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Forum Name: Guest book
Topic ID: 2347
Message ID: 0
#0, Circles through the Orthocenter
Posted by Bui Quang Tuan on Aug-22-08 at 08:00 AM
Dear Alex,

I suggest one another proof for:
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/Geometry/CirclesThroughOrthocenter.shtml

This proof based on one more generalized theorem. Detail as following:

Theorem:
If three circles concur at one Cevian point and their other three common points lie on three Cevian lines and these three circles cut triangle sidelines at six points then these six points are concyclic.

Proof:
Suppose P is a point on plane of triangle ABC; (Oa), (Ob), (Oc) are three circles concur at P and has three other common points: Ao on Cevian AP, Bo on Cevian BP, Co on Cevian CP. It means: (Oa) is circumcircle of PBoCo, (Ob) is circumcircle of PCoAo, (Oc) is circumcircle of PAoBo .Suppose (Oa), (Ob), (Oc) cut triangle sidelines BC, CA, AB at A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 respectively. We proof these six points are concyclic.

We use power of circle theorem:

- Power of A wrt circles (Ob) and (Oc):
AC1*AC2 = AAo*AP = AB1*AB2 therefore B1, B2, C1, C2 are concyclic on one circle, suppose it is circle (K) and (K) cuts BC at D and E.

- Power of B wrt circle (K): BC1*BC2 = BD*BE
- Power of B wrt circles (Oc): BC1*BC2 = BBo*BP
Therefore BD*BE = BBo*BP so D, E, Bo, P are on circle say (K1)

- Power of C wrt circle (K): CB1*CB2 = CD*CE
- Power of C wrt circles (Ob): CB1*CB2 = CCo*CP
Therefore CD*CE = CCo*CP so D, E, Co, P are on circle say (K2)

Two circles (K1), (K2) have three common points D, E, P therefore they are the same one, say (K'). This circle (K') passes P, Bo, Co so it is the same circle (Oa) = (K') and D, E are intersections of (Oa) and sideline BC. It means D, E are A1, A2 and six points A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 are concyclic on one circle (K).

Remark: Generally three circles (Oa), (Ob), (Oc) may be do not cut sidelines of ABC but in each special case of P we can choose proper circles (Oa), (Ob), (Oc) such that they always cut sidelines of ABC.

Now we apply this theorem for "Circles through the Orthocenter":

Line connected two circles centered at Mb, Ma should be perpendicular with MaMb or AB. Therefore two intersections of these circles are on line CA. Similar with other circles then we have: 3 circles centered at Ma, Mb, Mc follow our theorem conditions:
- They are concurrent at H
- Three their other common points are on HA, HB, HC
So they cut sidelines of ABC at six concyclic points.

Best regards,
Bui Quang Tuan