Lemma on Distances From a Point

Written by Goutham Compiled by ThinkFlow March 23, 2011

The Main Result

There are many problems in geometry dealing with distances between two remarkable points. They can be solved by a general result. Lemma 1.1. In the plane of triangle ABC , M is a point with barycentric coordinates l : m : n. P is any point in the plane. Then l P A2 + m P B 2 + n P C 2 (l + m + n)P M 2 is a constant. Proof. Let A = a, B = b, C = c in the complex plane. Since M has barycentric coordinates l : m : n (meaning that [M BC ] : [M CA] : [M AB ] = l : m : n), we can say that M= la + mb + nc l+m+n

Let P = p be any variable point in the plane. Consider the complex number f (P ) = l(p a)2 + m(p b)2 + n(p c)2 (l + m + n) p la + mb + nc l+m+n
2

Let us nd the coecients of p2 and p in f (P ). Coecient of p2 = l+m+n(l+m+n) = 0 and coecient of p = 2al 2bm 2cn + (l + m + n) 2
la+mb+nc l+m+n

= 0 and we see that

f (P ) is a constant for any p and so, its modulus is constant. So, g (P ) = |f (P )| = l P A2 + m P B 2 + n P C 2 (l + m + n)P M 2 is a constant as required. Let us try to determine this constant. Let g (P ) = g for some real g . Consider g (M ) = l M A2 + m M B 2 + n M C 2 g (A) = 0 + m AB 2 + n AC 2 (l + m + n) AM 2 1

Lemma on Distances From a Point

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g (B ) = l BA2 + 0 + n BC 2 (l + m + n) BM 2 g (C ) = l CA2 + m CB 2 + 0 (l + m + n) CM 2 = lg (A) + mg (B ) + ng (C ) = 2(lmAB 2 + nlAC 2 + nmBC 2 ) (l + m + n)g (M ) = (l + m + n)g = 2(lmAB 2 + nlAC 2 + nmBC 2 ) (l + m + n)g lmn BC 2 CA2 AB 2 = g = + + l+m+n l m n assuming for the time being that l, m, n = 0. If indeed one of them is zero, then the fact that g = l M A2 + m M B 2 + n M C 2 is useful. From this identity, we can x M and get many metric relations.

2
2.1

Applications
M is centroid G with barycentric coordinates 1 : 1 : 1
a2 + b2 + c2 3

We have P A2 + P B 2 + P C 2 3P G2 = GA2 + GB 2 + GC 2 = If P = O, by using OA = OB = OC = R, we get 3(R2 OG2 ) = = OG2 = a2 + b2 + c2 3

9R2 (a2 + b2 + c2 ) 9 And we have the properties of Eulers line to give OH 2 = 9OG2 = OH 2 = 9R2 (a2 + b2 + c2 ) and if N is ninepoint centre, HN 2 = N O2 = 9R2 (a2 + b2 + c2 ) 4

2.2

M is incentre I with barycentric coordinates a : b : c

a P A2 + b P B 2 + c P C 2 (a + b + c) P I 2 = a IA2 + b IB 2 + c IC 2 = abc

We have

Now, if P = O, the circumcentre, by using the fact that OA = OB = OC = R, we have (a + b + c)(R2 OI 2 ) = abc and it is well known that
abc a+b+c

= 2rR = OI 2 = R2 2rR

which is Eulers identity. Written by: Goutham 2

Lemma on Distances From a Point

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2.3

M is Nagel point N with barycentric coordinates sa : sb : sc

2 2 2

The identity gives

2 (s a)P A2 + (s b)P B 2 + (s c)P C 2 sP Na = (s a)AN

+ (s b)BN

+ (s c)CN

The other expression is inelegant.

2.4

M is symmedian point K with barycentric coordinates a2 : b2 : c2

a2 b2 c2 a2 + b2 + c2

For any point P in the plane, a2 P A2 + b2 P B 2 + c2 P C 2 (a2 + b2 + c2 )P K 2 = a2 KA2 + b2 KB 2 + c2 KC 2 = If P = O, we have OK 2 = R2 a2 b2 c2 (a2 + b2 + c2 )2

Similarly, we can x M to be any exsymmedian or excentre or other remarkable points and nd interesting results.

2.5

M is midpoint of BC with barycentric coordinates 0 : 1 : 1

P B 2 + P C 2 2P M 2 = M B 2 + M C 2 = 2M C 2

We have and P = A = AB 2 + AC 2 = 2(AM 2 + M C 2 ) which is just Appolonius theorem. We see that this is a very useful identity to prove metric relations in triangles.

3
3.1

Further Applications
Stewarts Theorem

Problem 3.1. Prove Stewarts Theorem. Proof. In triangle ABC , AM is a cevian such that M B = m, M C = n, AM = d and P is any point in the plane. By the above lemma for the point M with barycentric coordinates 0 : n : m, we have n P B 2 + m P C 2 = (m + n) P M 2 + n M B 2 + m M C 2 Now, we let P = A and use m + n = a to get b2 m + cn = ad2 + mn(m + n) or = b2 m + c2 n = a(d2 + mn) which is just Stewarts theorem. Written by: Goutham 3

Lemma on Distances From a Point

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3.2

Invariant Ratio in an Equilateral Triangle

Problem 3.2. We solve the problem given at http: // www. gogeometry. com/ problem/ p260_ equilateral_ triangle_ incircle_ distance_ square. htm . Proof. Let us take M as I , the incentre of ABC , also the circumcentre of EF G. Let R be the inradius of ABC . With respect to triangle ABC , I = 1 : 1 : 1 and so, m2 + n2 + q 2 = 3R2 + 3(2R)2 = 15R2 by using the fact that the circumradius is twice the inradius for an equilateral triangle and that incentre is the circumcentre for an equilateral triangle. Now, I = 1 : 1 : 1 with respect to triangle EF G and so, d2 + e2 + f 2 = 3R2 + 3R2 = 6R2 = 5 m2 + n2 + q 2 = d2 + e2 + f 2 2

3.3

Minimizing a Weighted Sum of Squares

Problem 3.3. Find the point P in the plane of triangle ABC such that for given l, m, n, the value of the expression l P A2 + m P B 2 + n P C 2 is minimum as possible. Proof. From our lemma, choose a point M with barycentric coordinates l : m : n to get l P A2 + m P B 2 + n P C 2 = (l + m + n)P M 2 + l M A2 + m M B 2 + n M C 2 = l P A2 + m P B 2 + n P C 2 l M A2 + m M B 2 + n M C 2 Note that the RHS of the above inequality is a constant and so, minimum value is obtained when P coincides with M . For example, the least value of P A2 + P B 2 + P C 2 is attained when P is the centroid of the triangle.

Written by: Goutham