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Prakash Academy
Theme: Concurrency.
Ceva’s Theorem
Consider 4ABC.
Let P be a point in the plane of 4ABC such that
←
−−→ ← −−→ ←
−−→ ← −−→ ←
−−→ ← −−→
AP ∩ B C = {D}, B P ∩ C A = {E} and C P ∩ AB = {F }.
BD CE AF
Then · · = 1.
DC EA F B
Remark: Directed distances must be used in the above expression.
Tools Required:
(T1) Area of a triangle equals half base into height.
x1 y1 x1 y1 x1 − y 1
(T2) If = then = = .
x2 y2 x2 y2 x2 − y 2
Strategy:
(1) If two triangles have equal heights then the ratio of their areas
equals the ratio of their bases.
BD
(2) Express as the ratio of areas of two triangles.
DC
Do this in two different ways.
BD [ABP ]
Use T 2 to prove that = .
DC [AP C]
CE AF
(3) Exploit the symmetry of 4ABC to find and .
EA FB
BD CE AF
(4) Compute Ceva Product · · . Confirm that it is 1.
DC EA F B
Hurray! You have proved Ceva’s Theorem on your own.
Congratulations.
For the sake of completeness we are giving the details of the above
computations.
Compare these with your own computations.
BD [ABD] [P BD] [ABD] − [P BD] [ABP ]
= = = = (1)
DC [ADC] [P DC] [ADC] − [P DC] [AP C]
CE [BCE] [P CE] [BCE] − [P CE] [BCP ]
= = = = (2)
EA [BEA] [P EA] [BEA] − [P EA] [BP A]
AF [CAF ] [P AF ] [CAF ] − [P AF ] [CAP ]
= = = = (3)
FB [CF B] [P F B] [CF B] − [P F B] [CP B]
Multiplying (1), (2) and (3) give us,
BD CE AF [ABP ] [BCP ] [CAP ]
· · = · · = 1.
DC EA F B [AP C] [P BA] [CP B]
Remark: In the above figure we have taken point P in the interior
of 4ABC. We are allowed to take point P any where in the plane
←
−−→ ←
−−→
of 4 so for as AP is not parallel to B C etc. In the next figure
we have chosen point P in the exterior of 4ABC.
BD CE EA
Now compute the product · · .
DC EA AB
When we take into account the signs of these segments, we notice
that such product will always have a negative sign.