help i cant see incenters

Yanqing (Ryan) Yang

April 2024
Contents
1 :P 3

2
1 :P

ω1

Q
P2,1
ω2

P1,2
N

P3,1 M
O
P
P3,2
P2,3
P1,3

ω3

Define M, N, O as midpoints of P1,3 P1,2 , P2,3 P2,1 , P3,1 P3,2 .

We will prove that N OP M is cyclic. If it is cyclic then by Thales all the perpendicular
bisectors intersect at Q the antipode of P on N OP M .

Lemma 1.0.1
Let AB be a segment with midpoint C. Let D be a point on segment AB. Let X ′
be the inverse of X about an inversion with arbitrary radius centered at D.
Then (A′ , B ′ ; C ′ , D′ ) = −1.

Proof. Cross ratios are preserved about dilation, so assume the radius of the circle is 1.

C D
A B

Let us observe the inverted segment.

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Yanqing (Ryan) Yang — April 2024 help i cant see incenters

C′ A′ D′ B′

Now it is well-known inversion preserves cross ratios. Let P∞ be the point at infinity on
the line AB.

′ = D, then inverting at D, (A′ , B ′ ; C ′ , D) =

Clearly (A, B; C, P∞ ) = −1. Now since P∞
−1, as desired.

Now take an inversion centered at P with arbitrary radius.

M′

A ′
N′ P1,2
′
P2,1
O′ ′
P3,1
P ′
P3,2

′
P1,3
B
′
P2,3
C

The tangent lines are fixed. Let ℓ1 be the inverse of ω1 , ℓ2 the inverse of ω2 , ℓ3 inverse of
′ P ′ is parallel to ℓ , and so on.
ω3 . By the tangent condition, P1,3 1,2 1

′ ,P′
Let ℓ1 ∩ ℓ2 = A, ℓ1 ∩ ℓ3 = B, ℓ2 ∩ ℓ3 = C. Then by definition, P3,1 2,1 lie on AB,
′ ′ ′ ′
P3,2 , P1,2 lie on AC, and P1,3 , P2,3 lie on BC.

Further, M ′ , N ′ , O′ are respectively the harmonic conjugates of P on P1,3

′ P′ , P′ P′ ,
1,2 2,3 2,1
′ ′
P3,2 P3,1 .
We wish to show M ′ , N ′ , O′ are collinear.

We reformulate the problem as such. We will prove this is true for any triangle ABC
and point P .

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Yanqing (Ryan) Yang — April 2024 help i cant see incenters

Proof. There exists an affine transformation that sends ABC to a right isosceles triangle
with ∠B = 90◦ .

Remove the ′ notation for the sake of convenience. Define the points X = AO ∩ P M ,
Y = BN ∩ OP , Z = CM ∩ OP .

We reverse reconstruct O as the intersection of M N with P3,2 P3,1 . Then it suffices

to show that (O, P, P3,1 , P3,2 ) = −1.

M
A
X
P2,1
P1,2

Y P3,1 P P3,2 Z
O

B C

P1,3 P2,3

A
But clearly, (O, P ; P3,2 , P3,1 ) = (X, P ; P1,2 , AB ∩ P1,2 P1,3 ). Hence it suffices to show
that P1,2 is the midpoint of P X, or AX intersects M N on Y Z.
B
(Y, P ; P3,1 , P O ∩ BC) = (N, P ; P2,1 , P2,3 ) = −1,

so P3,1 is the midpoint of P Y .

C
(Z, P ; P3,2 , P O ∩ BC) = (M, P ; P1,2 , P1,3 ) = −1,
so P3,2 is the midpoint of P Z.

Now plot this on the coordinate plane.

Let B = (0, 0) and BC, AB respectively be the x and y axes. Now let P = (p, q).
Further, scale the diagram such A = (0, 1) and C = (1, 0).

Clearly Y = (−p, q). Now line AC has equation y = −x + 1. Since P3,2 has y co-
ordinate q, x = 1 − q, and P3,2 = (1 − q, q).

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Yanqing (Ryan) Yang — April 2024 help i cant see incenters

This means Z is given by (2 − 2q − p, q). Now, line P N has slope −1 so has equa-
tion y = −x + p + q. BY has equation y = − pq .

q
−x + p + q = − x
p
q
x(1 − ) = p + q
p
p(p + q)
x=
p−q
Subbing this in to the equation of BY , we deduce that
 
p(p + q) −q(p + q)
N= ,
p−q p−q

P M has equation x = p. Let us find CZ. Since Z = (2 − 2q − p, q), CZ has slope:

q
1 − p − 2q
so clearly has equation:
q q
y= x−
1 − p − 2q 1 − p − 2q
and hence  
q(p − 1)
M= p, .
1 − p − 2q
Now we compute line M N . First we calculate the slope, by finding the numerator.
   
p+q p−1 (1 − p − 2q)(p + q) + (p − 1)(p − q)
−q + = −q
p − q 1 − p − 2q (1 − p − 2q)(p − q)
p + q − p2 − pq − 2qp − 2q 2 + p2 − p + q − pq
 
= −q
(1 − p − 2q)(p − q)
2q − 4qp − 2q 2
 
= −q
(1 − p − 2q)(p − q)
 
1 − 2p − q
= −2q 2
(1 − p − 2q)(p − q)

Now we compute the denominator. This is just:

 
p(p + q) p+q p−q
−p=p −
p−q p−q p−q
2pq
=
p−q
Then the slope is:
q 1 − 2p − q
− ×
p 1 − p − 2q
And our line is:
q(p − 1) q 1 − 2p − q
y− =− × (x − p)
1 − p − 2q p 1 − p − 2q

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Yanqing (Ryan) Yang — April 2024 help i cant see incenters

Since we want to find O, which lies on y = q, we may intersect the two lines.

q(1 − p) − 2q 2 q(p − 1) q 1 − 2p − q
− =− × (x − p)
1 − p − 2q 1 − p − 2q p 1 − p − 2q
−2q 2 + 2q(1 − p) q 1 − 2p − q
=− × (x − p)
1 − p − 2q p 1 − p − 2q
2qp − 2p + 2p2
=x−p
1 − 2p − q
Or simply,

2qp − 2p + 2p2 + p − 2p2 − pq

x=
1 − 2p − q
−p + pq
=
1 − 2p − q
Hence:  
p(q − 1)
O= ,q
1 − 2p − q
Now let O′ = AX ∩ P Z. Clearly P1,2 = (p, 1 − p). This means X = (p, 2 − 2p − q).

Now we find line AX. We see by the line formula it is:

1 − 2p − q
y−1= x
p
Intersecting this with y = q, we have:
1 − 2p − q
q−1= x
p
p(q − 1)
x=
1 − 2p − q
Hence  
′ p(q − 1)
O = ,q
1 − 2p − q
and clearly O′ = O, so we are done.