Cut the knot: learn to enjoy mathematics
A math books store at a unique math study site. Learn to enjoy mathematics.
Google
Web CTK
Best sites for teachers
Sites for teachers
Sites for parents
Terms of use
Awards

Interactive Activities
CTK Exchange
CTK Insights - a blog

Games & Puzzles
What Is What
Arithmetic/Algebra
Geometry
Probability
Outline Mathematics
Make an Identity
Book Reviews
Eye Opener
Analog Gadgets
Inventor's Paradox
Did you know?...
Proofs
Math as Language
Things Impossible
Visual Illusions
My Logo
Math Poll
Cut The Knot!
MSET99 Talk
Other Math sites
Front Page
Movie shortcuts
Personal info
Reciprocal links
Privacy Policy

Guest book
News sites

Recommend this site

Best sites for teachers
Sites for teachers
Sites for parents

Education & Parenting

Manifesto: what CTK is about Search CTK Buying a book is a commitment to learning Table of content Things you can find on CTK Chronology of updates Email to Cut The Knot Recommend this page

Outline Mathematics
Geometry

Three Touching Circles

Consider the following problem:

 

Three circles S1, S2 and S3, touch pairwise in three distinct points. Show that the lines joining the point of tangency of S1 and S2 cross S3 again in points collinear with the center of S3, i.e., forming its diameter.



This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.


Solution

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three circles S1, S2 and S3, touch pairwise in three distinct points. Show that the lines joining the point of tangency of S1 and S2 cross S3 again in points collinear with the center of S3, i.e., forming its .



This applet requires Sun's Java VM 2 which your browser may perceive as a popup. Which it is not. If you want to see the applet work, visit Sun's website at http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, download and install Java VM and enjoy the applet.


(In the text below, some words are omitted. These have been underlined. Click just above the line. See what happens.)

Let O, P, Q be the centers of circles S1, S2 and S3, respectively. Denote the tangency points of S2 and S3, S1 and S3, S1 and S2 as A, B, C. And, finally, let, D be the point of intersection of AC with S3 other than A, and E the point of intersection of BC with S3 other than B.

We know that CP|| and ||EQ. But O, C, P are . Therefore, D, Q, E are also collinear. It follows that DE is a diameter of S3.

Note that the statement holds both for external and internal tangency. In the latter case, the statement appears directly related to Lemma 1 from Archimedes' Book of Lemmas. Indeed, the significance of the role played by the tangency point C becomes transparent with an observation that it lies on common line of two diameters of two circles.

(The terms you met: Collinear points, Diameter of a circle)

References

  1. V. V. Prasolov, Problems in Planimetry, v 1, Nauka, Moscow, 1986, in Russian

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

28735639Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape


Search:
Keywords:


Latest on CTK Exchange
Math
Posted by Laura
2 messages
06:56 AM, Apr-15-08

Divisibility rules - Jargon buste ...
Posted by Carolyn
2 messages
08:35 AM, Apr-04-08

drawing puzzle
Posted by martin gran
31 messages
06:53 PM, May-09-08

conway's game of life
Posted by frequency
0 messages
11:52 PM, May-12-08

Mistake on the page (an aside, Be ...
Posted by Max
4 messages
10:28 AM, Feb-28-08

Deriving functions based on diffe ...
Posted by ke_45
1 messages
12:47 PM, May-10-08

Josephus Flavius (correction)
Posted by David Turner
0 messages
08:17 AM, May-14-08