Caseys Theorem and its Applications

Luis Gonzalez
Maracaibo. Venezuela
July 2011
Abstract. We present a proof of the generalized Ptolemys theorem, also known as Caseys theorem
and its applications in the resolution of dicult geometry problems.
1 Caseys Theorem.
Theorem 1. Two circles
1
(r
1
) and
2
(r
2
) are internally/externally tangent to a circle (R) through
A, B, respetively. The length
12
of the common external tangent of
1
,
2
is given by:

12
=
AB
R

(R r
1
)(R r
2
)
Proof. Without loss of generality assume that r
1
r
2
and we suppose that
1
and
2
are internally
tangent to . The remaining case will be treated analogously. A common external tangent between
1
and
2
touches
1
,
2
at A
1
, B
1
and A
2
is the orthogonal projection of O
2
onto O
1
A
1
. (See Figure 1).
By Pythagorean theorem for O
1
O
2
A
2
, we obtain

12
2
= (A
1
B
1
)
2
= (O
1
O
2
)
2
(r
1
r
2
)
2
Let

O
1
OO
2
= . By cosine law for OO
1
O
2
, we get
(O
1
O
2
)
2
= (R r
1
)
2
+ (R r
2
)
2
2(R r
1
)(R r
2
) cos
By cosine law for the isosceles triangle OAB, we get
AB
2
= 2R
2
(1 cos )
1
Figure 1: Theorem 1
Eliminating cos and O
1
O
2
from the three previous expressions yields

12
2
= (R r
1
)
2
+ (R r
2
)
2
(r
1
r
2
)
2
2(R r
1
)(R r
2
)

1
AB
2
2R
2

Subsequent simplications give

12
=
AB
R

(R r
1
)(R r
2
) (1)
Analogously, if
1
,
2
are externally tangent to , then we will get

12
=
AB
R

(R +r
1
)(R +r
2
) (2)
If
1
is externally tangent to and
2
is internally tangent to , then a similar reasoning gives that
the length of the common internal tangent between
1
and
2
is given by

12
=
AB
R

(R +r
1
)(R r
2
) (3)
2
Theorem 2 (Casey). Given four circles
i
, i = 1, 2, 3, 4, let
ij
denote the length of a common tangent
(either internal or external) between
i
and
j
. The four circles are tangent to a th circle (or line)
if and only if for appropriate choice of signs,

12

34

13

42

14

23
= 0
The proof of the direct theorem is straightforward using Ptolemys theorem for the quadrilateral ABCD
whose vertices are the tangency points of
1
(r
1
),
2
(r
2
),
3
(r
3
),
4
(r
4
) with (R). We susbtitute the
lengths of its sides and digonals in terms of the lenghts of the tangents
ij
, by using the formulas (1), (2)
and (3). For instance, assuming that all tangencies are external, then using (1), we get

12

34
+
14

23
=

ABCD+ADBC
R
2

(R r
1
)(R r
2
)(R r
3
)(R r
4
)

12

34
+
14

23
=

ACBD
R
2

(R r
1
)(R r
3
)

(R r
2
)(R r
4
)

12

34
+
14

23
=
13

42
.
Casey established that this latter relation is sucient condition for the existence of a th circle (R) tan-
gent to
1
(r
1
),
2
(r
2
),
3
(r
3
),
4
(r
4
). Interestingly, the proof of this converse is a much tougher exercise.
For a proof you may see [1].
2 Some Applications.
I) ABC is isosceles with legs AB = AC = L. A circle is tangent to BC and the arc BC of
the circumcircle of ABC. A tangent line from A to touches at P. Describe the locus
of P as varies.
Solution. We use Caseys theorem for the circles (A), (B), (C) (with zero radii) and , all internally
tangent to the circumcircle of ABC. Thus, if touches BC at Q, we have:
L CQ+L BQ = AP BC = AP =
L(BQ+CQ)
BC
= L
The length AP is constant, i.e. Locus of P is the circle with center A and radius AB = AC = L.
II) (O) is a circle with diameter AB and P, Q are two points on (O) lying on dierent
sides of AB. T is the orthogonal projection of Q onto AB. Let (O
1
), (O
2
) be the circles with
diameters TA, TB and PC, PD are the tangent segments from P to (O
1
), (O
2
), respectively.
Show that PC +PD = PQ. [2].
3
Figure 2: Application II
Solution. Let
12
denote the length of the common external tangent of (O
1
), (O
2
). We use Caseys
theorem for the circles (O
1
), (O
2
), (P), (Q), all internally tangent to (O).
PC QT +PD QT = PQ
12
= PC +PD = PQ

12
QT
= PQ

TA TB
TQ
= PQ.
III) In ABC, let
A
,
B
,
C
be the circles tangent to BC, CA, AB through their midpoints
and the arcs BC, CA, AB of its circumcircle (not containing A, B, C). If
BC
,
CA
,
AB
de-
note the lengths of the common external tangents between (
B
,
C
), (
C
,
A
) and (
A
,
B
),
respectively, then prove that

BC
=
CA
=
AB
=
a +b +c
4
Solution. Let
A
,
B
,
C
denote the lengths of the tangents from A, B, C to
A
,
B
,
C
, respectively. By
Caseys theorem for the circles (A), (B), (C),
B
, all tangent to the circumcircle of ABC, we get

B
b = a AE +c CE =
B
=
1
2
(a +c)
Similarly, by Caseys theorem for (A), (B), (C),
C
well get
C
=
1
2
(a +b)
4
Now, by Caseys theorem for (B), (C),
B
,
C
, we get
B

C
=
BC
a +BF BE =

BC
=

B

C
BF BE
a
=
(a +c)(a +b) bc
4a
=
a +b +c
4
By similar reasoning, well have
CA
=
AB
=
1
4
(a +b +c).
IV) A circle K passes through the vertices B, C of ABC and another circle touches
AB, AC, K at P, Q, T, respectively. If M is the midpoint of the arc BTC of K, show that
BC, PQ, MT concur. [3]
Solution. Let R, be the radii of K and , respectively. Using formula (1) of Theorem 1 for , (B) and
, (C). Both (B), (C) with zero radii and tangent to K through B, C, we obtain:
TC
2
=
CQ
2
R
2
(R )(R 0)
=
CQ
2
R
R
, TB
2
=
BP
2
R
2
(R )(R 0)
=
BP
2
R
R
=
TB
TC
=
BP
CQ
Let PQ cut BC at U. By Menelaus theorem for ABC cut by UPQ we have
UB
UC
=
BP
AP

AQ
CQ
=
BP
CQ
=
TB
TC
Thus, by angle bisector theorem, U is the foot of the T-external bisector TM of BTC.
V) If D, E, F denote the midpoints of the sides BC, CA, AB of ABC. Show that the incircle
(I) of ABC is tangent to (DEF). (Feuerbach theorem).
Solution. We consider the circles (D), (E), (F) with zero radii and (I). The notation
XY
stands for the
length of the external tangent between the circles (X), (Y ), then

DE
=
c
2
,
EF
=
a
2
,
FD
=
b
2
,
DI
=

b c
2

,
EI
=

a c
2

,
FI
=

b a
2

For the sake of applying the converse of Caseys theorem, we shall verify if, for some combination of
signs + and , we get c(ba) a(bc) b(ac) = 0, which is trivial. Therefore, there exists a circle
tangent to (D), (E), (F) and (I), i.e. (I) is internally tangent to (DEF). We use the same reasoning
to show that (DEF) is tangent to the three excircles of ABC.
VI) ABC is scalene and D, E, F are the midpoints of BC, CA, AB. The incircle (I) and
9 point circle (DEF) of ABC are internally tangent through the Feuerbach point F
e
.
Show that one of the segments F
e
D, F
e
E, F
e
F equals the sum of the other two. [4]
5
Solution. WLOG assume that b a c. Incircle (I, r) touches BC at M. Using formula (1) of Theorem
1 for (I) and (D) (with zero radius) tangent to the 9-point circle (N,
R
2
), we have:
F
e
D
2
=
DM
2
(
R
2
)
2
(
R
2
r)(
R
2
0)
= F
e
D =

R
R 2r

(b c)
2
By similar reasoning, we have the expressions
F
e
E =

R
R 2r

(a c)
2
, F
e
F =

R
R 2r

(b a)
2
Therefore, the addition of the latter expressions gives
F
e
E +F
e
F =

R
R 2r

b c
2
= F
e
D
VII) ABC is a triangle with AC > AB. A circle
A
is internally tangent to its circumcircle
and AB, AC. S is the midpoint of the arc BC of , which does not contain A and ST is
the tangent segment from S to
A
. Prove that
ST
SA
=
AC AB
AC +AB
[5]
Solution. Let M, N be the tangency points of
A
with AC, AB. By Caseys theorem for
A
, (B), (C), (S),
all tangent to the circumcircle , we get
ST BC +CS BN = CM BS = ST BC = CS(CM BN)
If U is the reection of B across AS, then CM BN = UC = AC AB. Hence
ST BC = CS(AC AB) ()
By Ptolemys theorem for ABSC, we get SA BC = CS(AB +AC). Together with (), we obtain
ST
SA
=
AC AB
AC +AB
6
VIII) Two congruent circles (S
1
), (S
2
) meet at two points. A line cuts (S
2
) at A, C and
(S
1
) at B, D (A, B, C, D are collinear in this order). Two distinct circles
1
,
2
touch the line
and the circles (S
1
), (S
2
) externally and internally respectively. If
1
,
2
are externally
tangent, show that AB = CD. [6]
Solution. Let P
1

2
and M, N be the tangency points of
1
and
2
with an external tangent.
Inversion with center P and power PB PD takes (S
1
) and the line into themselves. The circles
1
and
2
go to two parallel lines k
1
and k
2
tangent to (S
1
) and the circle (S
2
) goes to another circle (S
2

)
tangent to k
1
, k
2
. Hence, (S
2
) is congruent to its inverse (S
2

). Further, (S
2
), (S
2

) are symmetrical about

P = PC PA = PB PD.
By Caseys theorem for
1
,
2
, (D), (B), (S
1
) and
1
,
2
, (A), (C), (S
2
) we get:
DB =
2PB PD
MN
, AC =
2PA PC
MN
Since PC PA = PB PD = AC = BD =AB = CD.
IX) ABC is equilateral with side length L. Let (O, r) and (O, R) be the incircle and
circumcircle of ABC. P is a point on (O, r) and P
1
, P
2
, P
3
are the projections of P onto BC,
CA, AB. Circles T
1
, T
2
and T
3
touch BC, CA, AB through P
1
, P
2
, P
2
and (O, R) (internally),
their centers lie on dierent sides of BC, CA, AB with respect to A, B, C. Prove that the
sum of the lengths of the common external tangents of T
1
, T
2
and T
3
is a constant value.
Solution. Let
1
denote the tangent segment from A to T
1
. By Caseys theorem for (A), (B), (C), T
1
, all
tangent to (O, R), we have L BP
1
+L CP
1
=
1
L =
1
= L. Similarly, we have
2
=
3
= L. By
Eulers theorem for the pedal triangle P
1
P
2
P
3
of P, we get:
[P
1
P
2
P
3
] =
p(P, (O))
4R
2
[ABC] =
R
2
r
2
4R
2
[ABC] =
3
16
[ABC]
Therefore, we obtain
AP
2
AP
3
+BP
3
BP
1
+CP
1
CP
2
=
2
sin 60

([ABC] [P
1
P
2
P
3
]) =
13
16
L
2
. ()
By Caseys theorem for (B), (C), T
2
, T
3
, all tangent to (O, R), we get

2

3
= L
2
= BC
23
+CP
2
BP
3
= L
23
+ (L AP
1
)(L AP
2
)
By cyclic exchange, we have the expressions:
L
2
= L
31
+ (L BP
3
)(L BP
1
) , L
2
= L
12
+ (L CP
1
)(L CP
2
)
7
Figure 3: Application VII
Adding the three latter equations yields
3L
2
= L(
23
+
31
+
12
) + 3L
2
3L
2
+AP
3
AP
2
+BP
3
BP
1
+CP
1
CP
2
Hence, combining with () gives

23
+
31
+
12
= 3L
13
16
L =
35
16
L
3 Proposed Problems.
1) Pursers theorem: ABC is a triangle with circumcircle (O) and is a circle in its plane. AX, BY, CZ
are the tangent segments from A, B, C to . Show that is tangent to (O), if and only if
AX BC BY CA CZ AB = 0
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2) Circle touches the sides AB, AC of ABC at P, Q and its circumcircle (O). Show that the
midpoint of PQ is either the incenter of ABC or the A-excenter of ABC, according to whether
(O), are internally tangent or externally tangent.
3) ABC is A-right with circumcircle (O). Circle
B
is tangent to the segments OB, OA and the arc
AB of (O). Circle
C
is tangent to the segments OC, OA and the arc AC of (O).
B
,
C
touch OA at
P, Q, respectively. Show that:
AB
AC
=
AP
AQ
4) Gumma, 1874. We are given a cirle (O, r) in the interior of a square ABCD with side length L. Let
(O
i
, r
i
) i = 1, 2, 3, 4 be the circles tangent to two sides of the square and (O, r) (externally). Find L as
a fuction of r
1
, r
2
, r
3
, r
4
.
5) Two parallel lines
1
,
2
touch a circle (R). Circle k
1
(r
1
) touches ,
1
and a third circle k
2
(r
2
)
touches ,
2
, k
1
. We assume that all tangencies are external. Prove that R = 2

r
1
r
2
.
6)Victor Thebault. 1938. ABC has incircle (I, r) and circumcircle (O). D is a point on AB. Circle

1
(r
1
) touches the segments DA, DC and the arc CA of (O). Circle
2
(r
2
) touches the segments DB, DC
and the arc CB of (O). If

ADC = , show that:
r
1
cos
2

2
+r
2
sin
2

2
= r
References
[1] I. Shariguin, Problemas de Geometrie (Planimetrie), Ed. Mir, Moscu, 1989.
[2] Vittasko, Sum of two tangents, equal to the distance of two points, AoPS, 2011.
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=404640.
[3] My name is math, Tangent circles concurrent lines, AoPs, 2011.
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=399496.
[4] Mathquark, Point [Feuerbach point of a triangle; FY + FZ = FX], AoPS, 2005.
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=24959.
[5] Virgil Nicula, ABC and circle tangent to AB, AC and circumcircle , AoPS, 2011.
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=357957.
[6] Shoki, Iran(3rd round)2009, AoPS, 2009.
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=300809.
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