Projective Geometry

Lulache
International Computer High School Of Bucharest,
[email protected]

Abstract. In this note, I will present some olympiad problems which

can be solved using projective geometry arguments.
Keywords: poles, polars, harmonic divisions

Definitions

Let d be a line and A, C ,B and D four points which lie in this order on it.The
quadrupet (ACBD) is called harmonic division(or is simply described as being
harmonic) if and only if
CA
DA
=
(1)
CB
DB
Keep in mind that the lenghts are directed.
Let P be a point not collinear with A,B,C,D; We define the pencil P (A, B, C, D)
to be made up of 4 lines P A, P B, P C, P D. P (A, B, C, D) is called harmonic
when (A, B; C, D) is harmonic.
BA
DA
A quadrilateral ABCD is called harmonic if it is cyclic and BC
= DC
.
Let w be a circle and let P be a point in the plane of w. Furthermore, let XY be
an arbitrary chord passing through P with X and Y on w. The polar of a point
P with respect to the circle w is defined as the locus of the points Qx y in plane
so that the quadrupet (P XQx yY ) is harmonic ( the chord XY passing through
P is the variable here).

Useful Lemmas

Lemma 1 A pencil P (A, B, C, D) is given. The lines P A, P B, P C, P D intersect

a line l at X, Y, Z, T respectively. The quadruplet (X, Y, Z, T ) is harmonic if and
only if (A, B, C, D) is harmonic.
Lemma 2 In 4 ABC , points D, E, F are on sides BC, CA, AB. Let F E
intersect BC at G. Then (BCDG) is harmonic iff AD, BE, CF are concurrent.
Lemma 3 A point P is outside or on a circle w. Let P C, P D be tangents to w,
and l be a line through P intersecting w at A, B (so that P, A, B are collinear in
this order). Let AB intersect CD at Q. Then ACBD is a harmonic quadrilateral
and (P QAB) is harmonic.

Lemma 4 Points A, C, B, D lie on a line in this order. P is a point not on this

line.Then any of the following conditions imply the third:
1.(ABCD) is harmonic.
2.P B is the angle bisector of 6 CP D.
3.AP P B

Lemma 5 M is the midpoint of a line segment AB. Let P be a point at

infinity on line AB. Then (M, P ; A, B) is harmonic.

Lemma 6 A point X lies on the polar of a point Y with respect to a circle w.

Then Y lies on the polar of X with respect to w.

Lemma 7 The points A, B, C, D lie in this order on the circle w with center O.
AC and BD intersect at P , AB and DC intersect at Q, AD and BC intersect
at R. Then O is the orthocenter of triangle P QR. Furthermore, QR is the polar
of P , P Q is the polar of R , and P R is the polar of Q with respect to w.

Lemma 8 Let X, Y, Z be three points and w a circle. Let x, y, z be the polars

of X, Y, Z with respect to w. Then the points X, Y, Z are collinear if and only if
the polars x, y, z are conccurent.

Useful theorems

Pascals Theorem Given a hexagon ABCDEF inscribed in a circle, let P =

AB BD, Q = BC EF , R = CD AF . Then P, Q, R are collinear. Points
A, B, C, D, E, F do not have to lie on the circle in this order. Sometimes, is it
useful to use degenerate versions of this nice theorem. For example if A and B
coincide than AB becomes the tangent to the circle at A.

Desargues Theorem Given two triangles A1 B1 C1 and A2 B2 C2 we say that

they are perspective with respect to a point when A1 B1 A2 B2 , A1 C1 A2 C2 ,
C1 B1 C2 B2 are collinear. Then two triangles are perspective with respect ro a
point iff they are perspective with respect to a line.

Pappuss Hexagon Theorem In mathematics, Pappus hexagon theorem (attributed to Pappus of Alexandria) states that given one set of collinear points
A, B, C, and another set of collinear points a, b, c, then the intersection points
X, Y, Z of line pairs Ab and aB, Ac and aC, Bc and bC are collinear, lying on
the Pappus line.

4
4.1

Lets solve some problems

Romania TST 2009

The quadrilateral ABCD inscribed in a circle wich has diameter AC. Let A0 , D0
are symmetric to A, D with respect to the line BD and AC respectively. If
A0 C BD = F and AC BD0 = E then prove that EF BD.

Solution It is easy to check out that the lines BA, BD, BC and BE form
a harmonical pencil (by lemma 4 , BC is the bisector of angle 6 DBE ).This
means that the pencil form by F A, F R, F C, F E is also harmonical. Again by
easy check, F B is the bisector line of angle AF C, so from lemma 4 we have
6 BF E = 90 .
4.2

The Clock-Tower School Seniors Competition 2010

Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral.The lines AD, BC meet at P ; AB, CD at

Q; and AC, BD at R. The perpendicular bisectors of AB, respectively BC, meet

P R at X, respectively QR at Y . Prove that XY passes through B.

Solution All poles and polars are considered with respect to the given circle of
ABCD. To start with, notice that line q = P R is the polar of Q and line p = QR
is the polar of P . As Y lies on the polar of P , it follows that P lies on the polar
y of Y . The pole of the line OY is the point at infinity on the direction BC,
as OY is a diameter line. Thus the polar y of Y is the line P = BC, implying
that Y B is tangent to the given circle at B. Similar considerations show that
XB is tangent to the given circle at B, hence proving the thesis.

Problems to try

Some of these problems can be done without using projective geometry, however
try to use it in your solution.

5.1

Romania TST 2012

Let be a circle and l a line in its plane. Let K be a point on l, located outside
of . Let KA and KB be the tangents from K to , where A and B are distinct
points on . Let P and Q be two points on . Lines P A and P B intersect line
l in two points R and respectively S. Lines QR and QS intersect the second
time circle in points C and D. Prove that the tangents from C and D to are
concurrent on line l.
5.2

Romania TST 2009

Let ABC be a non-isosceles triangle, in which X, Y, and Z are the tangency

points of the incircle of center I with sides BC, CA and AB respectively. Denoting by O the circumcircle of 4ABC, line OI meets BC at a point D. The
perpendicular dropped from X to Y Z intersects AD at E. Prove that Y Z is the
perpendicular bisector of [EX].
5.3

USA TST 2005

Let ABC be an acute scalene triangle with O as its circumcenter. Point P lies
inside triangle ABC with 6 P AB = 6 P BC and 6 P AC = 6 P CB. Point Q lies
on line BC with QA = QP . Prove that 6 AQP = 26 OQB.
5.4

Iran TST 2009

ABC is a triangle and AA0 , BB 0 and CC 0 are three altitudes of this triangle .
Let P be the feet of perpendicular from C 0 to A0 B 0 , and Q is a point on A0 B 0
such that QA = QB . Prove that : 6 P BQ = 6 P AQ = 6 P C 0 C
5.5

Tuymaada 2011

Circles 1 and 2 intersect at points A and B, and M is the midpoint of AB.

Points S1 and S2 lie on the line AB (but not between A and B). The tangents
drawn from S1 to 1 touch it at X1 and Y1 , and the tangents drawn from S2 to
2 touch it at X2 and Y2 . Prove that if the line X1 X2 passes through M , then
line Y1 Y2 also passes through M .
5.6

IMO SHORTLIST 2006

Circles w1 and w2 with centres O1 and O2 are externally tangent at point D

and internally tangent to a circle w at points E and F respectively. Line t is the
common tangent of w1 and w2 at D. Let AB be the diameter of w perpendicular
to t, so that A, E, O1 are on the same side of t. Prove that lines AO1 , BO2 , EF
and t are concurrent.

5.7

Iran TST 2012

Consider is circumcircle of an acute triangle ABC. D is midpoint of arc BAC

and I is incenter of triangle ABC. Let DI intersect BC in E and for second
time in F . Let P be a point on line AF such that P E is parallel to AI. Prove
that P E is bisector of angle BP C.
5.8

Iran TST 2008

Suppose that I is incenter of triangle ABC and l0 is a line tangent to the incircle.
Let l be another line such that intersects AB, AC, BC respectively at C 0 , B 0 , A0 .
We draw a tangent from A0 to the incircle other than BC, and this line intersects with l0 at A1 . B1 , C1 are similarly defined. Prove that AA1 , BB1 , CC1 are
concurrent.