M.

Prakash Academy
Menelaus’ Theorem
Consider 4ABC.
Consider a line u in the plane of 4ABC such that it does not pass
through any of the points A, B, C and is not parallel to any of the
←−−→ ← −−→ ← −−→
lines AB , B C , C A .
←
−−→ ←−−→ ←−−→
Let B C ∩ u = {D}, C A ∩ u = {E}, C A ∩ u = {F }.
We invite you, to draw a figure representing above configuration.
By changing the position of the line u you can draw several figures.
What do you observe?
What is the relative position of points D, E, F relative to segments
BC, CA, AB?
All the figures can be categorised into two types.
Type 1: Line u intersects two of the three segments AB, BC, CA
internally and one segment externally.

Type 2: Line u intersects all the three segments externally.

BD CE AF
Consider the signed ratios, , and .
DC EA FB

Observe that
O1 In the case of Type 1, exactly two of the ratios are positive and
one of the ratio is negative.
O2 In the case of Type 2, each of the ratios is negative.
 BD CE AF
Hence we observe that the product · · always is a
DC EA F B
negative real number.
What is the value of the above expression?
BD CE AF
Menelaus’ proved that in the above context, · · = −1.
DC EA F B
We invite you to prove this result on your own.
How do we proceed?
The expression is exactly the same, that occurred in the Ceva’s
Configuration.
So do we consider the areas of suitable triangle?
No.
Then what do we do?
Theme: Draw a line v parallel to u and transfer all the ratios to a
single line using BP T.

As shown in the figure, draw line v through C such that vku and
←−−→
v ∩ AB = {K}.
←−−→
We will transfer all the ratios to the ratios on the line AB .
Consider 4BDF and 4BCK.
BD BF
BP T gives = in magnitude and sign -ve . . . (1)
DC FK
Consider 4AKC and 4AF E.
CE KF
BP T gives = in magnitude and sign +ve . . . (2).
EA FA
(1) and (2) give
BD CE AF BF KF AF
· · = · · = −1.
DC EA F B FK FA FB
This completes the proof of Menelaus’ Theorem.
How about the converse?
We invite you to formulate the converse statement on your own.
Converse of Menelaus’ Theorem.
←−−→ ←−−→ ← −−→
Consider 4ABC. Let D, E, F be points on lines B C , C A , AB
BD CE AF
respectively such that, · · = −1.
DC EA F B
Then points D, E, F are collinear.
How do we go about proving the converse?
How did we prove the converse of Ceva’s Theorem?
Master that proof.
We used Ceva’s theorem to prove its converse.
We follow the same strategy here also. We use Menelau’s theorem
to prove its converse.

←−−→ ←
−−→
Proof: Let line E F intersect line B C in D0 .
←−−→
Now apply Menelaus’ Theorem to line E F .
BD0 CE AF
We obtain 0 · · = −1 (1)
D C EA F B
BD CE AF
It is given that · · = −1 (2)
DC EA F B
BD BD0
(1) and (2) give us = 0 .
DC DC
This leads to D ≡ D0 . Hence we deduce that D, E, F are collinear.
Application:
Consider 4ABC. Let the bisector of external angles A, B, C meet
←−−→ ← −−→ ← −−→
lines B C , C A , AB respectively in D0 , E 0 , F 0 . Then D0 , E 0 , F 0
are collinear.
Prove this result on your own.

Combination of Ceva and Menelaus.

Consider 4ABC.
←
−−→ ← −−→ ← −−→
Let the bisectors of angles A, B, C meet B C , C A , AB in D, E, F
respectively.
← −−→ ←−−→ ← −−→
Let the bisector of external angles A, B, C meet lines B C , C A , AB
respectively in D0 , E 0 , F 0 .
Consider three pairs of Cevians.
(1) AD, AD0 (ii) BE, BE 0 (iii) CF , CF 0 .
BD BD0 CE CE 0 AF AF 0
We have, =− 0 , = − 0 and =− 0 .
DC D C EA EA FB FB
This suggests the following generalisation.
Consider any cevian AD of 4ABC.
←−−→ BD BD0
Now choose a point D0 on B C such that =− 0 .
DC DC
We will call AD0 as the excevian of 4ABC w.r.t. cevian AD.
In the incenter-excenter configuration, we know that Internal bisec-
tor are concurrent.
Also the points corresponding to external bisectors are collinear.
That is one concurrency leads to a collinearity.
Is this true in general?
Indeed we have the following mega-generalisation.
Concurrency-Collinearity Mega Theorem.

Consider 4ABC. Consider the three cevian AD, BE and CF which

are concurrent at P.
←−−→ ← −−→ ← −−→
Choose the points D0 , E 0 , F 0 on lines B C , C A , AB respectively
such that
BD BD0 CE CE 0 AF AF 0
=− 0 , = − 0 and =− 0 .
DC D C EA EA FB FB
Then
←−−→ ← −−−→ ← −−−→
(1) Cevains AD , B E 0 , C F 0 are concurrent.
←−−−→ ← −−→ ← −−−→
(2) Cevains AD0 , B E , C F 0 are concurrent.
←−−−→ ← −−−→ ← −−→
(3) Cevains AD0 , B E 0 , C F are concurrent.
(4) Points D0 , E, F are collinear.
(5) Points D, E 0 , F are collinear.
(6) Points D, E, F 0 are collinear.
(7) Points D0 , E 0 , F 0 are collinear.
Proof: These are natural and easy consequences of converse of
Ceva’s Theorem and Converse of Menelaus’ Theorem.
←
−−→ ←
−−→
Definition: Consider line B C . Let D and D0 be points on B C
BD BD0
such that =− 0 .
DC DC
We say that D and D0 divide BC harmonically.
D and D0 are called harmonic conjugates w.r.t. BC.
We notice that in the previous theorem, we had three pairs of har-
monic conjugates points.
(i) D, D0 divide BC harmonically.
(ii) E, E 0 divide CA harmonically.
(iii) F, F 0 divide AB harmonically.
We summarise that theorem as follows:
Concurrency and collinearity are two sides the same coin
called Harmonic Conjugacy.
Query: Consider a point P. Consider three concurrent cevians
←−−→ ← −−→ ← −−→
AP , B P , C P .
Let these generate three more concurrencies.
Which labels should we assign to these new three points of concur-
rencies?
Recall that two external bisectors of angles B, C and internal bi-
sectors of angle A is denoted by I1 .
Imitating this nomenclature, we will denote the
(i) Point of concurrency of excevians from B, C and cevian from A
by P1 .
(ii) Point of concurrency of excevians from C, A and cevian from B
by P2 .
(iii) Point of concurrency of excevians from A, B and cevian from
C by P3 .
Homework
H1: Consider 4ABC.
←−−→ ←
−−→ ← −−→
Let tangents at A, B, C of ABC, meet B C , C A , AB at D, E, F
respectively. Then D, E, F are collinear.
H2: Consider quadrilateral 2ABCD.
←−−→ ←−−−→ ← −−→ ←−−→
Let line u intersect AB , BAC , C A , AD respectively in P, Q, R, S.
AP BQ CR DS
Then prove that · · · = +1.
P B QC RD SA
Is the converse true?
Prove it if true. Give a counter example if false.
H3: Deduce Ceva’s Theorem using Menelaus’ Theorem.
H4: Deduce Menelaus’ Theorem using Ceva’s Theorem.
H5: We know that the medians of a triangle are concurrent.
Draw ex-medians. Label three associated points of concurrencies.
H6: Consider three collinear points B − C − D. Construct a point
BD BD0
D0 such that B − D0 − C − D and = − 0 using straight edge
DC DC
only.
H7: In 4ABC, AD is the altitude. P is any point on AD.
←−−→ ← −−→ ←−−→ ← −−→
B P ∩ AC = {E} and C P ∩ AB = {F }.
−−→
Prove that DA bisects ∠EDF.
(Hint: Use Ceva’s Theorem.)
H8: Consider three circles. Each is outside the other two.
Prove that points of intersections of direct common tangents to
these circles, taken in pairs, are collinear.