b

Forum Geometricorum
Volume 3 (2003) 83–93. b b

FORUM GEOM
ISSN 1534-1178

Triangle Centers Associated with the Malfatti Circles

Milorad R. Stevanović

Abstract. Various formulae for the radii of the Malfatti circles of a triangle are
presented. We also express the radii of the excircles in terms of the radii of
the Malfatti circles, and give the coordinates of some interesting triangle centers
associated with the Malfatti circles.

1. The radii of the Malfatti circles

The Malfatti circles of a triangle are the three circles inside the triangle, mutually
tangent to each other, and each tangent to two sides of the triangle. See Figure 1.
Given a triangle ABC, let a, b, c denote the lengths of the sides BC, CA, AB,
s the semiperimeter, I the incenter, and r its inradius. The radii of the Malfatti
circles of triangle ABC are given by
C

X3
r3
Y3 r3
O3

C3
X2
C2
r2
I
Y1 C1
O2
r1
O1
r2
r1

A Z1 Z2 B

Figure 1

r
r1 = (s − r − (IB + IC − IA)) ,
2(s − a)
r
r2 = (s − r − (IC + IA − IB)) , (1)
2(s − b)
r
r3 = (s − r − (IA + IB − IC)) .
2(s − c)

Publication Date: March 24, 2003. Communicating Editor: Paul Yiu.

The author is grateful to the referee and the editor for their valuable comments and helps.
84 M. R. Stevanović

According to F.G.-M. [1, p.729], these results were given by Malfatti himself,
and were published in [7] after his death. See also [6]. Another set of formulae
give the same radii in terms of a, b, c and r:

(IB + r − (s − b))(IC + r − (s − c))

r1 = ,
2(IA + r − (s − a))
(IC + r − (s − c))(IA + r − (s − a))
r2 = , (2)
2(IB + r − (s − b))
(IA + r − (s − a))(IB + r − (s − b))
r3 = .
2(IC + r − (s − c))
These easily follow from (1) and the following formulae that express the radii
r1 , r2 , r3 in terms of r and trigonometric functions:



1 + tan B4 1 + tan C4 r
r1 = A
· ,
1 + tan 4
2



1 + tan C4 1 + tan A4 r
r2 = B
· , (3)
1 + tan 4 2



1 + tan A4 1 + tan B4 r
r3 = C
· .
1 + tan 4 2
These can be found in [10]. They can be used to obtain the following formula
which is given in [2, pp.103–106]. See also [12].

2 1 1 1 1 1 1
=√ +√ +√ − + + . (4)
r r1 r2 r2 r3 r1 r2 r1 r2 r2 r3 r3 r1

2. Exradii in terms of Malfatti radii

Antreas P. Hatzipolakis [3] asked for the exradii ra , rb , rc of triangle ABC in
terms of the Malfatti radii r1 , r2 , r3 and the inradius r.
Proposition 1.
2
r − √r12 r3
ra − r1 =   ,
2
r − √r13 r1 2
r −
√1
r1 r2
2
r − √r13 r1
rb − r2 =   , (5)
2
r − √r11 r2 2
r −
√1
r2 r3
2
− √r11 r2
r
rc − r3 =   .
2 √1 2 √1
r − r2 r3 r − r3 r1
Triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles 85

Proof. For convenience we write

A B C
t1 := tan , t2 := tan , t3 := tan .
4 4 4

A B C 
Note that from tan 4 + 4 + 4 = 1, we have
1 − t1 − t2 − t3 − t1 t2 − t2 t3 − t3 t1 + t1 t2 t3 = 0. (6)
From (3) we obtain
2 1 t1 2
−√ = · ,
r r2 r3 1 + t1 r
2 1 t2 2
−√ = · , (7)
r r3 r1 1 + t2 r
2 1 t3 2
−√ = · .
r r1 r2 1 + t3 r
For the exradius ra , we have
s B C (1 − t22 )(1 − t23 )
ra = · r = cot cot · r = · r.
s−a 2 2 4t2 t3
It follows that
 
r (1 − t2 )(1 − t3 ) 1
ra − r1 =(1 + t2 )(1 + t3 ) · −
2 2t2 t3 1 + t1
r (1 + t1 )(1 − t2 )(1 − t3 ) − 2t2 t3
=(1 + t2 )(1 + t3 ) · ·
2 2t2 t3 (1 + t1 )
r 2t1
=(1 + t2 )(1 + t3 ) · · (from (6))
2 2t2 t3 (1 + t1 )
t1 1 + t2 1 + t3 r
= · · · .
1 + t1 t2 t3 2
Now the result follows from (7).

Note that with the help of (4), the exradii ra , rb , rc can be explicitly written in
terms of the Malfatti radii r1 , r2 , r3 . We present another formula useful in the next
sections in the organization of coordinates of triangle centers.
Proposition 2.
1 1 a (1 + cos B2 )(1 + cos C2 )
− = · .
r1 ra rs 1 + cos A2

3. Triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles

Let A be the point of tangency of the Malfatti circles C2 and C3 . Similarly define
B  and C  . It is known ([4, p.97]) that triangle A B  C  is perspective with ABC
at the first Ajima-Malfatti point X179 . See Figure 3. We work out the details here
and construct a few more triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles. In
particular, we find two new triangle centers P+ and P− which divide the incenter
I and the first Ajima-Malfatti point harmonically.
86 M. R. Stevanović

3.1. The centers of the Malfatti circles. We begin with the coordinates of the cen-
ters of the Malfatti circles.
Since O1 divides
 the segment
 AIa in the ratio AO1 : O1 Ia = r1 : ra − r1 ,
O1 1 1 1 rs
we have r1 = r1 − ra A + ra · IA . With ra = s−a we rewrite the absolute
barycentric coordinates of O1 , along with those of O2 and O3 , as follows.

 
O1 1 1 s−a
= − A+ · Ia ,
r1 r1 ra rs
 
O2 1 1 s−b
= − B+ · Ib , (8)
r2 r2 rb rs
 
O3 1 1 s−c
= − C+ · Ic .
r3 r3 rc rs
From these expressions we have, in homogeneous barycentric coordinates,

   
1 1
O1 = 2rs − −a:b:c ,
r1 ra
   
1 1
O2 = a : 2rs − −b:c ,
r2 rb
   
1 1
O3 = a : b : 2rs − −c .
r3 rc

X3

Y3 O3

A


X2
B


P−
O2
Y1

O1
C

A Z1 Z2 B

Figure 2
Triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles 87

3.2. The triangle center P− . It is clear that O1 O2 O3 is perspective with ABC at

the incenter (a : b : c). However, it also follows that if we consider
A = BO3 ∩ CO2 , B  = CO1 ∩ AO3 , C  = AO2 ∩ BO1 ,
then triangle A B  C  is perspective with ABC at
       
1 1 1 1 1 1
P− = 2rs − − a : 2rs − − b : 2rs − −c
r1 ra r2 rb r3 rc
 
1 1 a 1 1 b 1 1 c
= − − : − − : − −
r1 ra 2rs r2 rb 2rs r3 rc 2rs
 
(1 + cos B2 )(1 + cos C2 ) 1
= a − : ··· : ··· (9)
1 + cos A2 2

by Proposition 2. See Figure 2.

Remark. The point P− appears in [5] as the first Malfatti-Rabinowitz point X1142 .
3.3. The first Ajima-Malfatti point. For the points of tangency of the Malfatti cir-
cles, note that A divides O2 O3 in the ratio O2 A : A O3 = r2 : r3 . We have, in
absolute barycentric coordinates,

     
1 1  O2 O3 a 1 1 1 1
+ A = + = ·A+ − B+ − C;
r2 r3 r2 r3 rs r2 rb r3 rc
similarly for B and C  . In homogeneous coordinates,
 
 a 1 1 1 1
A = : − : − ,
rs r2 rb r3 rc
 
 1 1 b 1 1
B = − : : − , (10)
r1 ra rs r3 rc
 
1 1 1 1 c
C = − : − : .
r1 ra r2 rb rs
From these, it is clear that A B  C  is perspective with ABC at
 
1 1 1 1 1 1
P = − : − : −
r1 ra r2 rb r3 rc

a(1 + cos B2 )(1 + cos C2 ) b(1 + cos C2 )(1 + cos A2 )
= :
1 + cos A2 1 + cos B2

c(1 + cos A2 )(1 + cos B2 )
:
1 + cos C2

a b c
=
2 :
2 :
2 (11)
1 + cos A2 1 + cos B2 1 + cos C2
88 M. R. Stevanović

by Proposition 2. The point P appears as X179 in [4, p.97], with trilinear coordi-
nates
 
A B C
sec4 : sec4 : sec4
4 4 4

computed by Peter Yff, and is named the first Ajima-Malfatti point. See Figure 3.

O3

B
A

P
O2

O1 C

A B

Figure 3

3.4. The triangle center P+ . Note that the circle through A , B  , C  is orthogonal
to the Malfatti circles. It is the radical circle of the Malfatti circles, and is the
incircle of O1 O2 O3 . The lines O1 A , O2 B  , O3 C  are concurrent at the Gergonne
point of triangle O1 O2 O3 . See Figure 4. As such, this is the point P+ given by
 
1 1 1 O1 O2 O3
+ + P+ = + +
r1 r2 r3 r1 r2 r3
     
1 1 Ia 1 1 Ib 1 1 Ic
= − A+ + − B+ + − C+
r1 ra ra r2 rb rb r3 rc rc
     
1 1 1 1 1 1 I
= − A+ − B+ − C+
r1 ra r2 rb r3 rc r
     
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= − A+ − B+ − C+ (aA + bB + cC)
r1 ra r2 rb r3 rc 2rs
     
1 1 a 1 1 b 1 1 c
= − + A+ − + B+ − + C.
r1 ra 2rs r2 rb 2rs r3 rc 2rs
Triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles 89

It follows that in homogeneous coordinates,

 
1 1 a 1 1 b 1 1 c
P+ = − + : − + : − +
r1 ra 2rs r2 rb 2rs r3 rc 2rs
 
(1 + cos B2 )(1 + cos C2 ) 1
= a + : ··· : ··· (12)
1 + cos A2 2

by Proposition 2.
Proposition 3. The points P+ and P− divide the segment IP harmonically.
Proof. This follows from their coordinates given in (12), (9), and (11).

From the coordinates of P , P+ and P− , it is easy to see that P+ and P− divide

the segment IP harmonically.
C

O3

B
A

P+
O2

O1 C

A B

Figure 4

3.5. The triangle center Q. Let the Malfatti circle C1 touch the sides CA and AB
at Y1 and Z1 respectively. Likewise, let C2 touch AB and BC at Z2 and X2 , C3
touch BC and CA at X3 and Y3 respectively. Denote by X, Y , Z the midpoints
of the segments X2 X3 , Y3 Y1 , Z1 Z2 respectively. Stanley Rabinowitz [9] asked if
the lines AX, BY , CZ are concurrent. We answer this in the affirmative.
Proposition 4. The lines AX, BY , CZ are concurrent at a point Q with homoge-
neous barycentric coordinates
 
A B C
tan : tan : tan . (13)
4 4 4
90 M. R. Stevanović
C

X3
r3
Y3 r3
O3 X

Y X2
I
Q r2
O2
Y1
r1
O1
r2
r1

A Z1 Z Z2 B

Figure 5

Proof. In Figure 5, we have

1
BX = (a + BX2 − X3 C)
2
1 r2 r3 
= a + (s − b) − (s − c)
2 r r
1
= (a + IB − IC) (from (1))
2
1 r r
= 2R sin A + −
2 sin B2 sin C2
A B C B+C
=4R sin cos sin cos
2 4 4 4
by making use of the formula
A B C
r = 4R sin sin sin .
2 2 2
Similarly,
1 A B C B+C
XC = (a − BX2 + X3 C) = 4R sin sin cos cos .
2 2 4 4 4
It follows that
BX cos B4 sin C4 tan C4
= = .
XC sin B4 cos C4 tan B4
Likewise,
CY tan A4 AZ tan B4
= and = ,
YA tan C4 ZB tan A4
Triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles 91

and it follows from Ceva’s theorem that AX, BY , CZ are concurrent since
BX CY AZ
· · = 1.
XC Y A ZB
In fact, we can easily identify the homogeneous barycentric coordinates of the
intersection Q as given in (13) above since those of X, Y , Z are
 
B C
X = 0 : tan : tan ,
4 4
 
A C
Y = tan : 0 : tan ,
4 4
 
A B
Z = tan : tan : 0 .
4 4


Remark. The coordinates of Q can also be written as

sin A2 sin B2 sin C2
: :
1 + cos A2 1 + cos B2 1 + cos C2
or 
a b c
: : .
(1 + cos 2 ) cos 2 (1 + cos 2 ) cos 2 (1 + cos C2 ) cos C2
A A B B

3.6. The radical center of the Malfatti circles. Note that the common tangent of
C2 and C3 at A passes through X. This means that A X is perpendicular to O2 O3
at A . This line therefore passes through the incenter I of O1 O2 O3 . Now, the
homogeneous coordinates of A and X can be rewritten as

a b c
A = : : ,
(1 + cos 2 )(1 + cos 2 )(1 + cos 2 ) (1 + cos 2 ) (1 + cos C2 )2
A B C B 2

b c
X= 0: : .
(1 + cos B2 ) cos B2 (1 + cos C2 ) cos C2
It is easy to verify that these two points lie on the line
(1 + cos A2 )(cos B2 − cos C2 ) (1 + cos B2 ) cos B2 (1 + cos C2 ) cos C2
x− y+ z = 0,
a b c
which also contains the point

a b c
: : .
1 + cos A2 1 + cos B2 1 + cos C2
Similar calculations show that the latter point also lies on the lines B Y and C  Z.
It is therefore the incenter I of triangle O1 O2 O3 . See Figure 6. This point appears
in [5] as X483 , the radical center of the Malfatti circles.
92 M. R. Stevanović
C

X3

Y3
O3 X

Y B
A
X2
I

O2
Y1
O1 C

A Z1 Z Z2 B

Figure 6

Remarks. (1) The line joining Q and I has equation

(1 + cos A2 )(cos B2 − cos C2 ) (1 + cos B2 )(cos C2 − cos A2 )
x+ y
sin A2 sin B2
(1 + cos C2 )(cos A2 − cos B2 )
+ z = 0.
sin C2


This line clearly contains the point sin A2 : sin B2 : sin C2 , which is the point X174 ,
the Yff center of congruence in [4, pp.94–95].
(2) According to [4], the triangle A B  C  in §3.3 is also perspective with the
excentral triangle. This is because cevian triangles and anticevian triangles are
always perspective. The perspector


C 2
a (2 + cos A
2
+ cos B
2
+ cos 2
) + cos A
2
(cos2 B2 + cos2 C
2
− (2 + cos A 2
2
) )
: ··· : ···
1+ cos A
2

is named the second Ajima-Malfatti point X180 . For the same reason, the triangle
XY Z in §3.5 is also perspective with the excentral triangle. The perspector is the
point
        
A A B B C C
a − cos 1 + cos + cos 1 + cos + cos 1 + cos : ··· : ··· .
2 2 2 2 2 2

This point and the triangle center P+ apparently do not appear in the current edition
of [5].
Editor’s endnote. The triangle center Q in §3.5 appears in [5] as the second Malfatti-
Rabinowitz point X1143 . Its coordinates given by the present editor [13] were not
correct owing to a mistake in a sign in the calculations. In the notations of [13], if
Triangle centers associated with the Malfatti circles 93

α, β, γ are such that

a b c
sin2 α =
, sin2 β = , sin2 γ = ,
s s s
1
and λ = 2 (α + β + γ), then the homogeneous barycentric coordinates of Q are
(cot(λ − α) : cot(λ − β) : cot(λ − γ)).
These are equivalent to those given in (13) in simpler form.

References
[1] F. G.-M., Exercices de Géométrie, 6th ed., 1920; Gabay reprint, Paris, 1991.
[2] H. Fukagawa and D. Pedoe, Japanese Temple Geometry Problems, Charles Babbage Research
Centre, Winnipeg, 1989.,p.p.103-106.
[3] A. P. Hatzipolakis, Hyacinthos message 2375, January 8, 2001.
[4] C. Kimberling, Triangle centers and central triangles, Congressus Numerantium, 129 (1998) 1
– 285.
[5] C. Kimberling, Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers, August 22, 2002 edition, available at
http://www2.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/; February 26, 2003 edition available at
http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETC.html.
[6] U. J. Knisely, Solution to problem Problem 186. The Mathematical Visitor, 1 (1881) 189;
reprinted in [8, pp.148–149].
[7] Malfatti, Annales mathématiques de Gergonne, 1 (1811) 347.
[8] S. Rabinowitz, Problems and solutions from the Mathematical Visitor, 1877–1896, MathPro
Press, Westford, MA, 1996.
[9] S. Rabinowitz, Hyacinthos message 4610, December 30, 2001.
[10] E. B. Seitz, Solution to problem 186. The Mathematical Visitor, 1 (1881) 190; reprinted in [8,
p.150].
[11] M. R. Stevanović, Hyacinthos message 4613, December 31, 2001.
[12] G. Tsintsifas, Solution to problem 618, Crux Math., 8 (1982) 82–85.
[13] P. Yiu, Hyacinthos message 4615, December 30, 2001.

Milorad R. Stevanović: Technical Faculty, Svetog Save 65, 32000 Čačak, Serbia, Yugoslavia
E-mail address: milmath@ptt.yu