Global Journal of Advanced Research

on Classical and Modern Geometries

ISSN: 2284-5569, Vol.5, (2016), Issue 1, pp.15-29

GENERALIZATION OF MUSSELMAN’S THEOREM. SOME PROPERTIES OF

ISOGONAL CONJUGATE POINTS

NGO QUANG DUONG

A BSTRACT. In this article, we generalize of Musselman’s theorem and study on some

properties of isogonal conjugate points with angle chasing mainly.

1. I NTRODUCTION
Theorem 1. (Musselman, [1]) △ ABC, D, E, F are reflections of A, B, C in BC, CA, AB,
respectively. Let O be circumcenter of △ ABC. ( AOD ), ( BOE), (COF ) are coaxial and the
intersection other than O is the inverse of Kosnita point with respect to (O).

Figure 1. Musselman’s theorem

The inverse of Kosnita point (X54 ) with respect to (O) is X1157 in Encyclopedia of Triangle
Centers, see [2]. X1157 lies on Neuberg cubic and it is the tangential of O on the Neuberg
cubic.
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 51M04.
Key words and phrases. Triangle geometry, isogonal conjugate, circumcircle, concyclic, coaxial circle, angle
chasing, collinear, concurrent.

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 Ngo Quang Duong

Theorem 2. (Yiu, [3]) ( AEF ), ( BFD ), (CDE) pass through the inverse of Kosnita point with
respect to (O).

Figure 2

Figure 3. Gibert point

Theorem 3. (Gibert, [4]) X, Y, Z are reflections of X1157 in BC, CA, AB.

AX, BY, CZ are concurrent at a point on (O).
Neuberg cubic is locus of P such that reflections of P in BC, CA, AB form a triangle that
perspective with △ ABC, locus of the perspectors is a cubic [5]. When P coincides with
X1157 , we obtain X1141 , the only perspector lies on circumcircle other than A, B, C.

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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

2. G ENERALIZATION OF M USSELMAN ’ S THEOREM AND SOME PROPERTIES AROUND ITS

CONFIGURATION

2.1. Generalization theorem.

Theorem 4. (Generalization of Musselman’s theorem, [6]) Let P, Q be isogonal conjugate points
with respect to △ ABC.
PA, PB, PC intersects ( PBC ), ( PCA), ( PAB) at D, E, F 6= P, respectively.
Then ( AQD ), ( BQE), (CQF ) are coaxial.

Figure 4. Generalization of Musselman’s theorem

If P coincides with orthocenter of △ ABC, we have Musselman’s theorem.

Proof. Let QA, QB, QC intersect ( QBC ), ( QCA), ( QAB) at X, Y, Z 6= Q.
First, we need some lemmas.
Lemma 5. PQ is parallel to DX, EY, FZ.

Proof. Since P, Q are isogonal conjugate:

( AB, AP) = ( AQ, AC ) = ( AX, AC )
( XA, XC ) = ( XQ, XC ) = ( BQ, BC ) = ( BA, BP)
Therefore △ ABP and △ AXC are directly similar (angle-angle).
Thus AB.AC = AP.AX. Similarly, AB.AC = AQ.AD.
AP AQ
⇒ AP.AX = AQ.AD ⇔ =
AD AX
⇒ PQ k DX. Similarly, we can prove PQ k EY, FZ. 
Lemma 6. D and X, E and Y, F and Z are isogonal conjugate points with respect to △ ABC.
BF, CE pass through X; CD, AF pass through Y; AE, BD pass through Z.
BZ, CY pass through D; CX, AZ pass through E; AY, BX pass through F.

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 Ngo Quang Duong

Figure 5

Figure 6

Proof. (See figure 6) Similar to the proof of lemma 5, we have △ APC and △ ABX are
directly similar, △ APB and △ ACX are directly similar.
( BC, BD ) = ( PC, PD ) = ( PC, PA) = ( BX, BA)
(CB, CD ) = ( PB, PD ) = ( PB, PA) = (CX, CA)
So D, X are isogonal conjugate.
( BX, BF ) = ( BX, BA) + ( BA, BF ) = ( PC, PA) + ( PA, PF ) = 0
Hence BF passes through X.


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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

Lemma 7. ( ABC ), ( APX ), ( AQD ) are coaxial.

Figure 7

Proof. Considering the inversion I( A, AB.AC ) :

B, C, P, Q, D, X 7→ B′ , C ′ , P′ , Q′ , D ′ , X ′
( ABC ), ( APX ), ( AQD ) → B′ C′ , P′ X ′ , Q′ D ′
Since AP.AX = AQ.AD = AB.AC, these pairs of points: ( B, C ′ ), (C, B′ ), ( P, X ′ ), ( Q, D ′ ),
( D, Q′ ), ( X, P′ ) are symmetrically through bisector of ∠ BAC.
Hence, instead of prove B′ C ′ , P′ X ′ , Q′ D ′ are concurrent, we prove BC, PX, QD are con-
current.
Considering △ BPD and △CXQ:
According to lemma 6:
BD intersects CQ at Z, BP intersects CX at E, PD intersects QX at A and Z, A, E are
collinear.
Then by Desargues’s theorem, BC, PX, QD are concurrent. 
Back to the main proof.
From lemma 7: ( ABC ), ( APX ), ( AQD ) have two common points A, A′
( ABC ), ( BPY ), ( BQE) have two common points B, B′
( ABC ), (CPZ ), (CQF ) have two common points C, C′
Let N be midpoint of PQ.

( DA′ , DP) = ( DA′ , DA) = ( QA′ , QA) = ( QA′ , QX )

( PA′ , PD ) = ( PA′ , PA) = ( XA′ , XA) = ( XA′ , XQ)

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 Ngo Quang Duong

Figure 8. Inverse

Figure 9

Hence, △ A′ DP and △ A′ QX are similar.

AP PD d( A′ , AP)
⇒ = =
AQ QX d( A′ , AQ)
( Note that d( M, ℓ) is distance from M to the line ℓ ).
This means distances from A′ to AP, AQ are proportional to AP, AQ.
So AA′ is the symmedian of △ APQ then AN, AA′ are isogonal lines with respect to
∠ BAC. Similarly, BB′ , BN are isogonal lines with respect to ∠ ABC; CC′ , CN are isogonal

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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

lines with respect to ∠ ACB.

So AA′ , BB′ , CC ′ are concurrent at N ′ - isogonal conjugate of N with respect to △ ABC(when
P, Q coincide with orthocenter and circumcenter, N ′ become Kosnita point). Let P′ , Q′ be
two points on PN ′ , QN ′ such that:
N ′ P.N ′ P′ = N ′ Q.N ′ Q′ = P N ′ /( ABC)
Then ( AQD ), ( BQE), (CQF ) pass through Q′ and ( APX ), ( BPY ), (CPZ ) pass through
P′ .
=⇒ ( AQD ), ( BQE), (CQF ) are coaxial, ( APX ), ( BPY ), (CPZ ) are coaxial. 
Theorem 8. The circles ( AEF ), ( BFD ), (CDE) pass through Q′ .

Figure 10

Proof.
( Q′ E, Q′ F ) = ( Q′ E, Q′ Q) + ( Q′ Q, Q′ F )
= ( BE, BQ) + (CQ, CF ) (B, Q, E, Q′ are concyclic and C, Q, F, Q′ are concyclic)
= ( BE, BA) + ( BA, BQ) + (CQ, CA) + (CA, CF )
= ( BP, BA) + ( BP, BC ) + (CB, CP) + (CA, CP) (P, Q are isogonal conjugate)
= ( BP, BA) + ( AB, AC ) + (CA, CP) + ( AC, AB) + ( PB, PC )
= ( AC, AB) + 2( PB, PC )
= ( AC, AB) + ( PB, PF ) + ( PE, PC )
= ( AC, AB) + ( AB, AF ) + ( AE, AC )
= ( AE, AF )

⇒ Q′ lies on ( AEF ).
Similarly, Q′ lies on ( BFD ), (CDE). 
Theorem 9. (Generalization of Gibert point) Let the lines that pass through Q′ and parallel to
PA, PB, PC intersects ( AQD ), ( BQE), (CQF ) at AQ , BQ , CQ 6= Q.
AAQ , BBQ , CCQ are concurrent at a point on ( ABC ).

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 Ngo Quang Duong

Figure 11

Proof. Let G be intersection of AAQ and BBQ . We show that G lies on ( ABC ).

( GA, GB) = ( AAQ , BBQ )

= ( AAQ , Q′ AQ ) + ( Q′ AQ , Q′ BQ ) + ( Q′ BQ , BBQ )
= ( QA, QQ′ ) + ( PA, PB) + ( QQ′ , QB)
= ( PA, PB) + ( QA, QB)
= ( AP, AB) + ( BA, BP) + ( AQ, AB) + ( BA, BQ)
= ( AP, AB) + ( BA, BP) + ( AC, AP) + ( BP, BC ) (P, Q are isogonal conjugate)
= (CA, CB)

Similarly, the intersections of BBQ , CCQ lies on ( ABC ), therefore AAQ , BBQ , CCQ are
concurrent at a point on ( ABC ). 
2.2. Some properties.
Proposition 10. The following sets of 4 points are concyclic:
( B, C, F, Y ), ( B, C, E, Z ).
(C, A, D, Z ), (C, A, F, X ).
( A, B, E, X ), ( A, B, D, Y ).

Proof.
( FB, FC ) = ( FB, FP) = ( AB, AP)
Since P, Q are isogonal conjugate
( AB, AP) = ( AQ, AC ) = (YQ, YC ) = (YB, YC )
Hence, B, C, F, Y are concyclic. 

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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

Figure 12

Proposition 11. EF, YZ, BC are concurrent.

Figure 13

Proof. From lemma 6, FY intersect EZ at A, BF intersects CE at X. BY intersects CZ at Q.

Since A, Q, X are collinear then by Desargues’s theorem, EF, YZ, BC are concurrent. 
Proposition 12.
( DYZ ), ( EZX ), ( FXY ), ( PDX ), ( PEY ), ( PFZ ) have a common point.
( XEF ), (YFD ), ( ZDE), ( QDX ), ( QEY ), ( QFZ ) have a common point.

Proof. From lemma 6, D, Y, C are collinear and D, Z, B are collinear, then:

( DY, DZ ) = ( DC, DB) = ( PC, PB)
Similarly:
( EZ, EX ) = ( EA, EC ) = ( PA, PC )
( FX, FY ) = ( FB, FA) = ( PB, PA)
⇒ ( DY, DZ ) + ( EZ, EX ) + ( FX, FY ) = 0. Hence ( DYZ ), ( EZX ), ( FXY ) have a common

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 Ngo Quang Duong

Figure 14

point S. Now from symmetry we only need to prove that S lies on ( PDX ).

(SD, SX ) = (SD, SY ) + (SY, SX )

= ( ZD, ZY ) + ( FY, FX ) (S, D, Y, Z are concyclic, S, X, Y, F are concyclic)
= ( ZB, ZY ) + ( FA, FB) (Z, D, B are collinear)
= ( ZB, ZY ) + ( PA, PB) (F, A, B, P are concyclic)
( PD, PX ) = ( PA, PX )
= ( P′ A, P′ X ) (A, P, X, P′ are concyclic)
= ( P′ A, P′ Z ) + ( P′ Z, P′ X )
= ( AY, YZ ) + ( BZ, BX ) (A, P′ , Y, Z are concyclic, B, Z, X, P′ are concyclic)

(SD, SX ) − ( PD, PX ) = ( PA, PB) + ( BZ, AY ) + ( BX, BZ )

= ( PA, PB) + ( BZ, BA) + ( AB, AY ) + ( BX, BC ) + ( BC, BZ )
= ( PA, PB) + ( BC, BF ) + ( AE, AC ) + ( BA, BD ) + ( BF, BA)
= ( PA, PB) + ( BC, BD ) + ( AE, AC )
= ( PA, PB) + ( PC, PD ) + ( PE, PC )
= ( PA, PB) + ( PC, PA) + ( PB, PC )
=0

Therefore, S lies on ( PDX ). 

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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

Proposition 13. ( ADX ), ( AEY ), ( AFZ ), ( APQ) are tangent at A.

( BDX ), ( BEY ), ( BFZ ), ( BPQ) are tangent at B.
(CDX ), (CEY ), (CFZ ), (CPQ) are tangent at C.

Figure 15

Proof. Since EY k FZ and EZ, FY pass through A, ( AEY ) and ( AFZ ) are tangent at A.
DX k PQ, PD, QX pass through A so ( APQ), ( ADX ) are tangent at A.
Let AM, AN be tangent lines of ( APQ), ( AEY ) at A.

( AM, AN ) = ( AM, AP) + ( AP, AE) + ( AE, AN )

= ( QA, QP) + ( AP, AE) + (YE, YA) (AN is tangent line of ( AEY ))

Since PQ k EY:
( AM, AN ) = ( AQ, AY ) + ( AP, AE)
= ( AQ, AC ) + ( AC, AY ) + ( AP, AB) + ( AB, AE)

Because P, Q and E, Y are isogonal conjugate with respect to △ ABC:

( AQ, AC ) + ( AP, AB) = 0 ( AC, AY ) + ( AB, AE) = 0

⇒ ( AM, AN ) = 0, then A, M, N are collinear.
Hence, ( ADX ), ( AEY ), ( AFZ ), ( APQ) are tangent at A. 
Proposition 14. Suppose that:
ℓ a is radical axis of ( ADX ), ( AEY ), ( AFZ ), ( APQ)
ℓb is radical axis of ( BDX ), ( BEY ), ( BFZ ), ( BPQ)
ℓc is radical axis of (CDX ), (CEY ), (CFZ ), (CPQ)
Then ℓ a , ℓb , ℓc are concurrent at a point on ( ABC ).

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 Ngo Quang Duong

Proof. ℓ a , ℓb , ℓc are tangent lines at A, B, C of ( APQ), ( BPQ), (CPQ).

Tangent line at A of ( APQ) is isogonal line of the line that passes through A and parallel
to PQ with respect to ∠ BAC. Therefore, ℓ a passes through isogonal conjugate of infinity
point on PQ, which lies on ( ABC ). Hence ℓ a , ℓb , ℓc are concurrent at a point on ( ABC ).


Figure 16

Proposition 15. The following sets of 4 points are concyclic:

( Q′ , D, X, P′ ), ( Q′ , E, Y, P′ ), ( Q′ , F, Z, P′ ), ( Q′ , P, Q, P′ )

Figure 17

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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

Proof. Let Na , Nb , Nc be midpoints of DX, EY, FZ and Na′ , Nb′ , Nc′ be isogonal conjugate
of Na , Nb , Nc with respect to △ ABC. In the proof of theorem 4, we had:
N ′ P.N ′ P′ = N ′ Q.N ′ Q′ = P N ′ /( ABC)
So P, Q, P′ , Q′ are concyclic.
Since D, X are isogonal conjugate with respect to △ ABC and DA, DB, DC intersect
( DBC ), ( DCA), ( DAB) at P, Z, Y. Then by theorem 4, ( AXP), ( BXZ ), (CXY ) are coaxial
and from theorem 5, ( AXP), ( BXZ ), (CXY ) pass through X and P′ . Similarly, ( ADQ),
( BDF ), (CDE) pass through D and Q′ , so DNa′ , XNa′ pass through Q′ , P′ , respectively,
and:
Na′ D.Na′ Q′ = Na′ X.Na′ P′ = P Na′ /( ABC)
Hence, D, X, P′ , Q′ are concyclic. 
Proposition 16. The following sets of lines are concurrent:
( NN ′ , Na Na′ , BC ), ( NN ′ , Nb Nb′ , CA), ( NN ′ , Nc Nc′ , AB).
( Nb Nb′ , Nc Nc′ , BC ), ( Nc Nc′ , Na Na′ , CA), ( Na Na′ , Nb Nb′ , AB).

Figure 18

Proof. From lemma 5 and lemma 7, PQXD is a trapezoid, the intersection L a of PX, QD
lies on BC.
Then A, N, L a , Na are collinear and ( AL a NNa ) = −1 so B( AL a NNa ) = −1.
Since BA, BC, BN, BNa are reflections of BC, BA, BN ′ , BNa′ in bisector of ∠ ABC

⇒ B(CAN ′ Na′ ) = B( AL a NNa ) = −1

AN ′ , ANa′ are isogonal lines of AN, ANa with respect to ∠ BAC so A, N ′ , Na′ are collinear.
Let AN ′ intersects BC at Ka .

⇒ B(CAN ′ Na′ ) = (Ka AN ′ Na′ ) = ( AKa N ′ Na′ ) = −1 = ( AL a NNa )

So BC, NN ′ , Na Na′ are concurrent.


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 Ngo Quang Duong

Proposition 17. Suppose that P is inside △ ABC. Let R, R a , Rb , Rc be radii of pedal circles of
P, D, E, F with respect to △ ABC. Then:
1 1 1 1
= + +
R R a Rb Rc

Figure 19

Proof. Ha , Ja are orthogonal projections of Q, D on BC. It is well-known that N is center

of pedal circle of P with respect to △ ABC and Ha lies on it. So R = NHa . Similarly,
R a = Na Ja . By Thales’s theorem:
L a Ha La Q La N
= =
L a Ja La D L a Na
Hence,
NHa La N AN AP
NHa k Na Ja and = = =
Na Ja L a Na ANa AD
From the proof of lemma 5:
AP AP.AQ AP.AQ
= =
AD AQ.AD AB.AC
Therefore,
R AP.AQ
=
Ra AB.AC
According to IMO Shortlist 1998, geometric problem 4(see [7]):
AP.AQ BP.BQ CP.CQ
+ + =1
AB.AC BC.BA CA.CB
R R R 1 1 1 1
⇒ + + = 1 =⇒ + + =
R a Rb Rc R a Rb Rc R


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 Generalization of Musselman’s theorem. Some properties of isogonal conjugate points

R EFERENCES
[1] J. R. Musselman and R. Goormaghtigh (1939), Advanced Problem 3928. American Mathematics Monthly,
volume 46, page 601.
[2] C.Kimberling, Encyclopedia of triangle centers.
http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETC.html
[3] P. Yiu, Hyacinthos message 4533, December 12, 2001.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Hyacinthos/conversations/topics/4533
[4] B.Gibert, Hyacinthos message 1498, 25 September, 2000.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Hyacinthos/conversations/topics/1498
[5] K060, bernard.gibert.pagesperso-orange.fr/Exemples/k060.html
[6] Q.D.Ngo, Anopolis message 2648, June 14, 2015.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Anopolis/conversations/topics/2648
[7] 39th IMO 1998 shortlisted problems
https://mks.mff.cuni.cz/kalva/short/sh98.html

H IGH S CHOOL FOR G IFTED S TUDENT, H ANOI U NIVERSITY OF S CIENCE , V IETNAM N ATIONAL U NIVERSITY,
H ANOI , V IETNAM
E-mail address: [email protected]

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