Proof of Brocard’s Theorem

Shounak Kar

§ Brocard’s Theorem

Let ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral inscribed in a circle with centre O. P, Q, R

are the intersection points of (BA - CD), (DA - CB) and (AC - BD) respectively. Then,
point O is the orthocentre of ∆P QR. (In fact, P is the pole of QR, Q is the pole of P R,
and R is the pole of P Q )

Figure 1 : O is the orthocentre of ∆P QR

§ Prerequisites
Brocard’s theorem is a very powerful tool in synthetic as well as in projective geometry.
Many of you know this theorem well but not so much familiar with the proof. So, here I
am trying to give a complete proof of this theorem step by step. Some ideas of symmedians,
projective geometry, perspectivity, harmonic bundles, poles and polars etc. will be needed.

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§1 Symmedians
Symmedian is the reflection of median over the corresponding angle bisector of a triangle
(isogonal of the median).
PB AB 2
Lemma 1.1 : In ∆ABC, P be a point on BC, then P C =
AC 2
if and only if AP is a symmedian.
(Just draw the median AM , use the fact 6 BAP = 6 CAM, 6 BAM = 6 CAP and ratio lemma .)

Lemma 1.2 : If the tangents at B and C to circumcircle of ∆ABC intersect at K then the
line AK is a symmedian.

Figure 2 : The A -symmedian of ∆ABC

Proof : Let P be the intersection of AK with BC. So by lemma 1.1, it is enough to show
AB 2
that BP
CP = AC 2
In the above figure, we have BP BK sinBKP
CP = CK · sinCKP

As , BK = CK (tangent from same point to the circumcircle) , hence

BP sinBKP
CP = sinCKP

Applying Sine laws in ∆KAB and ∆KAC , we get

AB AK AK
sinBKP = sinABK = sin(A+B)

and

AC AK AK
sinCKP = sinACK = sin(A+C)
[KB and KC are tangents to (ABC) , so 6 KBC = 6 KCB = 6 A ]
Hence,
sinBKP AB sin(A+C) AB AB 2
sinCKP = AC · sin(A+B) = AC · sinB
sinC = AC 2

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 BP AB 2
So, we get CP = AC 2
. Hence, AK is a symmedian of ∆ABC .

Lemma 1.3 : In ∆ABC, AK is the A - symmedian of ∆ABC with K on BC. Let AK meet
AB BX
(ABC) at X. Then AC = CX

Figure 3 : ABXC is called harmonic quadrilateral

(cyclic and product of opposite sides are equal)

Proof : By ratio lemma,

BX
CX · sinBXA
sinCXA =
BP
CP
BP AB 2
Since , CP = BC 2
and 6 BXA = 6 C, 6 CXA = 6 B ,

BX AB 2 sinB AB 2 AC AB
CX = AC 2
· sinC = AC 2
· AB = AC

§2 Cross Ratios – Projective Geometry

For any given four collinear points A, B, X, Y , the cross ratio is
XA YA
XB ÷ Y B
(A, B; X, Y ) =
When four lines a, b, c, d are concurrent at some point P, then the cross ratio will be
sin6 (c,a) 6 (d,a)
(a, b; c, d) = sin6 (c,b)
· sin
sin6 (d,b)
Where 6 (x, y) is the angle between the lines x, y.

If A, B, X, Y are collinear points on lines a, b, x, y (respectively) concurrent at K,

K(A, B; X, Y ) = (a, b; x, y)
K(A, B; X, Y ) is called a pencil of lines.

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 Lemma 2.1 : If P (A, B; X, Y ) is a pencil of lines and A, B, X, Y are collinear then
P (A, B; X, Y ) = (A, B; X, Y )
(Just apply sine laws on the corresponding triangles)

Lemma 2.2 : If A, B, X, Y are concyclic and P is any point on the circumcircle, then
XA Y A
P (A, B; X, Y )= ± XB · YB
Here, P (A, B; X, Y ) does not depend on P .

If two lines s and t are given such that points A, B, C, D) lie on s. Let P be a point
and the intersection points of P A, P B, P C, P D with line t are A0 , B 0 , C 0 , D0 respectively .
Then,
P (A, B; C, D) = P (A0 , B 0 ; C 0 , D0 ) = (A, B; C, D) = (A0 , B 0 ; C 0 , D0 )
This is called perspectivity at P . This is denoted by
P
(A, B; C, D) = (A0 , B 0 , C 0 , D0 )

Figure 4 : Projecting (A, B, C, D) from s to t

This will be same even if s is a circle instead of a line ,that is P, A, B, C, D are concyclic.
The cross ratio will be preserved.

§3 Harmonic Bundles
For four collinear points A, B, X, Y , if (A, B; X, Y ) = −1 then, A, B, X, Y is called a har-
monic bundle .
(The sign is negative as the direction is opposite)

Lemma 3.1 : Let Γ be a circle. P be a point outside it. Let P X and P Y be tangents
to Γ. If a line through P intersecs Γ at A and B and K be the intersection point of AB and
XY . Then, (A, B; K, P ) is a harmonic bundle.

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 Figure 5 : AXBY is a harmonic quadrilateral.
AY AX
Proof: From lemma 1.3, we know that BY = BX .So, ABXY is harmonic. That means,
(A, B; X, Y ) = −1

We can write,
X
(A, B; X, Y ) = (A, B; K, P )
Because, we are projecting from the point X lying on the circle onto the line AB.
( As P X is tangent to Γ and if we bring a point M very very close to X, XM behaves as
the tangent . So, XX is indeed P X.)

Lemma 3.2 : Let ABC be a triangle. AD, BE, CF are concurrent lines with D on BC,
E on AC and F on AB. The line EF meets BC at X (may be point at infinity). Then
(B, C; X, D) is a harmonic bundle.

Figure 6 : (B, C; X, D) = −1
(Apply Ceva’s theorem and Menelaus’s theorem , then compare the ratios BX BD
CX and CD )

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§4 Poles and Polars
Let Γ be a circle with centre O . P be a point on the plane. Let Q be the inverse of P with
respect to Γ.(That is , O, Q, P are collinear and OQ · OP = radius2 )
Then, the Polar of point P is the line passing through Q perpendicular to OP .

When P is Γ then its polar is the line (let’s say l) through the two tangency points from P
to Γ. Here, P is the pole of the line l.

Figure 7 : The line throgh Q perpendicular to OP is the polar of P .

• La Hire’s Theorem: A point X lies on the polar of a point Y if and only if Y lies on
the polar of X. (Hint: Find similar triangles)
Lemma 4 : Let P Q be a line, points R, S lies on P Q. Then R lies on the polar of S if
and only if (P, Q; R, S) = −1

Figure 8 : (P, Q; R, S) = −1
Proof : Let Ω be a circle containing P , Q. Now we will consider the case when R is
outside Ω (La Hire’s). Draw tangents RX, RY to Ω. Let the intersection of XY and P Q is
S 0 . From lemma 3.1, we get
(P, Q; R, S 0 ) = −1 (P, Q; R, S 0 ) = (P, Q; S 0 , R) because both are -1

So, S lies on the polar of R if and only if (P, Q; R, S) = −1

(Because , the harmonic conjugate of R with respect to P Q is unique , so S 0 = S)

Now the crucial part comes...

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§ Proof of Brocard’s Theorem
Statement : Let ABCD be an cyclic quadrilateral inscribed in a circle with center O, and
X, Y and Z are the intersection points of (AB, CD), (BC, DA) and (AC, BD). Then ,

(i)X is the pole of Y Z, Y is the pole of ZX and Z is the pole of XY .

(ii) O is the orthocenter of triangle XY Z.

(2nd result is just the consequence of the 1st)

Figure 9 : O is the orthocentre of XY Z

Proof : Let the intersection of XZ with AD and BC are P and Q respectively. From lemma
3.2, we get (B, C; Y, Q) is a harmonic bundle. Now,
X
−1 = (B, C; Y, Q) = (A, D; Y, P )
So, (A, D; Y, P ) is also harmonic. By lemma 4 , P and Q both lie on the polar of Y . As ,
the polar has to be a straight line, then the polar of Y is P Q, which is same as XZ.

Similarly, X is the pole of Y Z and Z is the pole of XY . (∆XY Z is called self-polar)

From the definition of poles and polars, we get O is the orthocentre of ∆XY Z.