Ptolemy on Hinges

Ptolemy's theorem tells us that in a convex cyclic quadrilateral ABPC the sum of the products of the two pairs of opposite sides equals the product of its two diagonals. In other words,

The applet below illustrates a proof of Ptolemy's theorem that grew out of its application in a proof of a theorem by van Schooten. The proof is available online and is due to a former correspondent.

Rotate triangle ACP around A through the angle CAB so that C is mapped onto a point, say C', on AB. P is mapped to P'.

In case ΔABC is equilateral, my come up with the configuration in the proof of van Schooten's theorem. When ΔABC is equilateral the rotation places P' on the extension of BP. The same is true when ΔABC is isosceles. In the general case, we may only claim that C'P'||BP. (The reason is the same in all three cases. Since the quadrilateral ABPC is cyclic ∠ACP + ∠ABP = 180°. After the rotation, ∠AC'P' = ∠ABP'', where P'' is the intersection of AP' and BP.)

Triangles ABP'' and AC'P' are similar, implying

so that

	BP''	= AB×C'P' / AC'
		= AB×CP / AC.

Triangles ABC and AP''P are also similar because, in addition to ∠PAP'' = ∠CAB, &ang'AP''P = ∠AP'C' = ∠APC = ∠ABC (the latter as the two inscribed angles subtended by the same arc.) This gives

so that

But PP'' = BP + BP'' = BP + AB×CP / AC. We see that

Multiplying by AC gives Ptolemy's identity.

Copyright © 1996-2009 Alexander Bogomolny