85.

44 Circle Theorems and a Property of the (2,3,4) Triangle

Author(s): Tony Barnard and John Silvester
Source: The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 85, No. 503 (Jul., 2001), pp. 312-316
Published by: The Mathematical Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3622034
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312 THE MATHEMATICAL GAZE'l"TE

85.44 Circle theorems and a property of the (2,3,4) triangle

Let us say that AABC has the twice complementary exterior angle
property (or is a 'TCEA triangle') if ZBCA is obtuse and also
ZCAB = 2iCBP, where P is the foot of the perpendicular from B to AC
produced (Figure 1). Note that the order of naming vertices in AABC is
critical for this definition. We shall therefore denote the triangle by
AAeBCO, where the superscript o indicates that the obtuse angle is at C, and
the superscript e indicates that it is the angle at A which is twice the
complementary exterior angle.

A b I r
A C P
FIGURE 1

Using a GCSE question as a starting point, Nick Lord [1] showed, via
the trigonometric identities sin 20 = 2 sin 0 cos 0 and
cos 20 = 1 - 2 sin2 0, that
AAeBCO is a TCEA triangle if, and only if, c2 = a2 + bc; moreover

if AABCO is a TCEA triangle, then sin (ZCBP) = a

2c
The GCSE question asked for ZCBP in the case when AABC was a (2, 3, 4)
triangle, with (a, b, c) = (20, 30, 40). This satisfies the above condition,
and so the answer was sin-1 1.
Nick Lord also pointed out that the condition c2 = a2 + bc is
equivalent to (b, 2a, 2c - b) being a Pythagorean triple. The purpose of
this note is to locate the above within the theory of angle and rectangle
properties of circles. In addition to keeping the discussion within the
bounds of GCSE, from where it originated, and not involving the above
trigonometric identities, this approach also enables a geometric illumination
of the correspondence between 'TCEA triples' and Pythagorean triples.
First note that, if, in AABC, we have c2 = a2 + bc, then c2 > bc,
whence c > b and so bc > b2. Thus c2 > a2 + b2, and ZBCA is obtuse.
Given AABC with LBCA obtuse, let P be the foot of the perpendicular
from B onto AC produced. Now, whenever you have a quadratic
relationship, it is a good idea to look for a circle for which one of the circle

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NOTES 313

theorems might underlie the relationship. One such circle here (and there
are also others which do the job) is that with centre A, through B. Let AP
produced meet this circle at D, and let BP produced meet the circle at B', so
that B' is the reflection of B in AD. Join BD and AB' (Figure 2).

A D

B'

FIGURE 2

We have

ZCAB = ZDAB

= ZDAB' (reflecting in AD)

= 2ZDBB' (angle at centre is twice angle at circumference)
= 2ZDBP.

It follows that the TCEA condition ZCAB = Z2CBP is equivalent to the

condition ZCBP = ZDBP, and hence to CP = DP. Writing d = CP, this
can be expressed as c = b + 2d. Applying Pythagoras' theorem to ACPB
and AAPB, we have a2 - d2 = BP2 = c2 - (b + d)2, so that
c2 = a2 + b (b + 2d). It follows immediately that the TCEA condition is
equivalent to c2 = a2 + bc.
To prove that the TCEA condition implies that sin (ZCBP) = let
2c'
DA produced meet the circle again at E, so that DE = 2c; and join EB
(Figure 3). By the above, CP = DP, so that CB = DB, i.e. DB = a. Then
ZEBD, being the angle in a semicircle, is a right angle, so that
DB a
sin (ZDEB) - = But
DE 2c

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314 THE MATHEMATICAL GAZElTTE

E r D
A C P

FIGURE 3

2ZDEB = ZDAB (angle at centre is twice angle at circumference)

= ZCAB

= 2ZCBP (AAeBC?has the TCEA property).

Hence sin (ZCBP) =

2c
We do not claim that the above proof of the quadratic criterion for a
TCEA triangle is the shortest or most elementary. A shorter proof would be
to take F on AB such that AF = AC and note, since ABCF and ABAC share
an angle at B, that each of the conditions is equivalent to ABCF and ABAC
being similar. This too can be seen in terms of circle theorems, for, if ZBCA
is obtuse, then (Figure 4)
B

fA bF c

A/ ~ ~b pr
A /C P

FIGURE 4

AAeBC? is a TCEA triangle

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NOTES 315

ZBCF = ZCAF

X=> BC is tangential to the circumcircle of AAFC

(alternate segment theorem)
BC2 = BA.BF (tangent-chord rectangular property)
4=: a2 = c(c - b).

Turning to the equivalence of the condition c2 = a2 + bc with

(b,2a,2c - b) being a Pythagorean triple, write P for the invertible matrix
0 '1 'x a
2 0 0, and x, a for the column vectors y, b , respectively. Then the
0 -1 2 ,z, c,
invertible linear transformation on [R3 given by x = Pa can be restricted to
a bijection between triples of positive reals (a, b, c) satisfying
C2 = a2 + bc, and triples of positive reals (x, y, z) satisfying x2 + y2 = z2.
(In the language of linear algebra, the quadratic forms a2 + bc - c2 and
x2 + y2 _ z2 are congruent, with transforming matrix !P.) For example, the
Pythagorean triple corresponding to the TCEA triple (2, 3, 4) is (3, 4, 5).
The corresponding bijection between TCEA triangles and right-angled
triangles can be seen geometrically as follows. Given AABC with ZBCA
obtuse, put D on AC produced (as before) so that AD = AB. Now let the
circle on AC as diameter have centre G (the mid-point of AC), and let H be
on this circle such that DH is tangential to the circle. Join GH, and note that
ZGHD is a right angle (Figure 5).

A
\b G C P D

FIGURE 5

We shall show that AGHD gives the Pythagorean triple we seek.

By the tangent-chord rectangular property, DH2 = DA.DC = c(c -b),
and, by Pythagoras' theorem in AGHD, DH2 = DG2 - GH2
= ( b) - (b)2. So we conclude
2
a = c(c - b)
> DH = a

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316 THE MATHEMATICAL GAZE'"I'E

a2 = (c - -b)2 (-b)2
2 2

X (2a)2 = (2c - b)2 - b2,

from which c2 = a2 + bc if, and only if, (b, 2a, 2c - b) is a Pythagorean
triple.

Reference
1. N. Lord, A striking property of the (2, 3, 4) triangle, Math. Gaz. 82
(March 1998) pp. 93-94.
TONY BARNARD and JOHN SILVESTER

Department of Mathematics, King's College London, Strand WC2R 2LS

e-mails: tony.barnard@ kcl.ac.uk, jrs@kcl.ac.uk

85.45 Comment on Note 83.51

The power and elegance of projective geometry are well demonstrated
by the way in which it can be used to solve the problems of this note.
There is a standard result, quite easily proved [1], namely: the poles of a
fixed line l with respect to the conics of a pencil through A, B, C, D lie on a
conic, called the 11-point conic because we can identify 11 particular points
on it. These 11 points are: (a) the 3 diagonal points of the quadrangle
ABCD, (b) the 6 harmonic conjugates of the points of intersection of I with
the sides of the quadrangle, (c) the 2 double points of the involution
determined upon I by its intersection with the conics of the pencil.
If we take I to be the line at infinity, then the 11-point conic is the locus
of the centres of the conics of the pencil.
If, in addition, we take A, B, C, D to be an orthocentric set, then all the
conics of the pencil are rectangular hyperbolas, and the double points of the
involution are the circular points I, J, so the 11 point conic is easily seen to
be the 9-point circle shared by the 4 triangles ABC etc.
The theorems of the note follow immediately.
Reference
1. A. Robson, An introduction to analytical geometry, Vol. II, p. 96.
A. ROBERT PARGETER

10 Turnpike, Sampford Peverell, Tiverton, Devon EX16 7BN

85.46 Note 83.51 revisited

It was a pleasure to revisit the topics of the rectangular hyperbola and
the 9-point circle in Note 83.51, and to follow the analytical method of the
authors. However, the analysis does not tell the whole story and we need a
geometrical approach to complete the picture.
To begin with, the lemma is a well-known property of the hyperbola
which is not restricted to the rectangular species. It arises from a property of
the diameter which is conjugate to a chord of the hyperbola. This conjugate
diameter simultaneously bisects the chord and the segment of the chord

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