CTK Exchange
Front Page
Movie shortcuts
Personal info
Awards
Terms of use
Privacy Policy

Interactive Activities

Cut The Knot!
MSET99 Talk
Games & Puzzles
Arithmetic/Algebra
Geometry
Probability
Eye Opener
Analog Gadgets
Inventor's Paradox
Did you know?...
Proofs
Math as Language
Things Impossible
My Logo
Math Poll
Other Math sit's
Guest book
News sit's

Recommend this site

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

CTK Exchange

Subject: "triangle construction"     Previous Topic | Next Topic
Printer-friendly copy     Email this topic to a friend    
Conferences The CTK Exchange High school Topic #382
Reading Topic #382
Elianto84
guest
Oct-01-08, 01:40 PM (EST)
 
"triangle construction"
 
   m_a,m_b,c
Since the medians cut themselves in a 2/3-ratio, this is a SSS problem.

m_a,m_b,b
For the same reason, this is a SSS problem with side lengths (2m_a/3 , b/2 , m_b/3)

R,h_a,a
Draw an isosceles triangle with side lengths (R,R,a) and vertex O. Cut the circumcircle with a line parallel to a at distance h_a.

R,m_a,a
Draw an isosceles triangle with side lengths (R,R,a) and vertex O. Draw a circle with center in the midpoint of a and radius m_a and intersect it with the circumcircle.

a,h_a,m_a
Draw a line parallel to a at distance h_a, then intersect it with a circle centered in the midpoint of a having radius equal to m_a.

A,a,m_a
Draw the circle that sees a under an angle equal to A. Intersect it with a circle centered in the midpoint of a having radius m_a.

A,B,h_c
Draw the altitude h_c and a line l perpendicular to it. Draw the circles that see h_c under angles equal to B,C and intersect them with l.

A,h_a,l_a
Draw a right triangle having side lengths h_a, l_a, sqrt(l_a^2-h_a^2). Intersect the last side with the lines forming angles equal to +A/2 ,-A/2 with l_a.

A,a,r
The distance between I and a is r, the angle ^BIC is (pi+A)/2, so we can solve the problem by intersecting a circle and a line parallel to a.

A,a,R
Is not a base.

m_a,h_a,h_b
We draw a circle having m_a as diameter, then intersect it with two circles centered in the endpoints of m_a and having radii equal to h_a, h_b/2. In this way we determine the feet H_A of the altitude h_a and the direction of the side b, so we find the vertex C, then the vertex B.

m_a,h_b,h_c
We draw two opposite right triangles sharing a common hypotenuse m_a and having sides opposite to vertex A with lengths h_b/2, h_c/2. In this way we determine the lines containing the sides (b,c), having only to find two points on these lines with the proper distances (h_c,h_b) from (b,c).

m_a,h_a,m_b
We draw a right triangle having side lengths (h_a,m_a,sqrt(m_a^2-h_a^2)). We call l the line containing the last side, and G the point on m_a such that 3 AG = m_a. We intersect a circle centered in G with radius 2m_b/3 with the line l, finding B, then C.

m_a,m_b,h_c
We glue two right triangles such that the triangle GAB satisfies
GA = 2m_a/3
GB = 2m_b/3
d(G,AB) = h_c/3
then call (U,V) the midpoints of (GA,GB). We call M_a the symmetric
of U with respect to G, and M_b the symmetric of V with respect to G.
AM_b and BM_a concur in C.

a,h_b,R
We draw an isosceles triangle with side lengths (R,R,a) and vertex O.
We draw a circle having a as a diameter, and find a point H_B on it'such that BH_B = h_b. The intersection of the line CH_B with the circumcircle is A.

a,h_b,m_a
We build a triangle BCH_B having BH_B perpendicular to CH_B, BH_B=h_b,
BC=a. We draw a circle centered in the midpoint of BC having radius m_a, the intersect it with the line CH_B, finding A.

h_a,l_a,b
We build a triangle ACH_A having AC=b, AH_A=h_a, CH_A perpendicular
to AH_A. On the line CH_A we determine L_A such that AL_A=l_a. We call
D the symmetric of C with respect to the line AL_A. The intersection of AD and CL_A is B.

A,h_a,h_b
We build a right triangle ABH_B having AH_B=h_b, ^BAH_B=A, AH_B
perpendicular to BH_B. We find a point H_A such that BH_A is perpendicular to AH_A and AH_A=h_a by drawing the circle having AB as a diameter. The intersection of BH_A and AH_B is C.

a,m_a,h_a
We draw a line l parallel to a such that d(a,l)=h_a and intersect it with the circle having radius m_a and center in the midpoint of a.

(a,m_a,l_a)(a,h_a,l_a)
Still thinking about.

m_a,h_a,l_a (Own)
We draw M_A,H_A and L_A such that they lie on a line l perpendicular to AH_A and satisfy AH_A = h_a, AM_A=m_a, AL_A=l_a. We intersect the perpendicular to l through M_A (the axis of BC) with the line AL_A, finding E, that is the midpoint of the arc BC in the circumcircle
(little folklore apart: in the Italy IMO team this fact is generally called "Tiozzo's lemma", from the great contestant Giulio Tiozzo).
The intersection of the axis of AE with the line EM_A is O, the circumcenter. So we draw the circumcircle with radius OA and find B and C on l.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

  Subject     Author     Message Date     ID  
triangle construction Elianto84 Oct-01-08 TOP
  RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-02-08 1
     RE: triangle construction alexb Oct-05-08 3
         RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-05-08 4
         RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-05-08 5
  RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-05-08 2
  RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-06-08 6
     RE: triangle construction alexb Oct-06-08 7
     RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-08-08 8
         RE: triangle construction alexb Oct-09-08 9
             RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-30-08 12
         RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-09-08 10
         RE: triangle construction jack202 Oct-09-08 11

Conferences | Forums | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-02-08, 10:59 AM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
1. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #0
 
   (a,h_a,l_a)

We draw AL_A such that AL_A=l_a, then the circle having
l_a as a diameter. On this circle we find a point H_A such
that AH_A=h_a. Now the angle ^H_A A L_A = (B-C)/2, and
we fall into another famous construction:

(a,h_a,B-C)

Here we exploit this fact: if two triangles ABC and DBC are
symmetric wrt to the axis of BC, they share the same circumcircle
and satisfy ^ABD = (B-C).

So we draw BC such that BC=a and find a point F on the axis
of BC such that d(F,a)=h_a. Now we draw a segment UV, parallel
to BC, with midpoint F, then we draw the circle Gamma, locus
of points G for which ^UGV=(B-C).

Now we exploit homotethy: by calling X the intersection of
Gamma and BF, we have that the parallel to UX through B
and the line UV meet on A, solving the problem.

(Thanks to Federico Stra for the brilliant idea.)

Now, back to the original problem:

(a,h_a,l_a)

We draw BC=a with midpoint M, then H such that HM=h_a
lies on the axis of BC. We draw a line r through H, parallel to BC,
then find L on it'such that LM=l_a. We call T the intersection
of BH with the circumcircle of MHL. The line HL and the parallel
to TL through B meet on A.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
alexb
Charter Member
2296 posts
Oct-05-08, 11:03 AM (EST)
Click to EMail alexb Click to send private message to alexb Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
3. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #1
 
   >Here we exploit this fact: if two triangles ABC and DBC are
>symmetric wrt to the axis of BC, they share the same
>circumcircle

This would mean that ABDC is cyclic so that ∠A + ∠D = 180° and, therefore, ∠A = ∠D = 90°.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-05-08, 12:51 PM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
4. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #3
 
   >>Here we exploit this fact: if two triangles ABC and DBC are
>>symmetric wrt to the axis of BC, they share the same
>>circumcircle
>
>This would mean that ABDC is cyclic so that ∠A + ∠D
>= 180° and, therefore, ∠A = ∠D = 90°.

A and D are not opposite angles in the quadrilateral ABCD!
Here we simply have ABC congruent to DCB (wrt this
vertex-ordering), ie ABCD is an isosceles trapezoid.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-05-08, 12:51 PM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
5. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #3
 
   Oops, understood. I used "axis" instead of "perpendicular bisector".
Everytime I wrote "axis", read "perpendicular bisector".
Pardon my horrible English!


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-05-08, 10:59 AM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
2. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #0
 
   Other famous constructions:

(A,a,b+c)
Conway solution: draw a triangle DBC with
^BDC=A/2, CD=b+c, BC=a
then intersect the perpendicular bisector of DB
with CD, finding A. DAB is isosceles in A
and ^CAB=A holds.

Jack solution: draw two rays (r,s)
forming an angle equal to A, and pick
K on r such that AK=(a+b+c)/2, J on S
such that AJ=(b+c-a)/2. Call I and I_A
the intersection of the perpendicular
to s through J and the perpendicular to
r through K with the bisector of (r,s).

Intersect the circle having II_A as a diameter
with r and s, finding B and C.
center I and radius IJ.]

(A,b,a+c)
Conway style: we draw CAD such that AC=b, ^CAD=A,
AD=a+c, then intersect the perpendicular bisector
of CD with AD, finding B.

Jack style: we draw CAD such that AC=b, ^CAD=a,
AD=p, then call I_A the intersection of the bisector
of A with the perpendicular to AD through D.
We draw l_C, the perpendicular to CI_A through C,
then reflect AC wrt l_C, finding CB.

(A,a,b-c)
We draw BC=a with J on it'such that 2 BJ = a-(b-c).
On the perpendicular to BC through J we find I
such that 2 ^BIC = pi+A, then reflect the line
BC wrt BI and CI, finding A.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-06-08, 12:03 PM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
6. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #0
 
   >(a,m_a,l_a)
>Still thinking about.

Instructive constructions for
(a,m_a,l_a)
and
(A,a,l_a)
are due to Paul Yiu and appear in:
https://forumgeom.fau.edu/FG2005volume5/FG200512.pdf

The case
(h_a,l_a,m_b)
was solved by Gilles Boutte and can be found here:
https://g.boutte.free.fr/articles/021212.pdf

PS: https://www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/Geometry/Kung.pdf
gives a "Document Not Found Error :-(


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
alexb
Charter Member
2296 posts
Oct-06-08, 12:04 PM (EST)
Click to EMail alexb Click to send private message to alexb Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
7. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #6
 
   Thank you.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-08-08, 10:34 AM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
8. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #6
 
   Another interesting construction problem is
(A,K,O)

By denoting with w the Brocard angle we have

KO^2 = R^2 (1-4sin^2 w)/(cos^2 w)
KO^2 = R^2 (4cos^2 w - 3)/(cos^2 w)
4R^2 - KO^2 = 3R^2 / cos^2 w

cos w = (sqrt(3)R/2) / (sqrt(R^2-(OK/2)^2))

Obviously AO=R, so it's easy to know the angle w
once built (sqrt(3)R/2) and (sqrt(R^2-(OK/2)^2)),
then to find a point W on the circle having diameter
OK, such that ^WOK = w: W is one of the two Brocard
points of ABC, and its projection on OK is the
Brocard midpoint Mw.

Now we exploit the fact that the pedal circle of W
(that is also the pedal circle of the other Brocard
point) is the Gallatly circle, having radius R sin w.

So we intersect the Gallatly circle (center Mw,
radius R sin w) with the circle having AW as a diameter,
finding the projections of W on the sides (AB,AC) of ABC,
then the sides (AB,AC), then the vertices (B,C), by the
intersection with the circumcircle (center O, radius OA).

Figure attached.

PS: How about an update of the page
related to triangle constructions? ;-)

Attachments
https://www.cut-the-knot.org/htdocs/dcforum/User_files/48ed56063b8336d3.jpg

  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
alexb
Charter Member
2296 posts
Oct-09-08, 10:51 AM (EST)
Click to EMail alexb Click to send private message to alexb Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
9. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #8
 
   >Figure attached.

Thank you.

>PS: How about an update of the page
> related to triangle constructions? ;-)

A wiki would allow you (and every one else) to do that without posing this question. I've been looking into several possibilities. The problem was to commit myself to one. I'll do that sometime next week. Meanwhile, if you write a page (or more) with one (or more) constructions, I'll be happy to consider them for the site.


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-30-08, 07:06 PM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
12. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #9
 
   I notice I left
(^A,h_a,m_a)
This is a quite interesting bi-quadratic problem.
----------------------------------------------------------
As usual when dealing with an altitude and another cevian
from the same vertex, build the right (in H) triangle AHM
such that
AH = h_a, AM = m_a
then pick a point V on the HM-line, such that V and M
are in opposite half-spaces wrt the line AH, and
^HVA = ^A
-----------------------------------------------------------
By denoting with l the distance between the midpoint of BC
and the feet of the perpendicular to BC through A, we have,
in general:
1) 2 m_a^2 + a^2/2 = b^2+c^2
2) a h_a / sin(A) = bc
3) 2 a l = b^2-c^2
By taking the square of 1) and 3), making the difference,
then eliminating (bc)^2 through 2), we have
(m_a^2 / a + a / 4)^2 = l^2 + (h_a / sin(A))^2
If we call k^2 the RHS, we have also
(a/2 - k)^2 = k^2 - m_a^2
So
a/2 = k - sqrt(k^2 - m_a^2)

------------------------------------------------------------

On the perpendicular to VA through V pick T such that
VT = HM
The circle having AT as a diameter will intersect
the circle having center A and radius AM in U.
Pick W on TA such that TW = TU, then B and C on HM such that
d(B,M) = d(C,M) = AW

ABC is the required solution.

------------------------------------------------------------

Jack D'Aurizio


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-09-08, 11:40 AM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
10. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #8
 
   And now:
(A,I,O)

Here we explot the Euler theorem IO^2 = R^2-2Rr.

We call T the midpoint of the common chord of the circles
Gamma_1 and Gamma_2, where Gamma_1 has center I and radius OI,
Gamma_2 has AO as a diameter.
We call M the intersection of the line AI with the circumcircle,
then find I_a such that

- II_a is parallel to OM (so, perpendicular to BC)
- II_a = AT/2 (=r, due to Euclid's theorem)

The intersections of the circumcircle with the perpendicular
to OM through I_a are the vertices B,C.

Figure attached.

Attachments
https://www.cut-the-knot.org/htdocs/dcforum/User_files/48ee29713f38a839.jpg

  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jack202
Member since Sep-30-08
Oct-09-08, 12:20 PM (EST)
Click to EMail jack202 Click to send private message to jack202 Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
11. "RE: triangle construction"
In response to message #8
 
   We have also
(A,B,K)

Here we exploit the fact that the symmedian point K
is the centroid of its own pedal triangle.

Se we call K_c the projection of K on AB
and T the point on KK_c for which KK_C = 2 TK.

T must me the midpoint of the c-side of the pedal triangle of K.

Now, call Gamma_a the circle having AK as a diameter,
Gamma_b the circle having BK as a diameter.

The projections of K on (AC,CB) must lie on (Gamma_a,Gamma_b).

Call Gamma_T the symmetric of Gamma_a wrt T,
(K'_a,K''_a) the intersections of Gamma_b and Gamma_T,
(K'_b,K''_b) the symmetric of (K'_a,K''_a) wrt T.

(AK'_b,BK'_a) concur in C'
(AK''_b,BK''_a) concur in C''

(C',C'') are two solutions of the problem.

In general, by calling J the projection of K
on the perpendicular bisector of AB,
^JBA is the Brocard angle w
that must satisfy w <= pi/6, so

^JBA < pi/6 -> 2 distinct solutions
^JBA = pi/6 -> 2 equal solutions
^JBA > pi/6 -> 0 solutions

Figure attached.

Attachments
https://www.cut-the-knot.org/htdocs/dcforum/User_files/48ee38286676570c.jpg

  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Conferences | Forums | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

You may be curious to have a look at the old CTK Exchange archive.
Please do not post there.

Copyright © 1996-2018 Alexander Bogomolny

Search:
Keywords:

Google
Web CTK