Theorem
Let triangles be erected externally on the sides of a
ABC so that the sum of the "remote" angles P,Q, and R is 180o. Then the circumcircles of the three triangles ABR, BCP, and ACQ have a common point.
Proof
Let F be the second point of intersection of the circumcircles of
ACQ and
BCP.
BFC +
P = 180o. Also,
AFC +
Q = 180o. Combining these with
P +
Q +
R = 180o immediately yields
AFB +
R = 180o. So that F also lies on the circumcircle of
ABR.
This simple fact has the following
Corollary 1
If the vertices A,B,C of
ABC lie, respectively, on sides QR, RP, and PQ of
PQR, then the three circles PCB, CQA, and BAR have a common point.
Corollary 2
If similar triangles PCB, CQA, and BAR are erected externally on the sides of
ABC, then the circumcircles of these three triangles have a common point. (Please note that the triangles are named in such a manner as to make it obvious that vertices P,Q, and R do not correspond to each other in the given similar triangles.)
Under the conditions of Corollary 2, let OP, OQ, and OR be the circumcenters of
BCP,
ACQ, and
ABR, respectively. Consider
OPOQOR. Since its sides are perpendicular to the common chords of the three circles,
OP =
P,
OQ =
Q, and
OR =
R. Hence we obtain a proof for a generalization of Napoleon's theorem:
Corollary 3
If similar triangles PCB, CQA, and BAR are erected externally on the sides of a triangle ABC, their circumcenters form a triangle similar to the given three triangles.