Forum Geometricorum

Volume 14 (2014) 201–202.

FORUM GEOM
ISSN 1534-1178

Two Pairs of Archimedean Circles in the Arbelos

Dao Thanh Oai

Abstract. We construct four circles congruent to the Archimedean twin circles

in the arbelos.

Consider an arbelos formed by semicircles (O1 ), (O2 ), and (O) of radii a, b,

and a + b. The famous Archimedean twin circles associated in the arbelos have
ab
equal radii a+b (see [2, 3]).
Let CD be the dividing line of the smaller semicircles, and extend their common
tangent P Q to intersect (O) at Ta and Tb .
Theorem 1. Let A and B  be the orthogonal projections of D on the tangents
to (O) at Ta and Tb respectively. The circles with diameters DA and DB  are
congruent to the Archimedean twin circles.

A

B
D

Ta
P
M

Tb

A O1 O C O2 B

Figure 1

Proof. Let the tangents at Ta and Tb intersect at T . Since OT is the perpendicular

bisector of Ta Tb , it intersects the semicircle (O) at the midpoint D of the arc Ta Tb
(see [3, §5.2.1]). Since O1 P , OM and O2 Q are parallel, and O1 P = OO2 = a,
O2 Q = O1 O = b,
a b a2 + b2 2ab
OM = ·O1 P + ·O2 Q = =⇒ DM = OD −OM = .
a+b a+b a+b a+b
Publication Date: September 2, 2014. Communicating Editor: Floor van Lamoen.
202 T. O. Dao

Now, ∠DTa T = ∠DTb Ta = ∠DTa Tb . Therefore, Ta D bisects angle T Ta Tb .

Similarly, Tb D bisects angle T Tb Ta , and D is the incenter of triangle T Ta Tb . It
follows that DA = DB  = DM , and the circles with DA and DB  are congruent
to the Archimedean twin circles. 
Remark. The circle with DM as diameter is the Archimedean circle (A3 ) in [2]
(or (W4 ) in [1]).
Theorem 2. Let A1 A2 and B1 B2 be tangents to the smaller semicircles with A1 ,
B1 on the line AB and A1 A2 = a, B1 B2 = b. If H and K are the midpoints
of the semicircles (O1 ) and (O2 ) respectively, and A = CH ∩ A1 B2 , B  =
CK ∩ B1 A2 , then the circles through C with centers A and B  are congruent to
the Archimedean twin circles.

H B2
A2

A B 

A1 A O1 C O O2 B B1

Figure 2

Proof. Clearly, ∠A CA1 = ∠HCO1 = 45◦ . Since B1 B2 = O2 B2 = √ b,

∠B2 B1 O2 = 45◦ , √ the lines CA and √
B1 B2 are parallel. Also, B1 O2 = 2b.
Similarly, A1 O1 = 2a, and A1 B1 = ( 2 + 1)(a + b). Therefore,
√
 A1 C ( 2 + 1)a ab
CA = B1 B2 · =b· √ = .
A1 B1 ( 2 + 1)(a + b) a+b
ab
Similarly, CB  = a+b . Therefore, the circles through C with centers A and B 
are congruent to the Archimedean twin circles. 

References
[1] C. W. Dodge, T. Schoch, P. Y. Woo and P. Yiu, Those ubiquitous Archimedean circles, Math.
Mag., 72 (1999) 202–213.
[2] F. M. van Lamoen, Online catalogue of Archimedean circles,
http://home.kpn.nl/lamoen/wiskunde/Arbelos/Catalogue.htm
[3] P. Yiu, Euclidean Geometry, Florida Atlantic University Lecture Notes, 1998, available at
http://math.fau.edu/Yiu/Geometry.html

Dao Thanh Oai: Cao Mai Doai, Quang Trung, Kien Xuong, Thai Binh, Viet Nam
E-mail address: daothanhoai@hotmail.com