle becomes point H.
6. When P O the circumcenter of ABC, the center of P-Hagge circle coincides with O.

Results from the triads of congruent circles

Three year ago, Quang Tuan Bui, the Vietnamese geometer, wrote an article about two
triads of congruent circles from reflections in the magazine Forum Geometricorum. In that note,
he constructed two triads of congruent circles through the vertices, one associated with reflections
in the altitudes, and the other reflections in the angle bisectors. In 2011, Tran Quang Hung, the
teacher at High School for Gifted Student, Hanoi University of Science, also constructed another
triad which associated with reflections in the lines joining the vertices and the Nine-point center.
His work was published in a abook called Exploration and Creativity. Here we introduce the
involvement of Hagge circles in these problems.
Problem 12. Given triangle ABC with its orthocenter H, circumcenter O. Let Ba , Ca be
the reflections of B and C across the line AH. Similarly, consider the reflections Cb , Ab of C, A,
respectively across the line BH, and Ac , Bc of A, B across the line CH. Then the circumcircles of
three triangles ACb Bc , BAc Ca , CAb Ba and O-Hagge circle are congruent.

10

Ca

C1

B1

Ba
C2

Cb

Ac

C
Bc

A1
Ab

Note. In [2], Quang Tuan Bui proved that three circles (ACb Bc ), (BAc Ca ), (CAb Ba ) are congruent with the circle (H, HO). By remark 2, HO is the radius of O-Hagge circle. We are done.
Problem 13. Let I be the incenter of triangle ABC. Consider the reflections of the vertices
in the angles bisectors: Ba , Ca of B, C in AI, Ab , Cb of A, C in BI, Ac , Bc of A, B in CI. Then the
circumcircles of three triangles ACb Bc , BAc Ca , CAb Ba and Fuhrmann circle are congruent.
Cb

T
A
B1

Bc

C1
C2

A2
I

Ba

O
S

Ac

B2
Ab

A1

Ca

Note. In his article, Quang Tuan Bui also proved that three circles (ACb Bc ), (BAc Ca ), (CAb Ba )
are congruent with the circle (I, IO). By remark 2, IO is the radius of Fuhrmann circle and it completes the proof.
Problem 14. Given triangle ABC with its Nine-point center E. Let Ba , Ca be the reflections
of B and C across the line AE. Similarly, consider the reflections Cb , Ab of C, A, respectively across
the line BE, and Ac , Bc of A, B across the line CE. Then the circumcircles of three triangles
ACb Bc , BAc Ca , CAb Ba and E-Hagge circle are congruent.
Proof.

11

Cb

B1

Bc
Oc
A2
C1

J
C2

Q
H
C

B2
A1

Denote A1 B1 C1 the circumcevian triangle of E. A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 across

BC, CA, AB, respectively. Let H be the orthocenter of triangle ABC. CH meets the circumcircle
(O) of triangle ABC again at Q, (Oc ) be the circumcircle of triangle AHB.
Since (Oc ) and (O) are symmetric wrt AB, C2 is the reflection of C1 wrt AB we obtain C2 (Oc ).
It is not hard to see that Oc lies on CE. However, B and Bc are symmetric wrt CE we conclude
that Bc (Oc ).
We have (BA, BBc ) (CQ, CC1 )(mod), which follows from the fact that CQ AB, BBc
CC1 . This means the direct angle (BA, BBc ) is half the measure of the arc QC1 or HC2 . Therefore
ABc = HC2 or AHC2 Bc is a isosceles trapezoid.
Analogously, AHB2 Cb is also a isosceles trapezoid. We claim (ABc Cb ) is the image of (HC2 A2 )
across the symmetry whose the axis is the perpendicular bisector of AH. This means two circles
(ABc Cb ) and E-Hagge circle are congruent. Similarly we are done.
Remark 3. Other synthetic proofs of the congruent of three circles (ACb Bc ), (BAc Ca ), (CAb Ba )
can be found in [6] or [7]. We have some properties:
1. The radius of three circles (ACb Bc ), (BAc Ca ), (CAb Ba ) is equal to the distance of O and
Kosnita point K (the isogonal conjugate of E).
2. The orthocenter of triangle Ia Ib Ic is the reflection of H wrt the center of N-Hagge circle
(Ia , Ib , Ic are the circumcenters of three triangles ACb Bc , BAc Ca , CAb Ba , respectively).
3. N is the center of K-Hagge circle.

Near Hagge circles

Finally, we give 3 interesting problems which involve in Hagge circles.

Problem 15. Given triangle ABC, its orthocenter H and its circumcircle (O). Denote
A1 , B1 , C1 the reflections of A, B, C wrt O, respectively, P an arbitrary point in the plane. Let
A2 B2 C2 be the pedal triangle of P wrt ABC, A3 , B3 , C3 be the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 wrt
A2 , B2 , C2 , respectively. Then 4 points H, A3 , B3 , C3 are concyclic.
Proof.

12

B1

C1
B4

C4

A3

C2
H

B2

A5

C5
B5
B3

P
A4

A2

C3

A1

Let A4 , B4 , C4 be the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively then A4 is the midpoint of A3 H.
Similar with B4 , C4 .
We get HA3 k= 2A2 A4 , HB3 k= 2B2 B4 , HC3 k= 2C2 C4 .(1)
Construct three rectangles OA4 A2 A5 , OB4 B2 B5 , OC4 C2 C5 hence A5 , B5 , C5 lie on the circle
with diameter OP.(2)
But OA5 k= A4 A2 , OB5 k= B4 B2 , OC5 k= C4 C2 (3)
From (1), (2) and (3) we claim H, A3 , B3 , C3 are concyclic. Moreover, we can show that
A3 B3 C3 ABC.
Problem 16. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O) and its orthocenter H. Let Ha Hb Hc
be the orthic triangle of triangle ABC. P is an arbitrary point on Euler line. AP, BP, CP intersect
(O) again at A1 , B1 , C1 . Let A2 , B2 , C2 be the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 wrt Ha , Hb , Hc , respectively.
Then H, A2 , B2 , C2 are concyclic ( See [12] or [14]).
Proof.
We will prove this problem in the general case as below.
Generalization.
Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O). Let X, Y be two points inside (O) such that O
lies on the line segment XY . AX, BX, CX intersect (O) again at A1 , B1 , C1 , AY, BY, CY intersect (O) again at A2 , B2 , C2 . Let A3 , B3 , C3 be the reflections of A2 , B2 , C2 wrt the midpoints of
A1 X, B1 Y, C1 Z. Then A3 , B3 , C3 , X lie on a circle (O0 ) and O0 lies on XY .
Proof.

13

A
T

B1

C2

B3

C1

B2
V
O

P
S

Y
Q

A3

C3

C
U
A2

A1

Let S be the intersection of A1 C2 and A2 C1 . Applying Pascals theorem for 6 points C1 , C2 , A1 ,

A2 , A, C we get S XY .
Denote T, U the second intersections of the perpendicular lines through A1 , C1 to A1 A2 , C1 C2
with (O), respectively.
Applying Pascals theorem again for 6 points A1 , A2 , C1 , C2 , T, U We conclude that P XY .
Similarly we obtain the perpendicular line through B1 to B1 B2 also passes through P , three lines
which pass through A2 , B2 , C2 and perpendicular to A1 A2 , B1 B2 , C1 C2 , respectively concur at Q
XY .
Construct three rectangles P A1 A2 V, P B1 B2 W, P ZC2 C1 then XA3 k A1 A2 k P V and XA3 =
A1 A2 = P V . Let L be the midpoint of XP then LA3 = LV = 21 A3 V.
Similarly we get (A3 B3 C3 ) is the reflection of (V W Z) wrt L. But P, V, W, Z lie on a circle with
diameter P Q so X lies on (A3 B3 C3 ). Moreover, O0 is the reflection of O wrt L, which follows that
O0 XY . We are done.
Problem 17. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O), its orthocenter H. Let P be
an arbitrary point in the plane. AP, BP, CP intersect (O) again at A1 , B1 , C1 , respectively. Let
A2 B2 C2 be the pedal triangle of P wrt ABC, A3 , B3 , C3 be the reflections of A1 , B1 , C1 wrt
A2 , B2 , C2 , respectively. Then A3 , B3 , C3 , H are concyclic.
Proof.
We introduce two lemmas.
Lemma 6. Three triangles A1 B1 C1 , A2 B2 C2 , A3 B3 C3 are similar.
Proof.

14

C1

C2

B2

B3

B1

C3
A3
B

A2

C
A1
C4
B4

The result A1 B1 C1 A2 B2 C2 is trivival. So we only show that A3 B3 C3 A1 B1 C1 .

Let B4 , C4 be the reflections of B3 , C3 wrt A2 , respectively. We get A1 B4 C4 A3 B3 C3 .(1)
Since A2 C2 is the midline of triangle C1 C3 C4 then C1 C4 k A2 C2 . Analogously, B1 B4 k A2 B2 .
Denote R the intersection of B1 B4 and C1 C4 . We conclude that (RB1 , RC1 ) (A2 B2 , A2 C2 )
(A1 B1 , A1 C1 )(mod), which follows that R (O).
Hence (C1 A1 , C1 C4 ) (B1 A1 , B1 B4 )(mod).
A1 C1
A2 C2
C1 C4
On the other side,
=
=
. Therefore A1 C1 C4 A1 B1 B4 .
A1 B1
A2 B2
B1 B4
This means (A1 B1 , A1 B4 ) (A1 C1 , A1 C4 )(mod), then (A1 B4 , A1 C4 ) (A1 B1 , A1 C1 )(mod).
Similarly we get A1 B1 C1 A1 B4 C4 .(2)
From (1) and (2) we are done.
Lemma 7. Given triangle ABC. Let A1 be the projection of A on BC, A2 , B2 , C2 be the
midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively. Let P be an arbitrary point in the plane, A0 B 0 C 0 be the
pedal triangle of P wrt ABC, F and F 0 be the intersections of (A0 B 0 C 0 ) and (A2 B2 C2 ). A line
through A0 and parallel to AP intersects AA1 at A00 . Then the circle with diameter A0 A00 passes
through one of two point F, F 0 .
Proof.
A

A''

I'
V

C2

B2
N

C'

B'
F'
P

A1

A2

A'

Let V be the intersection of B 0 C 0 and B2 C2 . According to the first Fontenes theorem (see [4]
or [5]), we obtain A0 , V, F 0 are collinear.

15

On the other side, denote I 0 , L the midpoints of AP, AA0 , respectively, I the center of (A0 A00 ).
Because AAA0 P is a parallelogram then I, L, I 0 are collinear and II 0 BC. But L lies on
B2 C2 then I 0 is the reflection of I wrt B2 C2 . Thus (I 0 , I 0 A) is the reflection of (I, IA00 ) wrt B2 C2 ,
which follows that two circles intersect at two points M and N which lie on B2 C2 .
Since B 0 , C 0 (I 0 , I 0 A) we get V F 0 .V A0 = V B 0 .V C 0 = V M.V N hence F 0 , A0 , M, N are concyclic
or (I, IA00 ) passes through F 0 .
Back to our problem.
A

C2
O'

B2

O
H
L

A3

P
S

A2

A1

Let L be the intersection of (A2 B2 C2 ) and the Nine-point circle of triangle ABC, X, Y, Z be the
midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively, N be the second intersection of LA2 and (XY Z). Let M
be the midpoint of AH, K be the projection of A on BC, R be the midpoint of AA1 .
Since OX k= AM then AO k= XM .
Denote T the intersection of the lines through A2 and parallel to AA1 and AK. Applying lemma
7 we obtain (A2 T ) passes through L.
Then (A2 T, A2 L) (KT, KL) (N M, N L)(mod), which follows that M N k A2 T k AP .
Hence (M X, M N ) (AO, AR)(mod).
But (N M, N X) (OR, OA) /2(mod) thus XM N = OAR.
1
Then OR k= XN , we obtain ORN X is a parallelogram. This means RN k= OX k= AH.
2
Therefore N is the midpoint of HA1 or N A1 is the midline of triangle HA3 A1 . We have
HA3 k A2 L. Similarly, HB3 k B2 L.
Then (HA3 , HB3 ) (LA2 , LB2 ) (C2 A2 , C2 B2 )(mod).
Applying lemma 6 we get (HA3 , HB3 ) (C3 A3 , C3 B3 )(mod) or H, A3 , B3 , C3 are concyclic.
Our proof is completed then.

16

References
[1] Christopher J. Bradley and Geoff C.Smith, On a Construction of Hagge, Forum Geom., 7
(2007) 231-247.
[2] Quang Tuan Bui, Two triads of congruent circles from reflections, Forum Geom., 8 (2008)
7-12.
[3] Nguyen Van Linh, Two similar geometry problems.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[4] Wolfram Mathworld, Fontene theorems.
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/FonteneTheorems.html
[5] Nguyen Van Linh, Fontene theorems and some corollaries.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[6] Nguyen Van Linh, 3 equal circumcircles.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[7] Exploration and Creativity 2011, High School for Gifted Student, Hanoi University of Science.
[8] Ross Honsberger, Episodes in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Euclidean Geometry (New
Mathematical Library), The Mathematical Association of America.
[9] Shobber, Artofproblemsolving topic 97484 (Circumcircle passes through orthocentre [Fuhrmann
extended]).
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=97484
[10] Livetolove212, Artofproblemsolving topic 319520 (Concyclic).
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=319520
[11] Livetolove212, Artofproblemsolving topic 321333 (Concyclic again).
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=321333
[12] vittasko, Artofproblemsolving topic 345850 (Parallelism relative to the Euler line of a triangle.)
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=345850
[13] Nguyen Van Linh, Hagge circle.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[14] Nguyen Van Linh, A concyclic problem, Hyacinthos message 18801.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hyacinthos/message/18801
[15] Jean-Louis Ayme, Le P-Cercle De Hagge, Une preuve purement synthetique.
http://perso.orange.fr/jl.ayme
Nguyen Van Linh, Foreign Trade University of Vietnam, 91 Chua Lang, Hanoi.
E-mail address: lovemathforever@gmail.com

17