Reflection of G through L lines on Steiner

line of (AB, BC, CA, GL)

This small article gives a self-contained proof of Lemma 5 in post #6 of A problem about Euler line and
Lemoine point.

1 Statement of the problem and outline of the proof

Problem 1. Let G, L be the centroid and Lemoine point of triangle ABC, respectively. Let A0 , B0 , C0
be the intersection of GL and BC, CA, AB. Then, the reflection of G through L lines on the Steiner line
of the quadrilateral formed by ABC and A0 B0 C0 .

Proof. Proof outline Let H be the orthocenter of △ABC, O be the circumcenter of △ABC, S be the
Miquel point of (AB, BC, CA, GL), R is the Anti-Steiner point of the line passing through H and parallel
to OL.

Firstly, notice that if G′ is the reflection of G through L, then G′ H is parallel to the Fermat axis of
△ABC. Secondly, by Lemma 1.7, we see that if S is the reflection of R through GO, then S is indeed
the anti-Steiner point of HG′ , in other words, HG′ is the Steiner line of the quadrilateral formed by ABC
and A0 B0 C0 .

The fact that S is the reflection of R through GO is shown in Lemma 1.10.

2 Proof

Lemma 1.1. Given △ABC with centroid G, Lemoine point L, circumcenter O, Pa is the intersection of
LO and BC. Then A(Pa G, LO) = −1.

The point P in this diagram is the point Pa in the problem.

Proof. Let E, M , F be the intersections of AL, AG, AO with BC respectively, S is the intersection of the
tangents at B and C of (ABC). We see that

A(Pa G, LO) = (Pa M, EF ) = O(Pa M, EF ) = (LS, AE) = −1.

The last equality is a well-known result. Thus A(Pa G, LO) = −1.
Lemma 1.2 (Telv Cohl). Given △ABC with centroid G, Lemoine point L, circumcenter O, P is a point
on LO. P ′ is the inverse of P through (OL) (the circle with diameter OL), and Q is the isogonal conjugate
of P with respect to △ABC. Then P ′ , Q and G are collinear.

Proof. Let Pa , Pb , Pc be the intersections of OL with BC, CA and AB, respectively, and Pa′ , Pb′ , Pc′ are
their inverses through (OL). Then we have the following calculation of cross ratios

(Pa Pb , P Pc ) = (Pa′ Pb′ , P ′ Pc′ ) = G(Pa′ Pb′ , P ′ Pc′ ) = G(AB, P ′ C).

The last equation follows from Lemma 1.1. In other hand, we also have

(Pa Pb , P Pc ) = A(Pa Pb , P Pc ) = A(AB, QC) = G(AB, QC).

Where the last two cross-ratios are on the conic containing the isogonal conjugates with respect to △ABC
points on LO. The second equality is just applying the reflection through the angle bisector of ∠BAC.
Hence, G(AB, QC) = G(AB, P ′ C), in other words, P ′ , Q and G are collinear.
Lemma 1.3. Given △ABC with Lemoine point L, d is a line passing through L, and X ∈ d. Then the
line connecting X and the centroid of its pedal triangle with respect to △ABC is parallel to a fixed line
as X varies on d.
Proof. Let O be the circumcenter of △ABC, X ′ be the isogonal conjugate of X with respect to △ABC,
E = BX ′ ∩CA, F = CX ′ ∩AB, M and N are midpoints of CA and AB respectively, R = M N ∩EF . Next,
let P be the refection of A through the line passing through O and perpendicular to d, S the reflection
of P through the perpendicular bisector of BC, E0 = BS ∩ CA, F0 = CS ∩ AB. Then BS and the line
passing through B and parallel to d are conjugates in ∠ABC. Therefore

(AM, EE0 ) = B(AM, EE0 ) = B(CL, X∞d ) = C(BL, X∞d ) = (AN, F F0 ).

Hence M N , EF and E0 F0 concur, or R is fixed as X varies. Now note that if X ′ is the isogonal conjugate
of X with respect to △ABC, then AR is actually parallel to the trilinear polar l of X ′ with respect to
△ABC. If l ∩ BC = Xa′ , l ∩ CA = Xb′ , and Xa , Xb , Xc are projections of X onto BC, CA, AB, Ma is
the midpoint of Xb Xc , then

A(CB, Xa′ X ′ ) = −1 = X(Xb Xc , Ma ∞Xb Xc ),

thus XMa ⊥ AXa′ . Use this fact, one can show that Xa Ma is the radical axis of (Xa Xb Xc ) and (XXa′ ),
thus G′ - the centroid of △Xa Xb Xc , is the radical center of (XXa′ ), (XXb′ ) and (Xa Xb Xc ). This implies
that XG′ ⊥ Xb′ Xc′ , hence XG′ ⊥ AR.
Lemma 1.4. Let △ABC be a scalene triangle, and F1 , F2 , L, G, H are its first and second Fermat points,
Lemoine point, centroid, orthocenter, respectively. Then F1 F2 (this line is known as the Fermat axis of
△ABC) passes through L and the midpoint of GH.

Proof. Let O be the circumcenter of △ABC. Let S1 and S2 be the isogonal conjugates of F1 and F2
with respect to △ABC, respectively. Then S1 and S2 are the isodynamic points of △ABC, they lie on
OL, moreover, (LO, S1 S2 ) = −1. Now apply Lemma 1.2, we see that G, S1 , F2 and G, S2 , F1 are collinear
points. Another well-known fact is that the intersection of F1 F2 and S1 S2 is the isogonal conjugate of
the intersection of F1 S2 and S1 F2 , which is G. Thus L ∈ F1 F2 . Next, note that F1 S1 is the line passing
through the centroid of the pedal triangle of S1 with respect to △ABC, OH is the line passing through
the centroid of the pedal triangle of O with respect to △ABC, Lemma 1.3 gives us OH∥F1 S1 . Thus

−1 = F1 (S1 S2 , LO) = F1 (∞OH G, LO).

This equation implies that F1 L passes through the midpoint of GH.

Lemma 1.5. Given △ABC with orthocenter H and a fixed line d. P is a point on d, and P ′ is its isogonal
conjugate. D is the second intersection of AP and (ABC), and E = d ∩ BC, F is the second intersection
of DE and (ABC). Let S be the Anti-Steiner point of the line passing through H and perpendicular to
d. Then F , P ′ and S are collinear.
Proof. Let Y and Z be the intersections of d with CA and AB respectively, K and L be the intersections
of BP and CP with (ABC) respectively.
 
L D B
Use Pascal’s Theorem for the points , we have Z ∈ LF , similarly Y ∈ KF . Let M be the
A C F
second intersection of (F BZ) and (F CY ), by angle chasing, we see that M ∈ d. Now, construct a point
+
Q on the plane such that △F M C △F BQ, we shall prove that P ′ ≡ Q. Indeed, from the construction
of Q, by angle chasing, we see that BP and BQ are conjugates with respect to ∠ABC. Note that we also
+
have △F M B △F CQ, so CP and CQ are also conjugates with respect to ∠ACB, therefore P ′ ≡ Q.
Finally, let S be the second intersection of F P ′ and (ABC), by angle chasing, we see that AS and the line
passing through A and parallel to d. This shows our desired result.

Lemma 1.6. Given △ABC with circumcenter O, centroid G, Lemoine point L, orthocenter H. Let S be
the Anti-Steiner point of OH with respect to △ABC, T is the Anti-Steiner point of the line parallel to
OL passing through H. Then ∠GST = 90◦ .
Proof. Let D be the projection of A onto BC, M is the midpoint of BC, X and R are intersections of
OL and OG with BC, respectively. H ′ , K, A′ are the intersections of AH, AL and AO with (ABC),
respectively. A0 is the refection of H ′ through O, J is the second intersection of H ′ M and (ABC).

First, note that (AK, BC) = (A′ J, BC) = −1), thus AA′ , BC and KJ concur. In other hand, we also
have D is the midpoint of HH ′ , (K, M, A0 ) and (R, H ′ , S) are two triples of collinear points, hence

O(HH ′ , DM ) = −1 = H ′ (RO, DM ) = (SA0 , AJ) = K(SM, AJ).

From Lemma 1.1, we see that

−1 = A(XM, KA′ ) = K(XM, AJ).
Thus S, X, K are collinear. Finally, apply Lemma 1.5, we have SG passes through the reflection of T
through O, this implies that ∠GST = 90◦ .
Lemma 1.7. Keep the notations from Lemma 1.4, let X be the Anti-Steiner point of the line passing
through H and perpendicular to LO with respect to △ABC, Y be the Anti-Steiner point of the line
passing through H and perpendicular to LF1 with respect to △ABC. Then OH bisects XY .

Proof. Let M , N , P be the midpoints of BC, CA, and AB, Eu be the nine-point-center of △ABC, K is
the midpoint of GH, S and T are the Anti-Steiner points of OL and OH with respect to △M N P . Use
Fontene’s Theorem, we see that S and T are the intersections of (M N P ) and the pedal circle of G with
respect to △ABC. This implies that LK ⊥ ST , also from Lemma 1.6, we see that ∠ST G = 90◦ . Let M ′
be the refection of G through OH, S ′ is the second intersection of T G and (M N P ), Q lies on (M N P )
such that M Q∥S ′ T , and R is the reflection of Q through the perpendicular bisector of N P . Now, we have
T M ′ ∥N P ∥RQ, hence
⌢ ⌢ ⌢
M ′ R=T Q=S ′ M .
Thus RS ′ ∥M M ′ , in other words, OH bisects RS ′ . Now apply the homothety centered at G with scaling
factor −2 to get the desired result.
Lemma 1.8. Given △ABC, P and Q are isogonal conjugates with respect to △ABC. S is the Miquel
point of (AB, BC, CA, P Q), D is the second intersection of AP and (ABC), X is the second intersection
of (SP D) and BC. Then DX passes through the second intersection T of (ABC) and (SP Q), and the
Steiner line of T with respect to △ABC is perpendicular to P Q.
Proof. Let E be the second intersection of QA and (ABC), Y be the second intersection of BC and (SQE),
and T be the second intersection of DX and (ABC). Let B ′ = P Q ∩ CA, C ′ = P Q ∩ AB. Now we have

T B DB XB P C′
· = = ,
T C DC XC P B′
YB QC ′
= .
YC QB ′
We shall prove that E, Y , T are collinear by showing that
YB T B EB
= · .
YC T C EC
This equation is equivalent to
DB EC P C ′ QB ′
· = · ,
DC EB P B ′ QC ′
which is equivalent to
DB P C ′ AB ′
= · .
DC P B ′ AC ′
The last equation is trivially true. Now we deduce that

T B2 T B EB T B DB AC ′2
= · · · = ,
T C2 T C EC T C DC AB ′2
therefore, the Steiner line of T with respect to △ABC is perpendicular to P Q. Now let U be the second
intersection of A′ D and (ABC), V be the second intersection of A′ E and (ABC) use Lemma 1.5 to obtain
the fact that P V and U Q pass through T . Finally, it is a simple angle chasing showing that P , T , S, Q
are concyclic
∠P T Q = ∠DAE − ∠DA′ E = ∠ADA′ − ∠AEA′ = ∠P SQ.

Lemma 1.9. Given △ABC with centroid G, Lemoine point L, circumcenter O, Z is the intersection of
LO and BC, A0 is the intersection of LG and BC, X and Y are the intersections of AL and AG with
(ABC). Then ZX, A0 Y and (ABC) concur.
Proof. In order to prove the desired result, all we need to do is to show that
(XY, BC) = (ZA0 , BC).
This is equivalent to A(LG, BC) = L(OG, BC), which is the same as the fact that LO is a tangent of
the conic passing through A, B, C, L, G. This is easily verified, assume for the contradiction that LO
intersect the conic at a second point X, then the isogonal conjugate X ′ of X with respect to △ABC lies
on GL. From Lemma 1.2, we have
−1 = G(LO, XX ′ ) = G(LO, XL).
This is a contradiction.
Lemma 1.10. Use the notations of Problem 1, let S be the Miquel point of (AB, BC, CA, LG), T be
the Anti-Steiner point of the line passing through H and parallel to LG. Let X and Y be the second
intersections of AL and AG with (ABC), R and U are the second intersections of A0 X and A0 Y with
(ABC). Prove that GO bisects RS.
Proof. Use Lemma 1.9, we see that U G passes through V - the Anti-Steiner point of the line passing
through H and parallel to LO, moreover, RG and LU passes through T . If W is the Anti-Steiner point of
the line passing through H and parallel to HO, we have △GHV ∼ △OLW (this is done by angle chasing
and Lemma 1.5), hence U lies on W O.

If G′ and L′ are the reflections of G and L through O, then W L′ and V G′ intersects on (ABC), because
of the above similarity of triangles. Thus R is the reflection of V through O, and also ∠RT U = ∠GOL,
hence the points T , S, G, L, O are concyclic. Now we can use angle chasing to point out that GO bisects
RS.