Hagge circles revisited

Nguyen Van Linh

24/12/2011
Abstract
In 1907, Karl Hagge wrote an article on the construction of circles that always pass through the
orthocenter of a given triangle. The purpose of his work is to nd an extension of the Wallace-Simson
theorem when the generating point is not on the circumcircle. Then they was named Hagge circles.
In this paper, we present the new insight into Hagge circles with many corollaries. Furthermore, we
also introduce three problems which are similar to Hagge circles.
1 Hagge circles and their corollaries
Problem 1 (The construction of Hagge circles). Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle
(O) and orthocenter H. Choose P an arbitrary point in the plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP
meets (O) again at A
1
, B
1
, C
1
. Denote A
2
, B
2
, C
2
the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
with respect to
BC, CA, AB, respectively. Then H, A
1
, B
1
, C
1
are concyclic. The circle (H, A
1
, B
1
, C
1
) is called
P-Hagge circle.
Here we give two proofs for problem 1. Both of them start from the problem which appeared in
China Team Selection Test 2006.
Problem 2 (China TST 2006). Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O) and orthocenter
H. Let P be an arbitrary point in the plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP meets (O) again at
A
1
, B
1
, C
1
. Denote A
2
, B
2
, C
2
the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB,
respectively. Then H, A
1
, B
1
, C
1
are concyclic.
Proof.
We introduce a lemma:
Lemma 1. (B
2
C
2
, B
2
A
2
) (PC, PA)(mod)
Proof.
1
B'
C'
A'
M
N
B
2
C
2
A
2
X
Z
Y
C
1
B
1
A
1
O
P
A
B
C
Denote M, N the reections of A
2
, C
2
across the midpoint of AC then MB
1
N is the reection
of A
2
B
2
C
2
across the midpoint of AC.
Since AM CA
2
, AM = CA
2
and BA
1
CA
2
, BA
1
= CA
2
we get AMA
1
B is a parallelogram.
Similarly, BC
1
NC is a parallelogram too.
Let A

, B

, C

be the midpoints of AA
1
, BB
1
, CC
1
then A

, C

are the midpoints of BM, BN,

respectively. The homothety H
1
2
B
: M A

, B
1
B

, N C

therefore MB
1
N A

.
This means (B
1
M, B
1
N) (B

, B

)(mod).
On the other side, OA

, OB

, OC

are perpendicular to AA
1
, BB
1
, CC
1
hence O, A

, B

, C

, P
are concyclic, which follows that:
(B
2
A
2
, B
2
C
2
) (B
1
M, B
1
N) (B

, B

) (PA

, PC

) (PA, PC)(mod). We are done.

Back to problem 2.
C
3
B
3
A
3
B
4
C
4
A
4
H
A
2
B
2
C
2
Z
Y
X
C
1
B
1
A
1
O
P
A
B
C
2
Construct three lines through A
1
, B
1
, C
1
and perpendicular to AA
1
, BB
1
, CC
1
, respectively.
They intersect each other and form triangle A
3
B
3
C
3
, intersect (O) again at A
4
, B
4
, C
4
, respectively.
Note that AA
4
, BB
4
, CC
4
are diameters of (O) therefore A
4
, C
4
are the reections of H across
the midpoints of BC, AB. We get HA
2
A
4
A
1
, HC
2
C
4
C
1
are parallelograms, which follows that
HA
2
A
1
A
4
, HC
2
C
1
C
4
.
But PC
1
B
3
A
1
is a cyclic quadrilateral and applying lemma 1 we have (HC
2
, HA
2
) (B
3
C
1
, B
3
A
1
)
(PC
1
, PA
1
) (PC, PA) (B
2
C
2
, B
2
A
2
)(mod) or H, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
are concyclic. Our proof is
completed.
Remark 1: Now come back to problem 1. Let A
3
, B
3
, C
3
be the reections of A
2
, B
2
, C
2
across
the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively. Since (BA
2
C) is the reections of (ABC) wrt BC then
A
3
(ABC). It is easy to see that BC is the midline of the triangle A
1
A
2
A
3
hence A
1
A
3
BC. We
claim that AA
3
, BB
3
, CC
3
concur at the isogonal conjugate Q of P wrt ABC. Then according
to problem 2 we obtain H, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
are concyclic.
Another proof (Nsato) [9]
We introduce a lemma.
Lemma 2. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O). Let D be an arbitrary point on (O).
A line d through D and d BC.d (O) = {G} then AG is parallel to the Simson line of point D.
Proof.
F
E
G
A
B C
D
Denote d BC = {E}, F the projection of D on AC then EF is the Simson line of D.
Since DEFC is a cyclic quadrilateral we get GAC = GDC = EFA. Therefore AG EF.
Back to problem 1.
3
C
4
B
4
Y
A
1
L
Z
K
A
4
X
Q
A
3
H
A
2
P
A
B
C
Let Q be the isogonal conjugate of P wrt ABC; X, Y, Z be the reections of A, B, C wrt Q;
A
3
B
3
C
3
be the circumcevian triangle of Q; A
4
B
4
C
4
be the median triangle of ABC.
The symmetry with center Q takes A to X, B to Y, C to Z then ABC XY Z. But A
4
B
4
C
4
is the median triangle of ABC hence there exist a point K which is the center of the homothety
with ratio
1
2
. This transformation maps XY Z to A
4
B
4
C
4
.
On the other hand, let L be the second intersection of A
1
A
2
and (O). Applying lemma 2,
AL HA
2
.
Moreover, LA
1
is perpendicular to BC and A
3
A
1
is parallel to BC therefore A
3
A
1
LA
1
,
which follows that AA
3
AL or AA
3
HA
2
.
From remark 1, A
4
is the midpoint of A
2
A
3
hence XA
2
KA
3
is a parallelogram. This means
KA
2
AA
3
.
So KA
2
HA
2
or A
2
lies on the circle with diamenter KH. Similarly we are done.
Problem 3. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O) and orthocenter H. Let P be
an arbitrary point in the plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP meets (O) again at A
1
, B
1
, C
1
.
Denote A
2
, B
2
, C
2
the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
with respect to BC, CA, AB, respectively. Then
A
2
B
2
C
2
A
1
B
1
C
1
.
Proof.
Firstly we introduce a lemma:
Lemma 3. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O). Let E, F be two arbitrary points on
(O). Then the angle between the Simson lines of two points E and F is half the measure of the arc
EF.
Proof.
4
L
K
G
H
I
J
O
A
B
C
F
E
See on the gure, IJ, HG are the Simson lines of two points E and F, respectively. IJ HG =
{K}
Denote L the projection of K on BC. We have KL FG and FHGC is a cyclic quadrilateral
thus (KG, KL) (GK, GF) (CA, CF)(mod)(1)
Similarly, (KL, KJ) (BE, BA)(mod)(2)
From (1) and (2) we are done.
Back to problem 3.
C
2
B
2
A
2 C
1
B
1
A
1
H
O
P
A
B
C
According to Hagge circle, we have H, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
are concyclic.
Since A
2
is the reections of A
1
wrt BC we get HA
2
is the Steiner line of A
1
, which is parallel
to its Simson line.
Analogously, HB
2
is the Steiner line of B
1
. Then applying lemma 3, (C
2
A
2
, C
2
B
2
) (HA
2
, HB
2
)
(C
1
A
1
, C
1
B
1
)(mod). Do similarly with other direct angles we refer to the similarity of two tri-
angles A
1
B
1
C
1
and A
2
B
2
C
2
.
Problem 4. Using the same notations as problem 1, let A
3
, B
3
, C
3
be the second intersections
of AH, BH, CH and (A
2
B
2
C
2
), respectively. Then A
2
A
3
, B
2
B
3
, C
2
C
3
concur at P.
Proof.
5
A
3
C
3
B
3
H
B
2
B
1
A
2
A
1
C
2
C
1
P
A
B
C
(A
2
C
2
, A
2
A
3
) (HC
2
, HA
3
) (HC
2
, BC)+(BC, HA) /2+(HC
2
, BC)(mod). Let L, Z be
the projections of C
1
on BC, AB, respectively then LZ is the Simson line of C
1
. We get HC
2
LZ
Therefore (HC
2
, BC) (LZ, LC) (C
1
Z, C
1
B)(mod)
Hence (A
2
C
2
, A
2
A
3
) /2 + (C
1
Z, C
1
B) (BA, BC
1
) (CA, CC
1
)(mod)
Since H, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
are concyclic then (C
3
B
3
, C
3
A
3
) (HB
3
, HA
3
) (CA, CB)(mod) . Sim-
ilarly we get A
3
B
3
C
3
ABC. But from problem 3, A
2
B
2
C
2
A
1
B
1
C
1
.
Thus there exist a similarity transformation which takes A
3
C
2
B
3
A
2
C
3
to AC
1
BA
1
CB
1
and it
follows that A
2
A
3
, B
2
B
3
, C
2
C
3
concur at P

. Moreover,
AP
A
1
P
=
A
3
P

A
2
P

hence PP

AH. Similarly,
PP

BH, CH. This means P P

. Our proof is completed then.

Problem 5. Let I be the circumcenter of triangle A
2
B
2
C
2
. K is the reection of H across I.
AK, BK, CK cut (I) again at A
4
, B
4
, C
4
. Then A
3
A
4
, B
3
B
4
, C
3
C
4
are concurrent.
Proof.
A
4
B
4
C
4
K
A
3
B
3
C
3
I
H
O
P
A
B
C
6
Since KA
3
AH we have (C
3
C
4
, C
3
A
3
) (KC
4
, KA
3
) (CK, CB)(mod).
Similarly, (C
3
C
4
, C
3
B
3
) (CK, CA)(mod). Do the same with other angles then applying
Ceva-sine theorem for triangle A
3
B
3
C
3
we are done.
Problem 6. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O). Let P and Q be two isogonal
conjugate points, O
1
, O
2
be the circumcenters of P-Hagge and Q-Hagge circles, respectively. Then
PQ O
1
O
2
and PQ = O
1
O
2
.
Proof.
Lemma 4. Given triangle ABC with its orthocenter H, circumcenter O and let P be an
arbitrary point in the plane. AP, BP, CP intersect (O) again at A
1
, B
1
, C
1
, respectively. Denote
A
2
, B
2
, C
2
the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively, O
2
the
center of (A
2
B
2
C
2
). Then OO
2
HP is a parallelogram.
Proof.
H'
U Z
Y
X
O'
2
A'
C'
H
O
2
B
2
C
2
A
2
C
1
B
1
A
1
O
P
A
B
C
Denote A

, C

the reections of A
2
, C
2
across the midpoint of AC, respectively. Then A

B
1
C

is the reections of A
2
B
2
C
2
across the midpoint of AC.
Since AA

A
2
C, AA

= A
2
C, A
2
C BA
1
, A
2
C = BA
1
we get AA

A
1
B is a parallelogram. (1)
Similarly, BCC

C
1
is a parallelogram. (2)
Let X, Y, Z be the midpoints of AA
1
, BB
1
, CC
1
, respectively then X, Y, Z lies on (OP).
But from (1) and (2), X, Z are the midpoints of BA

, BC

.
A homothety H
1
2
B
: A

X, B
1
Y, C

Z therefore A

B
1
C

XY Z
A symmetry with center is the midpoint of BC:
S : B B

, H H

the orthocenter of triangle AB

C, O
2
O

2
O
2
H O

2
H

It is easy to show that B, O, H

are collinear. Hence the homothety H

1
2
B
: H

O, O

2
U the
circumcenter of triangle XY Z.
We conclude that OP = O

2
H = O
2
H. Therefore HPOO
2
is a parallelogram. We are done.
Back to our problem.
From the lemma above, OO
1
= QH, OO
2
= PH thus PQ = O
1
O
2
7
Our proof is completed.
Remark 2. The radius of P-Hagge circle is equal to the distance of Q and O.
Problem 7. Given triangle ABC, its Nine-point circle (E) and an arbitrary point P on (E).
Let Q be the isogonal conjugate point of P wrt ABC. Then the center I of Q-Hagge circle lies
on (E) too. Moreover, I is the reection of P across point E.
Proof.
The conclusion follows immediately from remark 2. Note that the center of Q-Hagge circle is
always the reection of P wrt E.
Problem 8. Given triangle ABC and its circumcenter O. P and Q are isogonal conjugate wrt
triangle ABC such that O, P, Q are collinear. Then P-Hagge circle and Q-Hagge circle are tangent.
Proof.
This problem is also a corollary of remark 2. We will leave the proof for the readers.
Problem 9. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O, R). A circle which has center O and
radius r < R meets BC, CA, AB at A
1
, A
2
, B
1
, B
2
, C
1
, C
2
, respectively. Let E, F be the Miquel
points of triangle ABC wrt (A
1
, B
1
, C
1
) and (A
2
, B
2
, C
2
) respectively. Then E-Hagge circle and
F-Hagge circle are congruent.
Proof.
We will introduce a lemma.
Lemma 5. Given triangle ABC. A circle (O) intersects BC, CA, AB at 6 points A
1
, A
2
, B
1
, B
2
, C
1
,
C
2
, respectively. Let P, Q be the Miquel points of ABC wrt (A
1
, B
1
, C
1
) and (A
2
, B
2
, C
2
). Then
P and Q are isogonal conjugate and OP = OQ.
Proof.
Y
Z
X
Q
P
C
2
C
1
B
2
B
1
A
2
A
B C
O
A
1
Let X, Y, Z be the second intersections of A
1
P, B
1
P, C
1
P and (O), respectively.
We have (ZY, ZX) (A
1
Y, A
1
X) (A
1
Y, PY ) + (PY, A
1
X) (A
2
C, A
2
B
1
) + (CA
2
, CB
1
)
(B
1
B
2
, B
1
A
2
)(mod)
This means XY = A
2
B
2
. Similarly, Y Z = B
2
C
2
, XZ = A
2
C
2
. Therefore XY Z = A
2
B
2
C
2
.
On the other side, (PX, PY ) (QA
2
, QB
2
)(mod), (PY, PZ) (QB
2
, QC
2
)(mod) then there
exist a rotation with center O which takes XY Z to A
2
B
2
C
2
and P to Q. We conclude that
OP = OQ.
Moreover, (AP, AB) (B
1
P, B
1
C
1
) (ZY, ZP) (C
2
B
2
, C
2
Q) (AB
2
, AQ)(mod).
Similarly we get P and Q are isogonal conjugate wrt ABC.
Back to our problem.
According to lemma 5, P and Q are isogonal conjugate wrt ABC and OP = OQ. Then
applying remark 2 the conclusion follows.
8
Problem 10. Given triangle ABC with its orthocenter H. Let P, Q be two isogonal conjugate
points wrt ABC. Construct the diameter HK of P-Hagge circle. Let G be the centroid of the
triangle ABC. Then Q, G, K are collinear and QG =
1
2
GK.
Proof.
X
Q
G
M
a
K
H
C
2
C
1
B
2
B
1
A
2
A
1
P
A
B
C
Let X be the reection of A wrt Q, M
a
be the midpoint of BC then from proof 2 of problem 1,
we obtain M
a
is the midpoint of XK.
Then applying Menelaus theorem for the triangle AXM
a
with the line (Q, G, K) we have Q, G, K
are collinear. Applying Menelaus theorem again for the triangle QXK with the line (A, G, M
a
) then
QG =
1
2
.
Problem 11. The centroid G lies on L-Hagge circle where L is the Symmedian point.
Proof.
C
1
B
3
C
3
A
3
C
2
A
2
B
2
B
1
A
1
G
A
B
C
Let A
1
B
1
C
1
, A
2
B
2
C
2
be the circumcevian triangles of G and L, respectively; A
3
, B
3
, C
3
be the
reections of A
2
, B
2
, C
2
wrt BC, CA, AB, respectively.
It is easy to see that A
3
, B
3
, C
3
lie on AG, BG, CG, respectively.
From problem 3, A
3
B
3
C
3
A
2
B
2
C
2
. Then (A
2
B
2
, A
2
C
2
) (A
3
C
3
, A
3
B
3
)(mod)
On the other side, (GC
3
, GB
3
)
1
2
(

CB
1
+

C
1
B)
1
2
(

B
2
A +

AC
2
)
(A
2
B
2
, A
2
C
2
) (A
3
C
3
, A
3
B
3
)(mod).
9
This means G, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
are concyclic. We are done.
More results.
1. When P I the incenter of triangle ABC, P-Hagge circle is called Fuhrmann circle of
ABC, after the 19th-century German geometer Wilhelm Fuhrmann. The line segment con-
necting the orthocenter H and the Nagel point N is the diameter of Fuhrmann circle. The solution
for this result can be found in [8]. Moreover, denote O, I the circumcenter and the incenter of
triangle ABC then HN = 2OI.
2. When P lies on the circumcircle of triangle ABC, P-Hagge circle becomes the Steiner line of P.
3. When Q lies on the circumcircle of triangle ABC, we have a problem:
Given triangle ABC and an arbitrary point P on its circumcircle (O). Denote A

, B

, C

the
reections of P across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB. Then H, A

, B

, C

are concyclic.
4. When P lies at the innity, problem 1 can be re-written as below:
Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O), orthocenter H. Denote A
1
, B
1
, C
1
points on (O)
such that AA
1
BB
1
CC
1
, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
across the lines BC, CA, AB,
respectively. Then H, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
are concylic.
5. When P H the orthocenter of ABC, P-Hagge circle becomes point H.
6. When P O the circumcenter of ABC, the center of P-Hagge circle coincides with O.
2 Results from the triads of congruent circles
Three year ago, Quang Tuan Bui, the Vietnamese geometer, wrote an article about two
triads of congruent circles from reections in the magazine Forum Geometricorum. In that note,
he constructed two triads of congruent circles through the vertices, one associated with reections
in the altitudes, and the other reections in the angle bisectors. In 2011, Tran Quang Hung, the
teacher at High School for Gifted Student, Hanoi University of Science, also constructed another
triad which associated with reections in the lines joining the vertices and the Nine-point center.
His work was published in a abook called Exploration and Creativity. Here we introduce the
involvement of Hagge circles in these problems.
Problem 12. Given triangle ABC with its orthocenter H, circumcenter O. Let B
a
, C
a
be
the reections of B and C across the line AH. Similarly, consider the reections C
b
, A
b
of C, A,
respectively across the line BH, and A
c
, B
c
of A, B across the line CH. Then the circumcircles of
three triangles AC
b
B
c
, BA
c
C
a
, CA
b
B
a
and O-Hagge circle are congruent.
10
C
2
C
1 B
1
A
1
A
b
C
b
B
c
C
a
A
c
B
a
H
O
A
B C
Note. In [2], Quang Tuan Bui proved that three circles (AC
b
B
c
), (BA
c
C
a
), (CA
b
B
a
) are con-
gruent with the circle (H, HO). By remark 2, HO is the radius of O-Hagge circle. We are done.
Problem 13. Let I be the incenter of triangle ABC. Consider the reections of the vertices
in the angles bisectors: B
a
, C
a
of B, C in AI, A
b
, C
b
of A, C in BI, A
c
, B
c
of A, B in CI. Then the
circumcircles of three triangles AC
b
B
c
, BA
c
C
a
, CA
b
B
a
and Fuhrmann circle are congruent.
H
S
B
2
C
2
A
2
C
1
B
1
A
1
T
C
b
C
a
A
b
A
c
B
c
B
a
I
O
A
B
C
Note. In his article, Quang Tuan Bui also proved that three circles (AC
b
B
c
), (BA
c
C
a
), (CA
b
B
a
)
are congruent with the circle (I, IO). By remark 2, IO is the radius of Fuhrmann circle and it com-
pletes the proof.
Problem 14. Given triangle ABC with its Nine-point center E. Let B
a
, C
a
be the reections
of B and C across the line AE. Similarly, consider the reections C
b
, A
b
of C, A, respectively across
the line BE, and A
c
, B
c
of A, B across the line CE. Then the circumcircles of three triangles
AC
b
B
c
, BA
c
C
a
, CA
b
B
a
and E-Hagge circle are congruent.
Proof.
11
C
b
B
2
A
2
A
1
B
1
Q
O
c
C
2
J
C
1
B
c
E
H
O
A
B
C
Denote A
1
B
1
C
1
the circumcevian triangle of E. A
2
, B
2
, C
2
the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
across
BC, CA, AB, respectively. Let H be the orthocenter of triangle ABC. CH meets the circumcircle
(O) of triangle ABC again at Q, (O
c
) be the circumcircle of triangle AHB.
Since (O
c
) and (O) are symmetric wrt AB, C
2
is the reection of C
1
wrt AB we obtain C
2
(O
c
).
It is not hard to see that O
c
lies on CE. However, B and B
c
are symmetric wrt CE we conclude
that B
c
(O
c
).
We have (BA, BB
c
) (CQ, CC
1
)(mod), which follows from the fact that CQ AB, BB
c

CC
1
. This means the direct angle (BA, BB
c
) is half the measure of the arc QC
1
or HC
2
. Therefore
AB
c
= HC
2
or AHC
2
B
c
is a isosceles trapezoid.
Analogously, AHB
2
C
b
is also a isosceles trapezoid. We claim (AB
c
C
b
) is the image of (HC
2
A
2
)
across the symmetry whose the axis is the perpendicular bisector of AH. This means two circles
(AB
c
C
b
) and E-Hagge circle are congruent. Similarly we are done.
Remark 3. Other synthetic proofs of the congruent of three circles (AC
b
B
c
), (BA
c
C
a
), (CA
b
B
a
)
can be found in [6] or [7]. We have some properties:
1. The radius of three circles (AC
b
B
c
), (BA
c
C
a
), (CA
b
B
a
) is equal to the distance of O and
Kosnita point K (the isogonal conjugate of E).
2. The orthocenter of triangle I
a
I
b
I
c
is the reection of H wrt the center of N-Hagge circle
(I
a
, I
b
, I
c
are the circumcenters of three triangles AC
b
B
c
, BA
c
C
a
, CA
b
B
a
, respectively).
3. N is the center of K-Hagge circle.
3 Near Hagge circles
Finally, we give 3 interesting problems which involve in Hagge circles.
Problem 15. Given triangle ABC, its orthocenter H and its circumcircle (O). Denote
A
1
, B
1
, C
1
the reections of A, B, C wrt O, respectively, P an arbitrary point in the plane. Let
A
2
B
2
C
2
be the pedal triangle of P wrt ABC, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
be the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
wrt
A
2
, B
2
, C
2
, respectively. Then 4 points H, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
are concyclic.
Proof.
12
A
5
B
5
C
5
H
A
3
B
3
C
3
C
4
B
4
A
4
C
2
B
2
A
2
C
1
B
1
A
1
O
P
A
B
C
Let A
4
, B
4
, C
4
be the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively then A
4
is the midpoint of A
3
H.
Similar with B
4
, C
4
.
We get HA
3
= 2A
2
A
4
, HB
3
= 2B
2
B
4
, HC
3
= 2C
2
C
4
.(1)
Construct three rectangles OA
4
A
2
A
5
, OB
4
B
2
B
5
, OC
4
C
2
C
5
hence A
5
, B
5
, C
5
lie on the circle
with diameter OP.(2)
But OA
5
= A
4
A
2
, OB
5
= B
4
B
2
, OC
5
= C
4
C
2
(3)
From (1), (2) and (3) we claim H, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
are concyclic. Moreover, we can show that
A
3
B
3
C
3
ABC.
Problem 16. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle (O) and its orthocenter H. Let H
a
H
b
H
c
be the orthic triangle of triangle ABC. P is an arbitrary point on Euler line. AP, BP, CP intersect
(O) again at A
1
, B
1
, C
1
. Let A
2
, B
2
, C
2
be the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
wrt H
a
, H
b
, H
c
, respectively.
Then H, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
are concyclic ( See [12] or [14]).
Proof.
We will prove this problem in the general case as below.
Generalization.
Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O). Let X, Y be two points inside (O) such that O
lies on the line segment XY . AX, BX, CX intersect (O) again at A
1
, B
1
, C
1
, AY, BY, CY inter-
sect (O) again at A
2
, B
2
, C
2
. Let A
3
, B
3
, C
3
be the reections of A
2
, B
2
, C
2
wrt the midpoints of
A
1
X, B
1
Y, C
1
Z. Then A
3
, B
3
, C
3
, X lie on a circle (O

) and O

lies on XY .
Proof.
13
U
T
S
Z
W
V
B
3
C
3
A
3
P
Q
C
1
C
2
B
2
B
1
A
2
A
1
O
X
A
B
C
Y
Let S be the intersection of A
1
C
2
and A
2
C
1
. Applying Pascals theorem for 6 points C
1
, C
2
, A
1
,
A
2
, A, C we get S XY .
Denote T, U the second intersections of the perpendicular lines through A
1
, C
1
to A
1
A
2
, C
1
C
2
with (O), respectively.
Applying Pascals theorem again for 6 points A
1
, A
2
, C
1
, C
2
, T, U We conclude that P XY .
Similarly we obtain the perpendicular line through B
1
to B
1
B
2
also passes through P, three lines
which pass through A
2
, B
2
, C
2
and perpendicular to A
1
A
2
, B
1
B
2
, C
1
C
2
, respectively concur at Q
XY .
Construct three rectangles PA
1
A
2
V, PB
1
B
2
W, PZC
2
C
1
then XA
3
A
1
A
2
PV and XA
3
=
A
1
A
2
= PV . Let L be the midpoint of XP then LA
3
= LV =
1
2
A
3
V.
Similarly we get (A
3
B
3
C
3
) is the reection of (V WZ) wrt L. But P, V, W, Z lie on a circle with
diameter PQ so X lies on (A
3
B
3
C
3
). Moreover, O

is the reection of O wrt L, which follows that

O

XY . We are done.
Problem 17. Given triangle ABC and its circumcircle (O), its orthocenter H. Let P be
an arbitrary point in the plane. AP, BP, CP intersect (O) again at A
1
, B
1
, C
1
, respectively. Let
A
2
B
2
C
2
be the pedal triangle of P wrt ABC, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
be the reections of A
1
, B
1
, C
1
wrt
A
2
, B
2
, C
2
, respectively. Then A
3
, B
3
, C
3
, H are concyclic.
Proof.
We introduce two lemmas.
Lemma 6. Three triangles A
1
B
1
C
1
, A
2
B
2
C
2
, A
3
B
3
C
3
are similar.
Proof.
14
j
B
4
C
4
B
3
A
3
C
3
C
1
B
1
A
1
C
2
B
2
A
2
O
P
A
B
C
The result A
1
B
1
C
1
A
2
B
2
C
2
is trivival. So we only show that A
3
B
3
C
3
A
1
B
1
C
1
.
Let B
4
, C
4
be the reections of B
3
, C
3
wrt A
2
, respectively. We get A
1
B
4
C
4
A
3
B
3
C
3
.(1)
Since A
2
C
2
is the midline of triangle C
1
C
3
C
4
then C
1
C
4
A
2
C
2
. Analogously, B
1
B
4
A
2
B
2
.
Denote R the intersection of B
1
B
4
and C
1
C
4
. We conclude that (RB
1
, RC
1
) (A
2
B
2
, A
2
C
2
)
(A
1
B
1
, A
1
C
1
)(mod), which follows that R (O).
Hence (C
1
A
1
, C
1
C
4
) (B
1
A
1
, B
1
B
4
)(mod).
On the other side,
A
1
C
1
A
1
B
1
=
A
2
C
2
A
2
B
2
=
C
1
C
4
B
1
B
4
. Therefore A
1
C
1
C
4
A
1
B
1
B
4
.
This means (A
1
B
1
, A
1
B
4
) (A
1
C
1
, A
1
C
4
)(mod), then (A
1
B
4
, A
1
C
4
) (A
1
B
1
, A
1
C
1
)(mod).
Similarly we get A
1
B
1
C
1
A
1
B
4
C
4
.(2)
From (1) and (2) we are done.
Lemma 7. Given triangle ABC. Let A
1
be the projection of A on BC, A
2
, B
2
, C
2
be the
midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively. Let P be an arbitrary point in the plane, A

be the
pedal triangle of P wrt ABC, F and F

be the intersections of (A

) and (A
2
B
2
C
2
). A line
through A

and parallel to AP intersects AA

1
at A

. Then the circle with diameter A

passes
through one of two point F, F

.
Proof.
M
N
I'
L
I
A''
A
1
F'
V
C'
A'
B'
C
2
B
2
A
2
A
B
C
P
Let V be the intersection of B

and B
2
C
2
. According to the rst Fontenes theorem (see [4]
or [5]), we obtain A

, V, F

are collinear.
15
On the other side, denote I

, L the midpoints of AP, AA

, respectively, I the center of (A

).
Because AAA

P is a parallelogram then I, L, I

are collinear and II

BC. But L lies on

B
2
C
2
then I

is the reection of I wrt B

2
C
2
. Thus (I

, I

A) is the reection of (I, IA

) wrt B
2
C
2
,
which follows that two circles intersect at two points M and N which lie on B
2
C
2
.
Since B

, C

(I

, I

A) we get V F

.V A

= V B

.V C

= V M.V N hence F

, A

, M, N are concyclic
or (I, IA

) passes through F

.
Back to our problem.
M
O'
T
L
R
S
N
H
Z
Y
X
A
3
A
1
C
2
B
2
A
2
O
P
A
B C
Let L be the intersection of (A
2
B
2
C
2
) and the Nine-point circle of triangle ABC, X, Y, Z be the
midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively, N be the second intersection of LA
2
and (XY Z). Let M
be the midpoint of AH, K be the projection of A on BC, R be the midpoint of AA
1
.
Since OX = AM then AO = XM.
Denote T the intersection of the lines through A
2
and parallel to AA
1
and AK. Applying lemma
7 we obtain (A
2
T) passes through L.
Then (A
2
T, A
2
L) (KT, KL) (NM, NL)(mod), which follows that MN A
2
T AP.
Hence (MX, MN) (AO, AR)(mod).
But (NM, NX) (OR, OA) /2(mod) thus XMN = OAR.
Then OR = XN, we obtain ORNX is a parallelogram. This means RN = OX =
1
2
AH.
Therefore N is the midpoint of HA
1
or NA
1
is the midline of triangle HA
3
A
1
. We have
HA
3
A
2
L. Similarly, HB
3
B
2
L.
Then (HA
3
, HB
3
) (LA
2
, LB
2
) (C
2
A
2
, C
2
B
2
)(mod).
Applying lemma 6 we get (HA
3
, HB
3
) (C
3
A
3
, C
3
B
3
)(mod) or H, A
3
, B
3
, C
3
are concyclic.
Our proof is completed then.
16
References
[1] Christopher J. Bradley and Geo C.Smith, On a Construction of Hagge, Forum Geom., 7
(2007) 231-247.
[2] Quang Tuan Bui, Two triads of congruent circles from reections, Forum Geom., 8 (2008)
7-12.
[3] Nguyen Van Linh, Two similar geometry problems.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[4] Wolfram Mathworld, Fontene theorems.
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/FonteneTheorems.html
[5] Nguyen Van Linh, Fontene theorems and some corollaries.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[6] Nguyen Van Linh, 3 equal circumcircles.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[7] Exploration and Creativity 2011, High School for Gifted Student, Hanoi University of Science.
[8] Ross Honsberger, Episodes in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Euclidean Geometry (New
Mathematical Library), The Mathematical Association of America.
[9] Shobber, Artofproblemsolving topic 97484 (Circumcircle passes through orthocentre [Fuhrmann
extended]).
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=97484
[10] Livetolove212, Artofproblemsolving topic 319520 (Concyclic).
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=319520
[11] Livetolove212, Artofproblemsolving topic 321333 (Concyclic again).
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=321333
[12] vittasko, Artofproblemsolving topic 345850 (Parallelism relative to the Euler line of a triangle.)
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=345850
[13] Nguyen Van Linh, Hagge circle.
http://nguyenvanlinh.wordpress.com
[14] Nguyen Van Linh, A concyclic problem, Hyacinthos message 18801.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hyacinthos/message/18801
[15] Jean-Louis Ayme, Le P-Cercle De Hagge, Une preuve purement synthetique.
http://perso.orange.fr/jl.ayme
Nguyen Van Linh, Foreign Trade University of Vietnam, 91 Chua Lang, Hanoi.
E-mail address: lovemathforever@gmail.com
17