Let ABCD be a tetrahedron.

Prove that a=BC 2 + A D 2, b=C A2 + B D2, c= A B2 +C D2 are the

sides of a triangle. For which tetrahedron is this triangle equilateral?
Solution:
(I) Assume that a+ c ≤ b ⇔ B C 2+ A D2 + A B2 +C D2 ≤ C A 2+ B D2
⇔¿
⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗
⇔ A C 2−2 AC . AB + A B 2+ A D2 + A B2 + A D 2−2 AD . AC + A C 2 ≤ A C2 + A D2−2 AD . AB + A B2
⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗
⇔ ¿⇔ ¿(a contradiction: AB + AD − AC ≠ Oas ABCD is a tetrahedron)
Therefore, a + c > b. By the same argument, we get a + b > c and b + c > a. Therefore a, b, c
are the sides of a triangle
( II) a, b, c are the sides of an equilateral triangle ⇔ a=b=c
⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗
a=b ⇔ B C 2+ A D2 =A B2 +C D2 ⇔ ¿⇔ AC (BC + BA )−AC ( DA + DC )=0
⃗ ⃗
⇔ AC . BD =0 ⇔ AC ⊥ BD By the same argument, we have b=c ⇔ BC ⊥ AD . Therefore,
ABCD is a Orthocentric tetrahedron